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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

With area baseball and softball teams getting into the thick of their schedules, the Alabama Sports Writers Association released its first baseball and softball media rankings on Thursday, March 21.

The rankings include many area teams headlined by the Thompson Warriors, who sit atop Class 7A as the best softball team in the state’s highest classification.

The Warriors check in at No. 1 in the Class 7A softball rankings with a 21-2 record. Thompson is fresh off a win in area play over No. 2 Hoover and currently sits at No. 25 in the country according to MaxPreps.

Joining them in the Class 7A rankings is Spain Park, which checks in at No. 8. The Jags have amassed an 11-8 record, including wins over Central-Phenix City, Huntsville, Oxford and East Lawrence in tournament play.

Down in Class 6A, the Helena Huskies are No. 2 in the softball rankings behind only Wetumpka. Victories over Hoover, Spain Park, Curry, Chelsea and Hatton highlight a 23-4 record.

In baseball, Oak Mountain is No. 4 in Class 7A with a 17-6 record. The Eagles have defeated Helena and Briarwood in county play and recently beat Vestavia Hills.

The Thompson Warriors rank No. 6 in Class 7A with a 15-7 record. That record includes wins over 7A No. 2 Bob Jones, 7A No. 4 Oak Mountain, 6A No. 3 Saraland and four out-of-state opponents including Georgia’s Dublin and Mississippi’s Hernando.

Spain Park is No. 9 in the latest rankings with a 13-6 record. The Jags have downed Thompson twice and also boast wins over Florida’s IMG Academy Gray, Vestavia Hills and Baldwin County.

In Class 6A, Briarwood is No. 5 thanks to an 8-6 record. The Lions have notable wins over Hewitt-Trussville and McAdory and have a pair of wins each against John Carroll, Leeds and Pelham.

Helena is No. 9 in Class 6A after an 11-9 start to the season. The Huskies boast Class 7A wins over Thompson, Auburn, Spain Park, Hoover, Chelsea, Florence and Dothan in addition to a victory over McAdory.

Down in Class 5A, Shelby County was rewarded for its 13-5 start with the No. 5 ranking. The Wildcats have earned wins over multiple notable opponents including McGill-Toolen, McAdory, Bryant and East Limestone and defeated Illinois’ Rich Township for its last victory.

The reigning Class 2A runners-up Vincent is No. 4 in the latest rankings. The Jackets are 13-2 with their only losses coming to Class 6A and 5A opponents in Homewood and Leeds. They also boast big wins over Leeds, Childersburg, Ramsay, St. Clair County and Louisiana’s Hannan.

To see the full rankings for both softball and baseball, read more below:

ASWA SOFTBALL RANKINGS

CLASS 7A

1. Thompson (21-2)
2. Hoover (15-3-1)
3. Hewitt-Trussville (11-3)
4. Central-Phenix City (17-3-1)
5. Tuscaloosa County (16-3)
6. Vestavia Hills (8-5-2)
7. Daphne (12-1)
8. Spain Park (11-8)
9. Austin (17-7-1)
10. Enterprise (9-6)

Others nominated: Auburn (10-2), Baker (9-7), Bob Jones (7-7), Chelsea (8-10-3), Dothan (8-6), Fairhope (11-8), Mary Montgomery (10-7), Prattville (6-6-2), Sparkman (6-10-1).

CLASS 6A

1. Wetumpka (22-2)
2. Helena (23-4)
3. Saraland (21-3)
4. Hazel Green (15-6-1)
5. Hartselle (12-6-1)
6. Athens (8-5)
7. Muscle Shoals (17-4)
8. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (15-5)
9. Spanish Fort (10-9-1)
10. Gardendale (9-4-1)

Others nominated: Brookwood (12-10-1), Calera (15-14), Cullman (12-9), Mortimer Jordan (10-6), Oxford (7-7), Pelham (12-8), Pell City (12-11).

