Season’s first baseball poll

Lambert has vaulted to the top of the season’s first baseball rankings after an impressive 8-0 start that included wins over North Gwinnett, Walton, Peachtree Ridge and Blessed Trinity. The Longhorns have been the best team thus far in the 2014 season. Also in Class AAAAAA, perennial powers Parkview and Walton made the top five along with upstart Mountain View, a relatively new program that is 8-1 to start the year.

In Class AAAAA, south metro power Whitewater begins the season at the top of the poll after an undefeated start. The Wildcats have topped Northgate, Newnan, Carrollton and East Coweta to start the season. Traditional powers Gainesville, Greenbrier and Evans round out the top four and 6-0 Allatoona comes in at No. 5.

Marist tops the Class AAAA poll after quality wins over Cartersville and Parkview to start the year. Twelve-time state champ Columbus is second and defending champ Redan is fourth.

In Class AAA, Buford is No. 1. South Georgia powers Appling County and Pierce County made the top five as did north Georgia’s White County and middle Georgia’s Pike County.

The center of power in Class AA the past couple seasons has been in Buckhead as Lovett and Westminster have been at the top. This year is no different to start as the defending champion Lions come in at No. 1 with their arch rivals right on their heels.

In the combined Class A poll, ELCA is No. 1 and Charlton County comes in at No. 2.

6A

1. Lambert

2. Parkview

3. Harrison

4. Walton

5. Mountain View

6. Tift Co.

7. West Forsyth

8. Etowah

9. Milton

10. Valdosta

5A

1. Whitewater

2. Gainesville

3. Greenbrier

4. Evans

5. Allatoona

6. Sequoyah

7. McIntosh

8. Harris Co.

9. North Paulding

10. Hardaway

4A

1. Marist

2. Columbus

3. Crisp Co.

4. Redan

5. Spalding

6. Columbia

7. Alexander

8. South Effingham

9. Mary Persons

10. Locust Grove

3A

1. Buford

2. Appling Co.

3. Pike Co.

4. White Co.

5. Pierce Co.

6. Jackson Co.

7. Blessed Trinity

8. West Hall

9. Chapel Hill

10. St. Pius X

AA

1. Lovett

2. Westminster

3. Cook

4. Jefferson

5. Jeff Davis

6. Calhoun

7. GAC

8. Bremen

9. Screven Co.

10. Fitzgerald

Combined A

1. ELCA

2. Charlton Co.

3. Darlington

4. ECI

5. Mt. Paran

6. Hawkinsville

7. King’s Ridge Chr.

8. Schley Co.

9. Paideia

10. Whitefield Aca.