PBR/NCBCA Coaches Poll: May 8, 2018
May 8, 2018
Prep Baseball Report is proud to organize and run the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association (NCBCA) team rankings again in 2018. PBR has selected over 70 high school coaches, representing each of the four NCHSAA classifications. The coaches also represent the eight regions across North Carolina.
Every other week throughout the 2018 season, PBR will put together information and ask the coaches on the 2018 poll to vote for their top 10 teams in the 4 classifications. PBR takes the individual coach rankings to create the PBR/NCBCA Team Rankings. The poll will be released every other Tuesday throughout the 2018 season.
Below are the Team Rankings from the PBR/NCBCA Poll for May 8, 2018. PBR will not run a coaches poll during the state playoffs. This poll will recognize the top teams from the end of the regular season with the next poll coming out after the State Championships on June 1st.
The 1A Rankings have remained consistently stable throughout the year with Murphy, East Surry and North Stanly holding down the top spots most of the year. Nineteen teams at the 1A class have a better than .700 winning percentage, allowing the make up of the poll to see 16 different teams receiving votes this week.
| Rank | School | Record | Previous Rank |
| 1 | Murphy HS | 22-0 |
1 |
| 2 | East Surry HS |
21-2 |
2 |
| 3 | North Stanly HS |
22-3 | 3 |
| 4 | Voyager Academy |
16-2 | 4 |
| 5 | Uwharrie Charter Academy |
23-3 |
5 |
| 6 | Bear Grass |
20-1 | 8 |
| 7 | Rosewood |
15-4 | NR |
| 8 | Perquimans |
18-5 | 6 |
| 9 | Polk County |
19-3-1 | 7 |
| 10 | Gates County |
18-5 | 10 |
Others Receiving Votes: Riverside, Chatham Charter, Lincoln Charter, Edenton Holmes, Cherryville, Falls Lake Academy
A new No. 1 at the AA class as Whiteville is riding a 20 game win streak into the state playoffs. The reigning 1A class state champions know how to win in the post-season but should be tested heavily if they make it through the eastern bracket. In the west, the past two weeks saw several top ten teams face off for conference championships. Expect Ledford, North Lincoln, RS Central, North Davidson, and Randleman to be involved in some classic playoff match-ups if that times comes.
| Rank | School | Record | Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Whiteville |
21-1 | 3 |
| 2 | Ledford |
22-3 |
1 |
| 3 | North Lincoln |
21-2 | 6 |
| 4 | RS Central |
21-3 | 2 |
| 5 | North Davidson |
19-4 | 4 |
| 6 | Randleman |
20-5 | 5 |
| 7 | Smoky Mountain |
18-3 | NR |
| 8 | North Lenoir |
16-5 | NR |
| 9 | Forbush |
20-5 | NR |
| 10 | West Wilkes |
20-4 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: West Craven, Bandys, Currituck County, South Granville, Providence Grove, East Duplin, Bunn
Western Alamance continues to hold down the No. 1 ranking with the top 3 spots remaining unchanged. A hectic two weeks sees a lot of shifts as Southwest Guilford jumps 5 spots on the back of an 11 game win streak. Terry Sanford, Chapel Hill, and Marvin Ridge ride strong finishes in their conference and conference tournaments to move into the top 10. Of all the classifications, the 3A class may be the deepest. Don't be surprised if any team on this list fall early to a team outside the rankings.
| Rank | School | Record | Previous Rank |
| 1 | Western Alamance HS |
19-1 | 1 |
| 2 | Crest HS |
17-1 | 2 |
| 3 | New Hanover HS |
14-2 | 3 |
| 4 | Southeast Guilford |
17-3 | 5 |
| 5 | Southwest Guilford |
18-2 | 10 |
| 6 | Terry Sanford |
14-4 | NR |
| 7 | Chapel Hill |
17-3 | NR |
| 8 | Marvin Ridge |
16-6 | NR |
| 9 | AC Reynolds |
14-2 | 9 |
| 10 | North Gaston |
17-3 | 7 |
Others Receiving Votes: DH Conley, Cedar Ridge, Carson, Jay M Robinson, Southern Lee, Alexander Central
Providence has been riding a solid conference season and moves into the No. 1 slot in the 4A rankings. Lake Norman slides to No. 2 and may still be the most dangerous team night in and night out, but they have shown some cracks in the armour of late; and that may just be them waiting to pounce on the post-season. Hough and East Forsyth closed the season strong to move into the top 10. Hough won their conference tournament in convincing over then No. 1 Lake Norman. East Forsyth enters the state tournament winning their last 13 games.
| Rank | School | Record | Previous Rank |
| 1 | Providence | 19-2 | 3 |
| 2 | Lake Norman |
18-2 | 1 |
| 3 | Pinecrest |
18-2 |
6 |
| 4 | South Caldwell |
16-3 | 2 |
| 5 | Ardrey Kell |
17-2 | 8 |
| 6 | Myers Park |
17-4 | 5 |
| 7 | Ashley |
15-4 | 4 |
| 8 | Holly Springs |
18-4 | 10 |
| 9 | Hough |
15-4 | NR |
| 10 | East Forsyth |
15-3 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Cardinal Gibbons, Hickory Ridge, South Mecklenburg, Garner, West Forsyth, Durham Jordan