CLASS 5A

1. Springville (11-3)
2. Alexandria (13-5-1)
3. Jasper (14-4)
4. Gulf Shores (13-3)
5. Brewbaker Tech (9-6)
6. Russellville (13-6-1)
7. Southside-Gadsden (14-4-1)
8. Moody (10-10)
9. Ardmore (8-7)
10. Rehobeth (8-4)

Others nominated: Boaz (15-2-1), Brewer (9-7), Lawrence County (9-11), Leeds (11-2), Scottsboro (8-8), West Point (9-5).

CLASS 4A

1. Orange Beach (13-0)
2. Curry (17-3-1)
3. Houston Academy (12-1)
4. Satsuma (21-2-1)
5. West Limestone (18-5-2)
6. Brooks (11-4-1)
7. Hamilton (16-4)
8. Madison County (16-3)
9. North Jackson (16-2)
10. Northside (10-12-1)

Others nominated: American Christian (9-2), Ashville (9-6), Cherokee County (12-2), Etowah (13-8), Handley (11-3), Munford (12-1-1), Mobile Christian (10-7), New Hope (7-8), Prattville Christian (6-3), Priceville (16-7), Slocomb (12-1), T.R. Miller (12-3), White Plains (12-6).

CLASS 3A

1. Plainview (8-2)
2. St. James (14-0)
3. Madison Academy (11-2)
4. Opp (13-1)
5. Piedmont (7-2)
6. Winfield (8-1)
7. Lauderdale County (9-4)
8. Mars Hill Bible (6-6)
9. Glencoe (8-12)
10. Ohatchee (14-3)

Others nominated: Beulah (3-4), Danville (7-4), Hokes Bluff (8-5-1), Randolph County (7-5-2), Straughn (6-2).

CLASS 2A

1. Wicksburg (16-5)
2. West End (10-0)
3. Zion Chapel (17-2)
4. Hatton (5-14)
5. Lamar County (9-7)
6. Winston County (13-4)
7. Pleasant Valley (6-5)
8. Sumiton Christian (7-5)
9. Sand Rock (5-9)
10. North Sand Mountain (6-6)

Others nominated: Ider (5-5), Pisgah (7-5), Sulligent (10-6-1), Vincent (9-7).

CLASS 1A

1. Skyline (11-2)
2. Brantley (9-5)
3. Leroy (9-8)
4. Waterloo (12-2-1)
5. Kinston (12-6)
6. Spring Garden (8-3)
7. Hackleburg (10-4-1)
8. Sweet Water (9-10)
9. Verbena (9-6)
10. Billingsley (10-11)

Others nominated: Cherokee (10-7), Decatur Heritage (8-6-1), Meek (11-6), Ragland (3-4), Red Level (8-4).

AISA

1. Edgewood (21-6)
2. Lee-Scott (14-7)
3. Bessemer Academy (20-5)
4. Macon East (16-6-1)
5. Clarke Prep (16-3-1)
6. Hooper Academy (14-5)
7. Glenwood (13-14)
8. Abbeville Christian (7-6)
9. Lowndes Academy (9-8)
10. Chambers Academy (11-13)

Others nominated: Patrician Academy (9-4-2), South Choctaw (10-3).

ASWA BASEBALL RANKINGS

CLASS 7A

1. Central-Phenix City (20-1)
2. Bob Jones (20-4)
3. Hewitt-Trussville (15-4)
4. Oak Mountain (17-6)
5. Baker (14-3)
6. Thompson (15-7)
7. Mary G. Montgomery (12-3)
8. Vestavia Hills (8-7)
9. Spain Park (13-6)
10. Sparkman (16-4)

Others nominated: Auburn (10-5), Chelsea (14-6), Enterprise (12-4), Fairhope (13-7), Florence (12-7), Grissom (12-8), Hoover (8-9), James Clemens (15-6), Tuscaloosa County (10-9).

