Baseball rankings: Seismic changes across pre-playoff polls

No. 5 Lambert (19-7, 15-3) will try to defend its state title but have dropped from the No. 2 spot after a loss to West Forsyth (17-7, 15-3) who enters the polls for the first time all season at No. 8. No. 1 Parkview (24-2, 15-1) and No. 2 Walton (22-3, 15-1) are two of the hottest teams entering the playoffs currently riding winning streaks of 16 and 10 games.

There will be a new champion in Class AAAAA after Houston County (13-10, 9-3) failed to qualify for the state playoffs. No. 1 Starrs Mill (21-2, 12-1) clings onto the top spot in the state after winning two of three from No. 5 Union Grove (18-4, 15-3). Region 4-AAAAA sends three top ten teams to the playoffs (Starrs Mill, Union Grove and No. 8 Ola). No. 2 Allatoona (24-2, 17-1) rides the longest winning streak into the tournament with 19-straight, while No. 7 Stephenson (17-2, 13-0) enters after a perfect region record.

Reigning AAAA champion Carrollton (10-15, 5-9) scrapes into the playoffs as the No. 4 seed out of the powerful Region 5. The top four teams in the class all seem a cut above the rest in No. 1 Buford (24-2, 16-0), No. 2 St. Pius (24-2, 16-2), No. 3 Whitewater (21-4, 14-1) and No. 4 Troup County (22-4, 12-3).

No. 1 Blessed Trinity (23-2, 16-0) is in the drivers seat in AAA to repeat as state champs. The Titans have ripped off 21-straight games. No. 8 Ringgold (21-6, 16-1) bursts into the rankings after 17 consecutive wins. No. 2 Pierce County (24-2, 19-0) is a strong choice to make a deep run after falling in the quarterfinals a year ago.

Class AAs top three teams all reside in Region 6 with No. 1 Wesleyan (22-4, 12-2), No. 2 Greater Atlanta Christian (22-4, 12-2) and No. 2 Lovett (20-4, 12-2) all major threats to dethrone No. 5 Benedictine (18-7, 12-2).

No. 1 Kings Ridge (21-3, 15-2) and No. 9 Charlton County (19-4, 15-1) are the defending Private-A and Public-A state champions. No. 4 Eagles Landing Christian Academy (17-3, 9-0) and No. 7 Providence Christian Academy (22-4, 14-2) are riding 14 and 13-game win streaks respectively. Providence Christian has allowed only six runs in nine region games this season.

Class AAAAAA

1. Parkview

2. Walton

3. Brookwood

4. Newnan

5. Lambert

6. Milton

7. Kennesaw Mountain

8. West Forsyth

9. Pope

10. Archer



Class AAAAA

1. Starrs Mill

2. Allatoona

3. Gainesville

4. Greenbrier

5. Union Grove

6. Loganville

7. Stephenson

8. Ola

9. Richmond Hill

10. East Paulding



Class AAAA

1. Buford

2. St. Pius

3. Whitewater

4. Troup County

5. Locust Grove

6. Pike County

7. Crisp County

8. Eastside

9. Columbia

10. Wayne County



Class AAA

1. Blessed Trinity

2. Pierce County

3. Westside-Augusta

4. Jackson

5. Jefferson

6. Westminster

7. Franklin County

8. Ringgold

9. Decatur

10. Calhoun



Class AA

1. Wesleyan

2. Greater Atlanta Christian

3. Lovett

4. Bacon County

5. Benedictine

6. Heard County

7. Darlington

8. Bremen

9. Fitzgerald

10. Union County



Class A

1. Kings Ridge

2. Tattnall Square

3. Whitefield Academy

4. Eagles Landing Christian

5. Mt. Paran

6. Treutlen

7. Providence Christian Academy

8. Brookstone

9. Charlton County

10. First Presbyterian Day