SBLive Missouri high school baseball Power 25 rankings (May 15): Willard jumps into Top 10

Check out this week's SBLive Missouri Power 25 baseball rankings

Paul Halfacre | May 15, 2023

The final rankings for the regular season as Class 1 through 4 are well into district play. Class 5 and 6 come online this week to join the rest of the class.

Liberty North ends the regular season as the No. 1 rated team followed closely by Rock Bridge and Fort Zumwalt West. Willard leaps into the Top 10 after a slow start to the season and will go into the Class 5 District 6 tournament as the No. 1 seed.

SBLIVE MISSOURI POWER 25 BASEBALL RANKINGS

Here's a look at the SBLive Missouri Power 25:

1. Liberty North (28-7)

Last week: 1

Liberty North wrapped up the regular season by winning four of its last five games, including an 8-0 win over Liberty in the regular-season finale. Tate McGuire pitched a complete game gem, striking out 19 and allowing just one hit in a shutout victory. Cole Young picked up two hits and an RBI in the victory. Liberty North will open up the Class 6 District 8 tournament with a game against North Kansas City on Tuesday.

2. Rock Bridge (29-6)

Last week: 4

Rock Bridge finished the season on a four-game winning streak with a regular-season finale 17-2 win over Booneville. The Bruins open up the playoffs with a matchup against Fort Osage in the first round of the Class 6 District 5 tournament on Wednesday.

3. Fort Zumwalt West (28-8)

Last week: 5

The Jaguars wrapped up the regular season with three consecutive wins, including a 9-6 win over Rock Bridge in the conclusion of the Columbia tournament. In the three-run win, Kenton Deverman got the win while Cooper Robertson picked up three RBIs. The Jaguars open up district play in the loaded Class 6 District 4 tournament with a morning game against Battle on Tuesday.

4. Blue Springs South (25-5)

Last week: 3

Blue Springs South dropped two of its last three games with a 3-0 loss to Staley in the season finale last week. Blue Springs South will open up the playoffs with a first-round matchup with Smith Cotton in the Class 6 District 5 tournament on Wednesday.

5. Nixa (28-6)

Last week: 6

Nixa finished the season with five consecutive wins, including a 6-5 victory over Glendale in the regular-season finale. The Eagles dropped a late 7-2 loss to Republic to begin the month of May and got the No. 2 seed in the Class 6 District 6 tournament starting this week. The Eagles will play Springfield Central on Tuesday to open up playoff play.

6. Francis Howell (26-10)

Last week: 7

The Vikings wrapped up the regular season with back-to-back home wins over Marquette and Lafayette to pick up their 26th win of the season. It's the third straight year that Francis Howell has won 25 or more games in a year. In the regular-season finale, Leo Humbert powered the offense with two hits and two RBIs in the 3-2 victory. Francis Howell will open up the Class 6 District 4 tournament with a first-round game against Fort Zumwalt North on Tuesday.

7. Logan-Rogersville (23-5)

Last week: 2

The Wildcats stumbled in the last five games of the regular season, losing three of the five. It fell to McDonald County and Willard in back-to-back losses for the first time all season. It opens up the playoffs with a game against Hollister in the Class 4 District 10 semifinal round on Monday evening.

8. Portageville (31-2)

Last week: 8

Portageville stretched its winning streak to 18 games and has scored more than 10 runs in five of its last six games. It opened up the playoffs with a 13-0 shutout victory over Malden in the semifinal round of the Class 3 District 1 tournament. Will play Twin Rivers on Monday in the district title game on Monday.

9. Vianney (28-5)

Last week: 10

Vianney won the last five games of the regular season, knocking off Festus, Fort Zumwalt West and Webster Groves. In the regular-season finale, Ethan Ferguson collected two RBIs going 1-for-3 in a victory over Northwest Cedar Hill. Vianney opens up the district play with a home game against Parkway West in the first round of the Class 6 District 2 tournament.

10. Willard (26-9)

Last week: 16

Had its 14-game winning streak snapped on the road to Rock Bridge, but rebounded with an 11-run victory over Logan-Rogersville. The defending Class 5 third-place finishers will open up the playoffs with a first-round matchup against Parkview in the Class 5 District 6 tournament on Tuesday.

11. Southern Boone (25-9)

Last week: 9

Southern Boone wrapped up the regular season with a 9-3 victory over California in the regular-season finale. Jace Reynolds picked up the win, going six innings and picking up three strikeouts and giving up two runs. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Southern Boone will open up the playoffs with a matchup against Fulton in the Class 4 District 8 semifinal on Monday.

