Continuing off a new series this spring, we've decided to highlight 8-10 teams throughout the Class 7A-1A Top-10 Polls that are trending up and have made jumps over the course of the last couple of weeks. This series will be released every two weeks of the season and will highlight teams that have made big jumps in the Top-10 or have made their debut in the rankings in their various classification.

We're excited to give recognition to this week's 10 teams who have continued their success through the middle part of the season and will be looking to continue their success throughout the rest of the season.

 

+ Tuscaloosa County Wildcats

Head Coach: Nick Richardson
2023 Record: 27-3
Classification, Area No.: Class 7A, Area 5
Week 4 Ranking: 7A No. 4
Current Ranking: 7A No. 3

+ Although the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats were featured in the first edition of Trending Up last month, they've continued to do nothing but win over the first half of the season at jump up to No. 3 in this week's update, the highest they've been all season. Currently sitting with the best record in the state at 27-3, the Wildcats have continued to record impressive wins over quality opponents like Auburn, Alexandria, Chelsea, Spain Park, Smiths Station, Oak Mountain, and others through the middle part of the season. Competing in easily the toughest area in the state regardless of classification with all four teams ranked inside the Top-7 in Class 7A, Tuscaloosa County will need to continue to play their best baseball as area play gets started tonight. Starting this week and going through the next couple of weeks, the Wildcats will play No. 7 Hoover, No. 1 Thompson, and No. 6 Vestavia Hills to determine which two teams make the playoffs. If you're a fan of quality high school baseball in AL, keep a close on eye on how this area shapes out over the next three weeks.

+ Fairhope Pirates

Head Coach: Kyle Hunter
2023 Record: 17-8
Classification, Area No.: Class 7A, Area 2
Week 4 Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 7A No. 10

+ The Fairhope Pirates may not have had the best start to the season after beginning their 2023 campaign at 3-6 with five of those losses coming by three runs or less, but there's no doubt they are one of the hottest teams in Class 7A heading into this week. After that start to the season, the Pirates have reeled off 10 consecutive wins and have won 14 of their last 16 games, all coming against some quality opponents. After being outside the Top-10 for the first half of the season, Fairhope debuts at No. 10 this week and currently stands at 17-8. During that win streak over the past few weeks, they've beaten strong teams like Auburn, Saraland, Huntsville, Hueytown, Spanish Fort, and others on their schedule. They have yet to start area play in Class 7A, and will face off against Foley and Daphne over the next two weeks to determine who gets into the playoffs in just a few short weeks.

+ Saraland Spartans

Head Coach: Brett Boutwell
2023 Record: 16-6
Classification, Area No.: Class 6A, Area 1
Week 4 Ranking: 6A No. 6
Current Ranking: 6A No. 4

+ The Saraland Spartans have really seemed to put it all together over the past few weeks after starting the season 5-6 playing against some tough opponents. They slide all the way up to No. 4 in this week's update, and currently hold a 16-6 record heading into this week. The Spartans have accumulated a strong resume of wins thus far in the season over teams like James Clemens, Mobile Christian, Russellville, Gulf Shores, and others on their schedule while their losses have come to Hartselle, Central-Phenix City, Fairhope, Auburn, and other strong opponents. Playing that difficult schedule early on should allow the Spartans to be battle-tested as they continue to roll throughout area play and into the playoffs. Through their first two area series, they currently have a perfect 4-0 record with sweeps over Blount and Murphy, but still are scheduled to play Faith Academy and Theodore over the next couple of weeks.

+ Alexandria Valley Cubs

Head Coach: Zac Welch
2023 Record: 18-5
Classification, Area No.: Class 5A, Area 12
Week 4 Ranking: 5A No. 8
Current Ranking: 5A No. 2

+ The Alexandria Valley Cubs were arguably the biggest mover throughout any classification over the past couple of weeks, as they rise to No. 2 in Class 5A in this week's update. Heading into this week's play, the Valley Cubs currently sit with an 18-5 record and have competed against some really quality opponents over the first half of the season. Of those 18 wins, some of the notable ones have been against Mortimer Jordan, Gadsden City, Mobile Christian, Baker, Westbrook Christian, and others on their schedule. With just five losses, the Valley Cubs have lost to some strong opponents like Tuscaloosa County, Oxford, James Clemens, and Grissom. In their area, Alexandria opened it up with a three-game sweep over Southside-Gadsden a couple weeks ago and are scheduled to begin their final area series against Lincoln tonight.

+ St. Paul's Epsicopal Saints

Head Coach: Andy Robbins
2023 Record: 16-7
Classification, Area No.: Class 5A, Area 2
Week 4 Ranking: 5A No. 9
Current Ranking: 5A No. 6

+ The St. Paul's Episcopal Saints have grown accustomed to making fairly deep runs throughout the playoffs over the past few years, and this year is setting up to be more of the same. Getting off to a very strong start, the Saints have continued to play quality baseball against some of the tougher opponents down in the Mobile area. Currently sitting with a 16-7 record with a fairly young roster, the Saints jump up to No. 6 this week's update. They have racked up some strong wins in the first half of the season, including teams like Baldwin County, Marbury, Demopolis, Thomasville, Mobile Christian, and others on their schedule. Competing in a five-team area, the Saints are currently tied for second place in their standings with a 3-1 record. They split with Mobile Christian this past week before dropping the decisive Game 3 and have swept LeFlore. The Saints are scheduled to play Citronelle tomorrow night and Vigor in the next couple of weeks.

