There were some big games played this past weekend at the Border Wars as well as some of the other sites. We’ve tried to provide some reasoning for the bigger moves in the rankings this week, so let us know if you disagree.
8u
The Carolina Threshers are 41-1 and just won the Border Wars, beating #2 Dirtbags Black in the finals. They remain #1. Lake Norman Vipers dropped a game this past weekend against the Hub City Hops (SC). It’s really close between Dirtbags and the Vipers but for now we feel that the Dirtbags’ competition has been a bit higher level overall than the Vipers so we gave a slight nod to the Dirtbags this week. East Rowan held at #4 this week, while the Carolina Vandals moved up to #5 after wins over #9 Spartans – Allen and #13 East Rowan 7u. The Reidsville Luckies are up to 6th this week after a 4-0 weekend including wins over previously ranked Summerfield Stars and Carolina Young Guns. Youngsville Phantoms dropped slightly to 7th after a loss to newly ranked #12 NCDB Rivercats. Dirtbags East is down to 8th after a 2-2 weekend. Spartans – Allen is now 9th after a 3-1 weekend including a win over #13 East Rowan 7u. The NCDB Rivercats are new to our rankings this week at #12. They have played like an entirely new team this spring after a somewhat disappointing fall. They’ve defeated the Youngsville Phantoms twice in the past three weekends, have a win over the #11 Greenville Athletics, and have two 1-run losses to the Threshers. They are 10-6 this spring with 4 losses against the Threshers, one against the Phantoms and one against Greenville Athletics. We also added back the FV Wildcats this week after the Young Guns were dropped from the rankings.
9u
The Park Sharon Nationals and SBA Canes – Simmons stayed at #1 and #2, respectively, after they both won tournaments this past weekend playing up in 10u age groups. We dropped Greenville Athletics – Scott from 3rd to 7th as they’ve been largely inactive this spring, currently at 4-0 this spring. We move Dirtbags Black up from 6th to 4th after they won the 9u age group at the Triple Crown Border Wars this past weekend. We moved East Rowan – Smith up from 15th to 11th after they went 4-1 this past weekend including a win over #16 Lake Norman Thunder. Dirtbags East also moved up from 16th to 12th after a finals appearance at Border Wars. The Mount Holly Lightning and GBI Express dropped from the rankings after disappointing weekends and the Davidson County Rippers and Rock Solid Red moved into the rankings at 19th and 20th, respectively.
10u
1-7 remained the same this week as their was no major movements with the 10u bracket play cancelled at the Kingsport Super NIT and Border Wars. The Alamance Patriots dropped from 8th to 13th this week after a loss to the Carolina Thunder. This weekend was one of their first major tests of the spring and they lost to the only ranked team they played. At 14-1 this spring, they’ve amassed an impressive win-loss record, but don’t have a win over any current top 20 teams. We also dropped the Carolina Havoc from 10th to 12th after a loss to 9u #2 SBA Canes – Simmons. The Youngsville Heat jumped from 18th to 14th after a 3-0 weekend including a win over #18 Carolina Thunder, who dropped from 16th last week. We swapped positions for Mission Vipers Gold and Black this week after Gold defeated Black in the USSSA tournament final in Charlotte this past weekend.
11u
The Carolina Blue Sox and SBA Canes – Ross stayed at #1 and 2 this week, despite the Blue Sox taking their first 11u loss of the spring, as we still think the better record and head-to-head win by the Blue Sox over Canes – Ross tilt the scales in favor of the Blue Sox. Five Star Carolina – Neyra moved up to #3 this week after a 5-0 weekend in Charleston, SC included wins over the Carolina Astros, Carolina Bruins (SC), and Carolina Teal (SC), and Canes Baseball NC – Hood dropped to 5th after a loss to #4 Mission Vipers Gold at the Border Wars last weekend. We dropped the OTK Saints from 11th to 14th after a 1-2 showing at the Border Wars. The NCDB Rivercats jumped into our rankings at #20 after a 3-1 weekend with a win over #9 Cleveland Wildcats Elite.
12u
Legends stayed #1 despite their loss in the finals of the Border Wars to an excellent Dirty South Bats Venom team. There were not many significant changes otherwise in the top 10 this week. We did some reshuffling in the middle of the of the top 20 based on the results in Oxford last week. Majestic Greensboro dropped one spot to #7 after a loss to #11 Carolina Rattlers in the opening pool play game. Sandhills Heat went 1-3 with losses to Majestic (x2) and a 1-run loss to #12 Carolina Thunder so we dropped them to 10th. Overall, the Heat, Rattlers, and Thunder proved they are very tighty packed right now and we ranked them 10-11-12 accordingly. We moved the Venom Stars down to 14th as they just haven’t been as active as other teams. The rest of the top 20 was largely unchanged.
13u
Canes Baseball NC – Gallaher experienced their 2nd 13u loss this past weekend, but we feel their overall resume is still impressive enough to remain in the top spot. #2-6 were unchanged and Dirtbags – Smith slid up to #7. Dirtbags Platinum – Holt made a big jump from 14th to 8th after a strong showing at the Border Wars. Rock Solid Red is also new to our rankings at #10. They have not been very active but reached the semifinals in the Border Wars (before a rain out) and defeated Canes – Gallaher. The Kernersville Bulldogs dropped from 7th to 12th after a 1-2 showing at the Border Wars. Greenville Athletics – Jones was moved down from 8th to 14th as they have not been active this spring. Five Star Carolina moved into the rankings at 18th after a Silver bracket finals appearance at the Border Wars.