By: Ross Van De Griek
Baseball season is here.. As the regular season kicks off this week across the Tampa Bay area, as well as the state of Florida. Welcome to the revealing of our Top 10 high school baseball teams in the Tampa Bay area. We will be revealing our picks every Monday throughout the high school baseball regular season. Find out where your team is ranked below.
1. Jesuit (0-0)
This Week: vs Blake (Tues.), vs Tampa Catholic (Wed.)
The Jesuit Tigers come into the first rankings, as the #1 team in the Tampa Bay area, according to multiple media outlets. The Tigers also check in at #5 in the MaxPreps XCellent Top 25 national rankings. Jesuit is led by senior pitcher Camden Minacci (Wake Forest commit), senior infielder Henry Politz (Ole Miss commit), senior Bennett Lee (Tulane commit) & junior infielder Cole Russo (UCF verbal commit).
2. Calvary Christian (0-0)
This Week: vs Tarpon Springs (Tues.), vs Countryside (Thu.), @ Lakeland Christian (Sat.)
The Calvary Christian Warriors are coming off their second state title in three years & sit at #2 in the Tampa Bay area. The Warriors are led by multiple D-1 athletes as well, led by senior shortstop Vince Smith (Florida State commit), junior pitcher Tyler Dietz (USF commit), junior third baseman Tommy White (NC State verbal commit) & junior pitcher Jack Cebert (Stetson verbal commit).
3. Mitchell (0-0)
This Week: @ Dunedin (Mon.), vs TBD (Thu.), vs TBD (Sat.)
The Mitchell Mustangs are led by third year head coach Howard Chittum & are coming off a 25-2 season, a year ago. The Mustangs will be led this season, by senior infielder Jackson Miller (Wake Forest commit), senior pitcher Mason Miller (FGCU commit) & junior catcher Keaton Howard. The Mustangs kickoff the season tonight, as they travel to Dunedin High School.
4. Plant City (0-0)
This Week: vs Alonso (Tues.), @ Bloomingdale (Thu.)
The Plant City Raiders are coming off a season, where they won their first state championship in school history, defeating Strawberry Crest 3-1. The Raiders will be led this season by senior shortstop Jarod Wingo, junior outfielder Mario Williams, senior infielder Tyler Dowdy (West Florida commit) & senior infielder Cole Cothren. The Raiders will start the season tomorrow night, as they host Alonso High School.
5. East Lake (0-0)
This Week: vs Clearwater (Wed.), vs St. Petersburg (Thu.), @ Tarpon Springs (Fri.)
The East Lake Eagles check in at #5, in the first baseball rankings of the new season. East Lake reached the regional semifinals, losing a heartbreaker 2-1 in 8 innings to Seminole High School. East Lake will be led by senior pitcher Lucas Ismalli (Pittsburgh commit), senior pitcher Cooper Nelson & senior pitcher Ryan Slater (Florida commit). East Lake will open the season on Wednesday night, as they host Clearwater High School.
6. Berkeley Prep (0-0)
This Week: vs Lakewood Ranch (Thu.), @ Tampa Catholic (Fri.)
The Berkeley Prep Buccaneers qualified for the 2019 FHSAA Baseball State Playoffs, but lost 3-1 to First Academy (Orlando) in the regional quarterfinals. The Buccaneers have "unfinished business" to take care of, according to head coach Richie Warren. The Buccaneers will be led by senior catcher Davis Childers, senior pitcher Garrett Boeckle & senior pitcher Ian Brown. The Buccaneers will open the season on Thursday night, as they host Lakewood Ranch.
7. Wharton (0-0)
This Week: vs Brandon (Tues.), @ Newsome (Thu.)
The Wharton Wildcats are coming off a 19-5 season, a year ago but did not qualify for the 2019 FHSAA Baseball State Playoffs. However, the Wildcats lost only four seniors from last season's team. The Wildcats will be led by this season, senior Grady Maguire, senior pitcher Carson Caso, junior shortstop Zach Ehrhard & senior third baseman Steven Hotinski. The Wildcats will open up the season tomorrow night vs Brandon.
8. Leto (0-0)
This Week: @ Lennard (Tues.), @ King (Thu.)
The Leto Falcons are coming off a 23-7 season & made it all the way to the state semifinals, before running into the hands of Doral Academy. The Falcons will be led this season by, senior infielder Jose Santos & senior infielder Christian Gonzalez. Leto will open up the season tomorrow night, as they travel to Lennard High School.
9. Dunedin (0-0)
This Week: vs Mitchell (Mon.), vs TBD (Wed.), vs TBD (Fri.)
The Dunedin Falcons are coming off a 23-9 season, where they reached the 2019 FHSAA Baseball Class 6A State Championship game. The Falcons will be led this season by, senior infielder Tristan Morton, junior Noah Bukolt, junior infielder Dylan Oester & junior outfielder Bryce Tallery. The Falcons open up the season tonight, as they host Mitchell High School in Steve Georgiadis Memorial Tournament.
10. Land O'Lakes (0-0)
This Week: @ Wiregrass Ranch (Tues.), vs Wesley Chapel (Fri.)
The Land O'Lakes Gators are coming off a 19-6 season, where they qualified for the 2019 FHSAA Baseball Class 6A State Playoffs. The Gators will be returning senior infielder Dakota Harris this season, who was 2nd on the team in RBI's (20) last season. Land O'Lakes also returns their ace in junior pitcher Brian Holiday. The Gators open up the season tomorrow night, as they travel to Wiregrass Ranch.
On The Bubble: Alonso, Bishop McLaughlin, Bloomingdale, Durant, Gaither, Jefferson, Lennard, Plant, Riverview, Sickles, Springstead, Steinbrenner, Sunlake, Tampa Catholic