 

CLASS 6A

1. Hartselle (13-4)
2. Oxford (12-6)
3. Saraland (15-4)
4. Mountain Brook (15-3)
5. Briarwood Christian (8-6)
6. Gardendale (10-4)
7. Spanish Fort (12-6)
8. Homewood (9-6)
9. Helena (11-9)
10. Faith Academy (10-4)

Others nominated: Athens (11-5), Calera (8-7), Cullman (5-11), Decatur (12-5), Hueytown (11-8), Muscle Shoals (8-5), Northridge (4-4), Pike Road (12-4).

 

CLASS 5A

1. Gulf Shores (15-6)
2. Boaz (12-2)
3. Alexandria (12-5)
4. Sardis (10-6)
5. Shelby County (13-5)
6. Mobile Christian (8-6)
7. Russellville (10-7)
8. Fairview (13-3)
9. Elmore County (11-2)
10. Headland (7-6)

Others nominated: Ardmore (11-7), East Limestone (11-7), Leeds (9-7), Rehobeth (10-6), Springville (11-4), St. Paul’s (10-8), Sylacauga (10-3), Valley (13-2), West Point (6-7).

 

CLASS 4A

1. Bibb County (16-1)
2. Corner (12-3)
3. Bayside Academy (9-5)
4. American Christian (8-9)
5. Etowah (10-9)
6. Deshler (13-4)
7. Trinity (11-8)
8. Westminster Christian (9-5)
9. Hanceville (10-3)
10. Orange Beach (12-3)

Others nominated: Andalusia (5-7), Brooks (5-7), Central-Florence (13-5), Cherokee County (12-6), Cleburne County (9-1), Good Hope (8-5), Hamilton (14-5), Jacksonville (8-9), Madison County (15-3), Munford (11-3), North Jackson (14-4), Priceville (8-7), Satsuma (13-2), St. John Paul II (6-4), T.R. Miller (7-8), Wilson (13-5).

 

CLASS 3A

1. Piedmont (10-4)
2. Decatur Heritage (10-5)
3. Thomasville (10-4)
4. Saint James (8-4)
5. Prattville Christian (11-5)
6. Providence Christian (8-6)
7. Houston Academy (6-6)
8. Hokes Bluff (9-5)
9. Gordo (7-6)
10. Vinemont (14-3)

Others nominated: Flomaton (8-8), Glencoe (10-8), Lauderdale County (6-4), New Brockton (11-6), Northside Methodist (8-4), Oakman (11-4), Opp (7-5), Straughn (10-6), Westbrook Christian (6-5), W.S. Neal (9-7).

 

CLASS 2A

1. Ariton (10-4)
2. Pike Liberal Arts (13-1)
3. G.W. Long (9-4)
4. Vincent (13-2)
5. Wicksburg (13-2)
6. Collinsville (12-2)
7. Lindsay Lane (12-6)
8. Fyffe (9-5)
9. Hatton (15-5)
10. Mars Hill (10-5)

Others nominated: Bayshore Christian (6-7), Donoho (5-6), North Sand Mountain (8-5), Pleasant Valley (8-6), Tuscaloosa Academy (8-6), Whitesburg Christian (7-5).

 

CLASS 1A

1. Millry (16-0)
2. Sumiton Christian (10-3)
3. Appalachian (9-2)
4. Sweet Water (10-4)
5. Hackleburg (10-5)
6. Leroy (9-4)
7. Gaylesville (10-2)
8. Florala (7-1)
9. Brantley (7-2)
10. Billingsley (8-4)

Others nominated: Covenant Christian (4-5), Lynn (6-2), Red Level (5-3), Spring Garden (5-5).

 

AISA

1. Glenwood (11-5)
2. Lowndes Academy (15-5)
3. Lee-Scott (10-6)
4. Clarke Prep (12-3)
5. Macon-East (15-5)
6. Bessemer Academy (17-8)
7. Edgewood Academy (16-8)
8. Patrician (6-5)
9. Autauga Academy (11-7)
10. Escambia Academy (6-4)

Others nominated: Cornerstone Christian (6-2), Lakeside (10-12).