May 8 National Rankings

It was a quiet week at the top, as each of the top 12 teams from last week continued to win the games they were expected to.

Florida Regional Semifinals continue tonight with Regional Finals to follow on Friday.  The top matchup looks to be No.3 Olympia (FL) taking on Orlando rival Dr. Phillips with the winner of Hagerty/Spruce Creek looming. Archbishop McCarthy will have a tough road as well beginning tonight with Belen Jesuit followed by Naples or Ida Baker.

A couple of marquee matchups in California caused some shakeups this week, as LB Wilson re-entered the rankings this week thanks in large part to their huge win over No. 26 Lakewood in a pitchers duel between 2012 MLB Draft prospects Shane Watson and Chase DeJong. Watson and DeJong traded zeroes for eight innings until a three run ninth propelled Wilson to a 3-0 victory at Blair Field. In the northern part of the state No. 38 Clovis West (top ranked team from Fresno) knocked off No. 40 Campolindo (top ranked team in Bay Area) 3-1 at Oakland Coliseum.

Next week could see a similar caliber matchup as No. 21 Owasso (OK) and No. 24 Broken Arrow (OK) each rolled through their district tournaments last week, and find themselves on opposite sides of the 6A bracket, with a chance of meeting in the championship game for the second season in a row. Highly touted 2012 MLB Draft prospect Ty Hensley and Edmond Santa Fe could spoil that matchup though as they would meet Broken Arrow in the semifinal on Friday should both teams win their openers on Thursday.

The Southeast playoffs come to a close in some state with Fairhope (AL), Oak Grove (MS), Barbe (LA), and Lexington (SC) within sniffing distance of their state titles.

Ohio is the first northern state to begin playoffs with Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois right behind. The next few weeks will have a huge effect on the national rankings and get us closer to crowning the 2012 National Champion.

New additions this week include: No. 34 Barbe (LA), No. 35 Long Beach Wilson (CA), No. Frairhope (AL), No. 38 Clovis West (CA), No. 41 Spring Branch Memorial (TX), No. 45 Brophy Prep (AZ) and No. 48 Defiance (OH).

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