+ Geneva Panthers

Head Coach: Daniel Hart
2023 Record: 13-2
Classification, Area No.: Class 4A, Area 3
Week 4 Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 4A No. 6

+ The Geneva Panthers possess one of the better records in Class 4A heading into the most crucial part of the season sitting at 13-2 and will need to continue to their strong play competing in one of the tougher areas in Class 4A. The Panthers, as previously mentioned, have accumulated a total of 13 wins on the season so far and have done it against some strong competition. They've tallied some notable wins over teams like Dothan, Dale County, Montgomery Catholic, Wicksburg, New Brockton, and others on the schedule so far. Their area in Class 4A is one of the deeper ones throughout the state with Andalusia, Dale County, and Slocomb all competing against each other for a pair of playoff spots. Geneva and Andalusia are both ranked inside the Top-6, while Dale County and Slocomb are just outside the Top-10 heading into this week. The Panthers have gotten off on the right start winning two of three games against Dale County, but still have to play Andalusia and Slocomb over the next couple of weeks.

+ Fayette County Tigers

Head Coach: Matt Coldiron
2023 Record: 17-8
Classification, Area No.: Class 3A, Area 9
Week 4 Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 3A No. 9

+ The Fayette County Tigers have built up one of the strong resumes in Class 3A heading into the back-end of the season and will look to continue their strong play throughout the rest of their area series and the playoffs. Currently sitting at No. 9 making their debut in the Class 3A Top-10, the Tigers hold an impressive 17-8 record with noteworthy wins over teams like Chilton County, Haleyville, Northside, Central-Florence, American Christian Academy, and others on their regular season schedule. So far in area play, they've fallen to the hands of No. 2 Gordo losing two of the three games in that series, but look poised to bounce back over the next couple of weeks and punch their ticket to playoffs against Winfield and Carbon Hill, a pair of strong opponents. They will still need to play their best baseball in order to win those series, but they've certainly accumulated a number of strong wins in the first part of the season.

+ Collinsville Panthers

Head Coach: Ernie Willingham
2023 Record: 13-7
Classification, Area No.: Class 2A, Area 13
Week 4 Ranking: Not Ranked
Current Ranking: 2A No. 9

+ After starting off the first few weeks of the season around the .500 mark, the Collinsville Panthers have enjoyed a stellar last few weeks and have boosted their record to 13-7 heading into this week. Although losing to No. 4 Donoho in their first area series, Collinsville has bounced back with back-to-back sweeps in area play against Pleasant Valley and Gaston to put themselves in good position to finish as the runner-up in their five-team area. They still have to play Sand Rock in their final area series that starts today, but seem to be playing their best baseball when it counts. They've recorded some strong wins in the regular seasons including Spring Garden, Coosa Christian, Plainview, and others on their schedule. With seven losses to their record, three of those came to Donoho and another coming to Fort Payne, a Class 6A program, by just one run last week. They jump into the Top-10 in Class 2A at No. 9 in this week's update.

+ Sumiton Christian Eagles

Head Coach: Lance Blair
2023 Record: 13-4
Classification, Area No.: Class 1A, Area 11
Week 4 Ranking: 1A No. 5
Current Ranking: 1A No. 3

+ Sumiton Christian may have as strong of a resume as anyone in Class 1A with a few wins over quality teams in larger classifications. Starting off the season at No. 5 in Class 1A, the Eagles have continued their steady ascend throughout the season and currently sit at No. 3 in the most-recent update. Similar to MIllry, the Eagles started off their season with a 2-4 record, but have seemingly been as hot as anyone reeling off 11 straight wins since the start of the season. They have already clinched their playoff spot in Class 1A with area sweeps over Addison and Meek, and also have one of the more impressive wins over Corner earlier in the season. The Eagles look primed to have a deep playoff run in Class 1A in just a few short weeks.

+ Millry Wildcats

Head Coach: Ed Warrick
2023 Record: 17-7
Classification, Area No.: Class 1A, Area 1
Week 4 Ranking: 1A No. 9
Current Ranking: 1A No. 5

+ The Millry Wildcats head into this week as one of the hottest teams right now in Class 1A, winning 14 of their last 16 games after struggling a bit out of the gate. After a 2-4 start to their season, the Wildcats have quickly turned things around and now have a 17-7 record. They've also climbed their way back up the Class 1A Top-10 after sliding down a bit earlier on, and now stand at No. 5 in the most-recent update. The Wildcats have consistently been one of the top powers in Class 1A over the past few years, and it looks like it's shaping up to be another playoff run this spring. They've accumulated wins over teams like Citronelle, Jackson, Sweet Water, Leroy, and other teams on their regular season schedule. They've clinched their spot in the Class 1A playoffs with multiple area series wins, and will look to continue to play their best baseball when it counts at the end of the season.

 

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