Gameday Baseball Power Poll - May 11th, 2007
Much movement in the Poll this week, as some of the Top Dogs are starting to crumble, and the teams at the bottom come away with some upsets to move up the ladder. Don't be fooled by the records! The middle teams are playing well enough now, and right before their respective District tournaments. Can they continue to climb? Next week should be the test!
1. Stone Bridge (10-4 \ 14-6)
* The Bulldogs remain our top Loudoun County team this week, as they finish in 3rd place in the standings in the tough Liberty District, going into next week's tournament. A tough loss to Langely hurt their shot at the #2 seed, but the Bulldogs bounced back nice to defeat South Lakes, to hang on to that 3 spot. Once little used sophomore Michael Prince making some noise with his bat of late, and could help this team make a run at a berth into the Northern Region tournament.
2. Loudoun Valley (7-1 \ 17-3)
* The Vikings avoided disaster last Friday, needing to come from behind late in the game to edge Dominion, in what could have been their undoing, and unseeding, in this poll. A nice win over another National District rival, Yorktown, over the weekend, and knocking off Dulles District top ranked Park View, and Loudoun Valley stays at #2.
3. Park View (10-2 \ 13-5)
* Only 1 game on the schedule since last week's poll, a loss to Loudoun Valley, is all that possibly saved these Patriots from falling this week. Nobody seems to want to make a run at the Patriots, as Dulles District rivals are falling fast! In order to cement themselves as Dulles District champs, they'll have to win tough games against a surging Potomac Falls, and then Broad Run for what could possibly be for the title.
4. Broad Run (9-3 \ 10-8)
* The Spartans climb back into the 3 hole, as they take advantage of an easy schedule last week, and benefit from some tough losses by their running mates in the District. Tough games against Loudoun County and Park View ahead. Can they retake the Dulles District?
5. Potomac Falls (8-4 \ 11-6)
* The Panthers have obviously taken to heart their previous standings, and the commentary as to how they arrived there, by starting to play some solid baseball, and notching some impressive victories over tough opponents, Loudoun County and Heritage. Aaron Sweger and Jacob Kline, starting to assert themselves as much needed help to the already steady Cory Flickenger and Rob Malan. Will it be enough to capture a tournament title?
6. Heritage (7-6 \ 10-7)
* A loss to Potomac Falls, and a win against Briar Woods wouldn't necessarily be cause for a rise in the ranks in this week's poll, but the Pride got some help from Loudoun County, by the Raiders going on an inopportune losing streak. Still..... A win over the Raiders next week, in their season finale, can solidify the Pride as a legitimate threat to do some damage in the upcoming tournament.
7. Dominion (6-6 \ 11-7)
* The "Up-And-Down" season for these scrappy Titans has them on the "Up" side this week, as they took Loudoun Valley to the wire last Friday, in a game they should have won, had they decided to play defense at the right time, and then went on to complete the season sweep over Loudoun County in impressive fashion. Sophomore Chris Taylor continues to shut down opposing offenses, and if the Titans sew up the holes in their defense, they could contend for the tournament championship.
8. Loudoun County (8-4 \ 10-7)
* The Raiders go on an ill-timed losing streak, and see their Dulles District championship hopes diminished, losing to Potomac Falls and Dominion in their past 2 games, and dropping them from the 4 places......The biggest swing of any team since the Polls came out. Opponents are starting to figure out ace Joe Strange, and the schedule doesn't get any easier for the Raiders, with Broad Run and Heritage on the horizon.
9. Freedom (1-12 \ 2-16)
* The Eagles will look to retool, and hope for good things ion 2008.
10. Briar Woods (0-12 \ 0-18)
* Tough year for these Falcons. If they stay positive and work hard in the off season, good things can happen!
