GAMEDAY BASEBALL POWER POLL - May 18
Sophomore Aaron Hoover of the Westfield Bulldogs gets mobbed by his teammates Friday night, moments after he recorded a perfect game against Centreville. The Bulldogs maintain the #1 spot in the Power Poll this week...
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine
Denis Buckley and the McLean Highlanders rise one spot this week, to #4, and they are looking for a Liberty District title tonight against the Stone Bridge Bulldogs
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine
The Potomac Falls Panthers are the lone AA team in our Power Poll again this week, and they rise to the #8 spot. Jacob Kline looks to help propell his team deep into Regional tournament play next week.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine
NORTHERN VA - As we head into the proverbial "2nd Season," with teams either in their final, or just beginning, their respective District tournaments, The Gameday Baseball Power Poll finds some very good teams playing their best baseball, at the right time. Since Spring Break, some Top 10 teams had their issues, and either bounced up and down the Poll, or fell out completely...while a couple others maintained their hold on the top spots. But with tournament time now here, everyone knows that teams that see Top 10 honors this week, could very well be a memory next week. Which teams, if any, will that be? You'll have to stay tuned, as we keep our collective eyes on the Northern Virginia Baseball Elite. But for now, below is our Power Poll Top 10, with the five that are looking up, and maybe moving up, if\when they progress...
1. Westfield 18-1
Last Week: #1; Defeated Centreville 3-0
Upcoming: Tonight - Robinson @ Chantilly HS (Concorde District tournament final); Northern Region 1st Round
The Bulldogs just keep on rolling! Undefeated in Virginia play (only loss coming during their South Carolina Spring Break trip), the Bulldogs are on the verge of another Concorde District tournament championship, helped along by "Sophomore Sensation," Aaron Hoover's perfect game on Friday against Centreville. With their good pitching staff, and a scrappy offense, this team is poised to make a run for a state title.
2. Osbourn Park 15-3
Last Week: #4; Defeated Battlefield 8-2; Defeated Fauquier 7-1
Upcoming: 1st round of Cedar Run tournament tonight, vs. Culpeper
Jumping from #4 to #2 this week, the Yellow Jackets have secured the top spot in the Cedar Run, cruising to victories last week over Battlefield and Fauquier, and will look to solidify their standing when they begin District tournament play tonight. But a loss to Osbourn two weeks ago could loom large as the tournament goes on. But for now, the Yellow Jackets retake the #2 spot in this week's poll. Stay tuned...
3. West Springfield 16-4
Last Week: #3; Defeated TC Williams 15-0
Upcoming: Tonight - South County @ Lake Braddock HS (Patriot District tournament final); Northern Region 1st Round
The Spartans could argue their case that they should occupy the #2 spot this week, with Woodbridge's loss, were it not for the play of Osbourn Park. But with only one game on their schedule last week, they will stand pat...for now. The Spartans are one of the hottest teams in the Northern Region, so we'll keep a close eye on them, and see if they can make a run for the top spot by this time next week.
4. McLean 17-4
Last Week: #5; Defeated Marshall 6-2
Upcoming: Tonight - Stone Bridge @ Madison HS (Liberty District tournament final); Northern Region 1st Round
The Highlanders move up one spot this week, and are another Northern Region team that is playing very good baseball at the right time. A team with very good pitching (Sean Fitzgerald and Dennis Buckley), and a good mix of on-base experts and timely power at the plate make this team very scary to play going into the regional tournament. A state tournament berth is on this team's mind, and they have the tools to get there.
5. Woodbridge 14-4
Last Week: #2; Defeated Freedom-Wdbg 25-1, Lost to Hylton 9-8
Upcoming: Cardinal District tournament; Forest Park\Gar-Field winner on Wednesday
The Vikings' loss to Hylton last week was their undoing in this week's poll. But the Cardinal District tournament could see their reemergence higher up the ladder after it all plays out. A possible date with #10 Potomac for the final will be a good one, as the Panthers have beaten Woodbridge twice this season, in two meetings. This will be the hottest ticket in Prince William County should this match-up materialize on Friday.
