Week 1 baseball rankings

In Class 7A, defending champion Walton opens the season No. 1. The Raiders got off to a rocky 0-2 start this season, but found the win column this Thursday with a 12-8 win over McEachern. No. 2 Norcross dropped its season opener 5-2 at Cambridge, but the Blue Devils have plenty of talent returning from their 27-8 team a year ago that advanced all the way to the Final Four.

In Class 6A, Pope headlines the poll after finishing runner-up to Walton last season. The Greyhounds lead a new Class 6A field that includes No. 2 Allatoona and last year’s Class 5A semifinalist Gainesville.

Buford debuts at No. 1 in Class 5A after falling 2-1 in the championship series to Loganville last year. Loganville sits at No. 3 in the poll behind 2016 semifinalist Locust Grove.

Blessed Trinity was upset by Westminster in the Class 3A finals last season, but the Titans are reloaded and sitting pretty at No. 1 in Class 4A. Eastside debuts at No. 2 after making a run to last year’s 4A semis.

Defending Class 2A champion Lovett jumped up to Class 3A and opens the season No. 1, while Benedictine takes over No. 1 in Class 2A.

Wesleyan’s drop down to Class A has the Wolves No. 1, although Tattnall Square, King’s Ridge, Holy Innocents’ and Hebron Christian form a talented top 5.

Gordon Lee exited last year’s 2A playoffs after getting paired with Holy Innocents’ in the opening round. Now, the Trojans find themselves in a wide open Class A-Public and sit as the Week 1 leader of the pack.

Class AAAAAAA

1. Walton
2. Norcross
3. Parkview
4. Lambert
5. Collins Hill
6. Brookwood
7. Etowah
8. Mill Creek
9. Grayson
10. Lassiter

Class AAAAAA

1. Pope
2. Allatoona
3. Harrison
4. Winder-Barrow
5. Gainesville
6. Dalton
7. Cambridge
8. Lee County
9. Northgate
10. Johns Creek

Class AAAAA

1. Buford
2. Locust Grove
3. Loganville
4. South Effingham
5. Veterans
6. Jones County
7. East Paulding
8. Starr’s Mill
9. Bainbridge
10. Kell

Class AAAA

1. Blessed Trinity
2. Eastside
3. St. Pius
4. Cartersville
5. Woodward Academy
6. Columbus
7. Cedartown
8. Marist
9. Madison County
10. Heritage-Catoosa

Class AAA

1. Lovett
2. Greater Atlanta Chrisitan
3. North Hall
4. Pierce County
5. Westminster
6. Franklin County
7. Ringgold
8. Calhoun
9. Dawson County
10. Jackson County

Class AA

1. Benedictine
2. Heard County
3. Berrien
4. Bleckley County
5. Jeff Davis
6. Callaway
7. Rockmart
8. Washington County
9. Elbert County
10. Harlem

Class A-Public

1. Gordon Lee
2. Schley County
3. Bowdon
4. Emanuel County Institute
5. Trion
6. Clinch County
7. Charlton County
8. Lanier County
9. Taylor County
10. Treutlen

Class A-Private

1. Wesleyan
2. Tattnall Square
3. King’s Ridge
4. Holy Innocents’
5. Hebron Christian
6. Calvary Day
7. Eagle’s Landing Christian
8. George Walton Academy
9. Savannah Christian
10. First Presbyterian Day