12. Eureka (31-3)

Last week: 11

Wrapped up the regular season on a five-game winning streak with an 11-1 victory in the regular-season finale against Westminster. Jaxson Joggerst, Carter Lewis and Kyle Rehg combined to pick up the five-inning win. Eureka opens up the playoffs on Tuesday with a home game against Waynesville in the Class 6 District 2 tournament on Wednesday.

13. Springfield Catholic (16-7)

Last week: 12

Springfield Catholic wrapped up the regular season with an 8-0 shutout victory over Seneca before moving into the Class 4 District 10 tournament. The Fighting Irish knocked off Willow Springs 4-2 in the first round with Jack Smith getting the win with five innings pitched and giving up one run on three hits. Ben Smith went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. They square off with Mountain Grove in the semifinal round on Monday.

14. Jackson (29-6)

Last week: 13

The Indians wrapped up the regular season on a 13-game winning streak and ended with a program-record 29 victories. John-Paul Sauer collected a win in the regular-season finale with nine strikeouts in four innings pitched. Jackson will open up the playoffs with a home game against Poplar Bluff in the first round of the Class 6 District 1 tournament on Wednesday.

15. Helias Catholic (20-6)

Last week: 14

The Crusaders ended the season on a six-game winning streak and capped off the regular season with a seven-run victory over Smith-Cotton on their senior night on Thursday. Helias Catholic will open up the Class 5 District 5 tournament with a game against Capital City on Wednesday.

16. Valle Catholic (28-4)

Last week: 15

Finished the season on a four-game winning streak and capped it with a senior night 10-8 victory over North County. Clayton Drury went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while Isaac Viox scored three times and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Preston Lurk picked up the win, giving up two earned runs and striking out three over 5 2/3 innings pitched. The Warriors will take on Arcadia Valley in the Class 3 District 3 semifinal round on Monday.

17. Camdenton (28-4)

Last week: 17

Had a week off before the Class 5 District 6 tournament. The Lakers open up with Hillcrest on Tuesday in the first round of the playoffs.

18. Glendale (22-5)

Last week: 19

Dropped its regular season finale to 6-5 to Nixa. It will kick off the playoffs on Tuesday in the first round of the Class 5 District 6 tournament against Marshfield.

19. Valley Park (18-4)

Last week: 18

Wrapped up the season with a regular-season finale win over Northwest Cedar Hill. Gavin Hubbard picked up the win by going 5 2/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out four. Isaiah Rose went 2-for-3 with three RBIs in the 7-5 victory. Valley Park awaits either Hancock or Gateway Science Charter in the Class 3 District 4 semifinal round on Tuesday.

20. Borgia (20-5)

Last week: 20

Finished the season on a six-game winning streak and capped it with a 7-4 victory over Webster Groves. Reagan Kandlbinder picked up the win, going five innings with six strikeouts and giving up two earned runs on six hits. Kabren Koelling went 3-for-3 and had two RBIs in the victory. Borgia will take on Union in the first round of the Class 5 District 5 tournament on Wednesday.

21. St. Elizabeth (17-7)

Last week: 21

Wrapped up the regular season with an 8-7 victory over South Callaway at home. Awaits either Hermitage or Tuscumbia in the Class 1 District 8 semifinal round on Tuesday.

22. Russellville (23-8)

Last week: 22

After scuffling a bit after hosting its tournament, Russellville has rebounded with three victories to end the season. The Indians notched a 16-run win over New Bloomfield before back-to-back wins over Warrensburg and California. Russellville will take on New Bloomfield in the Class 2 District 8 semifinal round on Monday.

23. Fort Zumwalt South (23-6-1)

Last week: 23

Wrapped up the regular season with three-straight victories including a 3-2 win over Francis Howell North in the regular-season finale. Gavin Rediel went the distance, giving up one earned run on five hits and striking out seven. Holden Karl and Jacksen Tankersley each picked up RBIs in the win. The Bulldogs will open up postseason play with a first-round matchup against St. Charles in the Class 5 District 4 tournament on Wednesday.

24. CBC (23-13)

Last week: 24

Won three of its last five games, dropping a wild 11-9 loss to Jackson in the season finale. Kaden Peer and Nazzan Zanetello picked up home runs while Derrick Pitts collected three RBIs in the loss. CBC will open up the Class 6 District 3 tournament with a game against Ritenour on Wednesday.

25. Park Hills Central (18-3)

Last week: 25

THe Rebels won four of the last five games, picking up two shutout victories over Ellington and Potosi in the MAAA tournament. It dropped its final game against Hillsboro at home. Park Hills Central will open up the playoffs with a game against Herculaneum in the Class 4 District 2 semifinal round on Monday.

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Published May 15, 2023

PAUL HALFACRE