6. Stone Bridge 17-4
Last Week: #6; Defeated Woodson 4-3
Upcoming: Tonight - McLean @ Madison HS (Liberty District tournament final); Northern Region 1st Round
The Bulldogs had the week off until their date with Woodson this past Saturday, and their one run victory over the Cavaliers, although propelling them into the Liberty District tournament final (their 4th in as many years), won't allow them to move up in the poll this week. A victory over McLean tonight, and a good start in the Northern Region tournament, should see the Bulldogs climb deep into the top 5 next week.
7. Yorktown 18-3
Last Week: #9; Defeated Stuart 10-0; Defeated Washington-Lee 10-5
Upcoming: Tonight - vs. Mt. Vernon (National District tournament final); Northern Region 1st Round
The Patriots will look to sweep National District honors tonight, and sweep the series against the #2 seed Mt. Vernon Majors. Their run in the National, and their hard nosed play of late moves the Patriots up two notches in the Poll, and if they can solve their woes against Concorde District foes once the Northern Region tournament goes into the 2nd and 3rd rounds, we'll see this team rise dramatically real soon.
8. Potomac Falls 17-3
Last Week: #10; Defeated Broad Run 14-8, Dominion 4-2, and Freedom-SR 5-1
Upcoming: Tuesday vs. Dominion (Dulles District Semifinals)
The Panthers ran rough-shod through the Dulles District this season, sweeping their competition for the 1st time in school history (14-0), and also garnering their 1st ever Dulles District regular season crown, earning another berth into the Region II tournament next week. The amazing part about this statement, and fete, is the fact they are doing this with a fairly young squad. But mixed with seasoned seniors, this team is beating everyone, and will look to grab a state tournament berth should they continue to pitch well, and stay hot at the plate.
9. South County 16-5
Last Week: NR; Defeated Annandale 20-5; Defeated Lake Braddock 3-2
Upcoming: Tonight - #3 West Springfield @ lake Braddock HS (Patriot District tournament final); Northern Region 1st Round
Welcome to the Top 10 Stallions! South County's two wins in Patriot District tournament play have propelled them into the final versus #3 West Springfield, and a berth into the Northern Region tournament. The Stallions dropped two games to the Spartans during the season, but South County is playing good baseball right now, and tonight's game will be a good one. You know the old baseball adage..."It's Hard To Beat A Team 3 Times In A Row..." Will the 3rd time be the charm for the Stallions?
10. Potomac 15-5
Last Week: NR; Defeated Forest Park 4-3, and Hylton 4-3.
Upcoming: Wednesday - Hylton\Freedom winner (Cardinal District semifinals)
The Panthers move into the Top 10 for the 2nd time this season. Having a measure of bad luck once returning from Spring Break, the panthers have gotten back on track, and secured the Cardinal District regular season title, with their late run. Should their winning ways continue, look for the Panthers to keep moving up the ladder.
HONORABLE MENTION
Chantilly (16-5) - The Chargers' inability to find a way around Westfield, and their semifinal loss to Robinson move Chantilly out of the Top10. But the Northern Region tournament could prove fruitful to the Chargers, as their pitching will be rested in time.
Lake Braddock (14-5) - The Bruins fall out of the Top 10 this week, by virtue of their heartbreaking loss to South County in the Patriot tournament semifinals. But the Bruins qualify for Northern Region play, so we'll see if they can crack the seal again before it's all over.
Osbourn (13-7) - The Eagles seemed poised to get into the Top 10 going into last week, especially after a big win over #2 Osbourn Park in the week previous. But a loss to Stonewall Jackson keeps Osbourn in the Honorable Mention category, and now they need to win the Cedar Run to make their case to jump into the Elite.
Mount Vernon (15-7) - The Majors were a team that was looking to wallow in obscurity, until the National District tournament began. But impressive wins over Falls Church and Edison have them poised for a tournament championship, and will earn them a spot in this week's Northern Region tournament.
Loudoun Valley (13-7) - Look out Cedar Run...Here come the Vikings. Playing their best baseball of the season...if not in the past couple of seasons...Loudoun Valley is dispatching opponents with relative aplomb, and by big numbers. If this team can now take the Cedar Run tournament crown, the Vikings may, very well, see the Top 10 for the 1st time this season.
