Mother Nature is bound to give us a break one of these weeks; last week wasn’t it. Even with a stormy middle part of the week, most of the Top 25 were able to see some action, and only a handful of games were missed.

A recap of the week:

- For the third straight week, Westminster (16-3) is the top-ranked team in Missouri. The Wildcats went 1-0, with a win over John Burroughs. Ben Lovell picked up yet another win, and Bryce Bell drove in a pair of runs to lead the offense. Westminster has three league games scheduled this week, and all three winnable against Lutheran North, MICDS, and Principia.

- No. 2 Parkway North (12-3) went 2-0 last week, outscoring Hazelwood Central and Rockwood Summit 16-5. They showed they can win the close ones, with a 3-2 win over Summit in extra innings and continue a growing rivalry back to the Class Four state championship game in 2012. John Shankner and Daniel Brodsky led the offense last week, while Joey Reeves threw eight effective innings against Summit and Connor Ladig silenced the Hazelwood Central bats

- No. 3 Francis Howell (19-4) keeps on rolling, going 4-0 last week, sweeping a double header with Timberland and picking up a big win against No. 21 Wentzville Holt.  The Howell offense seems to keep rolling along, and getting quality pitching from both starters and relievers. The staff surrendered only eight runs in the four wins.

- No. 4 Blue Springs South (8-1) only got in two games due to weather, but made the most of those games going 2-0. The Jaguars continue to play consistent ball and despite a lack of practice, have maintained their winning ways. They have quite a few games to make up, but if they can come out of the next two weeks unscathed, they will remain in the drivers seat in the Big Six conference

- No. 5 Notre Dame improved to 17-3 after defeating Scott City, Triad (IL), and MICDS. They lost a close one to a tough Helias squad, in a game where they jumped out to an early lead and out hit Helias, but couldn’t overcome one tough inning. The big game this week for Notre Dame will be Tuesday at Sikeston, who is on the cusp of breaking into the Top 25.

- No. 6 Jefferson City (15-3) lost a tough one against a talented Lebanon pitching staff, but will get a shot at redemption this week when they face Lebanon again. In their three wins, Jeff City gave up only one run and scored 36 runs.

- No. 7 Carthage (14-0) jumped two spots in the rankings and look to be on cruise control as they continue to put together a successful season.

- No. 8 Rock Bridge improved to 15-3, going 5-0 last week, and taking home the title in the Lebanon Tournament. Rock Bridge is showing they have some depth, winning five games in three days. Up this week for Rock Bridge is heated cross town rival Hickman, in a game that usually provides some drama.

- No. 9 Ladue (13-2) is starting to turn on the power, with Turner Miller hitting three home runs last week and driving in seven runs.

- No. 10 SLUH (16-1) won a tough one over Belleville West (IL) followed by a few easy wins over McCluer North and Chaminade by a combined score of 19-4. This week could make or break SLUH’s season, with contests against No. 3 Francis Howell, No. 16 Vianney, and No. 12 CBC, in one could be one of the toughest weeks for any school all season long.

- No. 11 Rockhurst (10-4) knocked off now No. 19 Lee’s Summit West last Monday, then went 2-1 in the Rive City Classic Tournament. A match up with No. 4 Blue Springs South today will be a test for the talented Rockhurst team.

- No. 12 CBC (11-5) had a bit of a set back last week, going 2-2, but have a veteran core that will forget about the losses and look to make a statement this week with a big game against No. 12 SLUH.

- No. 13 Holden  (11-2) swept a double header in their only action last week. Dylan Riley pitched and hit his way to a 7-4 win over Lexington, picking up the win and driving in four runs on three hits, including a two run homerun. James Brownsberger had three RBIs in the second game to lead the offense

-No. 14 Poplar Bluff (11-3)

-No. 15 Malden (17-2) went 2-0 on the week to jump a few spots. Malden looks like a Class Three contender.

- No. 16 Vianney (15-5) picked up a quality win over No. 3 Francis Howell last Saturday, and showed no sign of a let down in defeating Parkway Central and Parkway West. The Griffins have their work cut out for them this week with games against a previously ranked and still dangerous DeSmet (12-5) team and No. 10 SLUH in back to back games Tuesday and Wednesday.

- No. 17 Staley (12-2)

- No. 18 Forsyth (11-2) went 1-1 last week with a loss to now No. 22 Springfield Catholic before rebounding to shut out Blue Eye 6-0. Forsyth faces conference foe Sparta Monday in a make up game in the first of four games on the docket this week.

-No. 19 Lee’s Summit West (11-4) fell a few spots this week after a 2-2 week, including a loss to No. 11 Rockhurst. A rematch with Park Hill on Wednesday highlight’s the Titans’ week in a game in which Lee’s Summit West prevailed in extra innings in their first meeting.

- No. 20 Santa Fe (5-3) lost two games last week, one to Class One Final Four participant Sturgeon. Despite the setback, Santa Fe still looks to be one of the strongest Class One teams in the state and hopefully we will see them against Sturgeon in a few weeks playing for a state championship.

- No. 22 Springfield Catholic (10-2) re-enters the Top 25, with an impressive win over No. 18 Forsyth. The Irish have a good chance at running the table the next few weeks and carrying that momentum into the District Tournament and beyond.

- No. 23 Valle Catholic (15-3) has won 11 in a row and won their 63 consecutive conference game last week. As usual, the Warriors are well on their way of separating the selves as one of the top Class Two teams and are a favorite to reach the championship game for a second consecutive year

- No. 24 Rockwood Summit (13-7) lost their only game of the week, 3-2 against No. 2 Parkway North in nine innings. Despite their struggles as of late, the Summit team is getting key players back and should return to full strength this week as they play five games, highlighted by a double header against a tough Lutheran South (12-4) team that is on the bubble of cracking the Top 25.

- No. 25 Logan-Rogersville (12-3) re-enters the top 25. Winners of nine is a row in pretty convincing fashion, Rogersville should see their stock continue to rise. The return of standout OF Evan Gruener has provided the lift that this team has needed and lacked the first two weeks of the season.

- Narrowly missing top 25 include: Oran (9-5), Hazelwood Central (8-1), Sikeston (12-2), Ste. Genevieve (12-4), Lutheran South (12-4), Seneca (11-3), Seckman (11-4), Borgia (9-2), Clever (12-4), Valley Park (10-2), Jefferson (12-4), Sullivan (11-4), and Sturgeon (5-0).