Several area teams were listed Tuesday in the initial Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings of the 2024 season.
The Helias Crusaders are ranked No. 8 in Class 5, while the Jefferson City Jays are receiving votes in the Class 5 poll.
The St. Elizabeth Hornets lead all area teams with the No. 1 ranking in Class 1. The Hornets are the two-time defending state champion in that class.
The South Callaway Bulldogs, also coming off a Final Four appearance, are ranked No. 2 in Class 3, while the Iberia Rangers hold the No. 2 ranking in Class 2.
In Class 4, Southern Boone is ranked No. 7 and Blair Oaks is ranked No. 10. The two teams will face each other next Tuesday in a Tri-County Conference matchup.
Fatima is ranked No. 6 in Class 3, dropping down from Class 4.
In Class 2, Russellville, Eugene and Tipton are all receiving votes outside the top 10.
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MHSBCA Rankings
These are the initial rankings of the 2024 season from the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, with records through Monday and last season’s final rankings.
CLASS 6
Rank, Team, Record, Previous
1. Francis Howell, 4-0, 2
2. Liberty North, 4-0, 1
3. Fort Zumwalt West, 4-0, 5
4. Jackson, 3-1, 3
5. Vianney, 2-1, T8
6. Rock Bridge, 3-0, T8
7. Lee’s Summit West, 3-0, NR
8. C.B.C., 3-1, NR
9. Blue Springs South, 1-1, 6
10. Staley, 1-1, NR
Others receiving votes: Liberty (2-0).
CLASS 5
Rank, Team, Record, Previous
1. Festus, 2-0, 1
2. St. Francis Borgia, 2-0, 2
3. Webb City, 0-0, 4
4. Willard, 2-0, 10
5. Rockwood Summit, 2-0, 7
6. Kearney, 2-1, 5
7. Fort Zumwalt South, 0-0, 3
8. Helias, 0-2, NR
9. West Plains, 3-0, NR
10. Branson, 1-0, NR
Others receiving votes: Parkway Central (2-0), Platte County (2-0), Smithville (1-2), Camdenton (1-2), Belton (1-2), St. Dominic (1-1), Washington (0-4), Hillsboro (1-1), Jefferson City (0-1).
CLASS 4
Rank, Team, Record, Previous
1. Father Tolton, 2-0, NR
2. Kennett, 1-0, 5
3. Park Hills Central, 2-1, 8
4. Excelsior Springs, 0-3, 3
5. St. Charles West, 0-1, 10
6. Logan-Rogersville, 0-0, 6
7. Southern Boone, 2-0, NR
8. Fulton, 1-1, 4
9. Winfield, 0-0, NR
10. Blair Oaks, 1-1, NR
Others receiving votes: Lutheran: St. Charles (0-2), Nevada (0-0), Boonville (1-2), Savannah (2-0).
CLASS 3
Rank, Team, Record, Previous
1. Licking, 2-0, 1
2. South Callaway, 1-1, 2
3. Barstow, 0-0, 4
4. Scott City, 3-0, 7
5. Valle Catholic, 3-0, 8
6. Fatima, 2-1, NR
7. Stockton, 2-0, 9
8. Forsyth, 3-0, NR
9. West County, 1-0, 5
10. Lawson, 3-0, NR
Others receiving votes: Kelly (1-1), Valley Park (1-2), Duchesne (3-0).
CLASS 2
Rank, Team, Record, Previous
1. Ash Grove, 1-0, 1
2. Iberia, 2-0, 5
3. Chaffee, 3-0, 3
4. Portageville, 3-2, 3*
5. Salisbury, 0-0, 2
6. Putnam County, 1-0, 6
7. Gainesville, 1-2, 7
8. Greenville, 2-1, NR
9. Bernie, 2-0, 8
10. Galena, 2-0, NR
*—Played in Class 3 last season
Others receiving votes: Russellville (1-2), Marion C. Early (1-0), Eugene (0-2), Maysville (1-2, Mansfield (2-0), Harrisburg (1-2), Tipton (2-1).
CLASS 1
Rank, Team, Record, Previous
1. St. Elizabeth, 2-1, 1
2. Oran, 0-0, 7
3. Green City, 2-0, 6
4. New Franklin, 1-0, NR
5. Cooter, 1-0, 3
6. Risco, 3-0, NR
7. Wheatland, 2-1, NR
8. Northland Christian, 2-0, NR
9. Higbee, 1-0, NR
10. Liberal, 1-0, 5
Others receiving votes: Pilot Grove (1-0), Glasgow (0-1), Northwest: Hughesville (0-1), Northeast: Cairo (0-0), Billings (1-0), Leeton (0-0).