By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

While the weather may be a roller coaster ride, one thing is steady, the Saint Xavier Tigers baseball team.

After spending the majority of the season in the No. 1 spot in last year’s Power 25, the Tigers find themselves back in that familiar position after beginning the season as the No. 2 ranked team.  It’s a spot they claim despite the graduation of three Division I pitchers from last season’s 34 win squad.

The Tigers are off to a 7-0 start with wins over Power 25 teams Lexington Catholic, South Oldham, and Trinity, and with games coming up against Christian Academy of Louisville (where they are likely to face RHP Riley Thompson), a DH against Cincinnati St. Xavier, and single games against Cincinnati Elder, Cincinnati Moeller, Noblesville IN, and No. 2 ranked Henderson County, the upcoming schedule is brutal.  If they emerge from that stretch of games still in the No. 1 spot, they will certainly have earned it, and then some.  But that’s what you have to like about Saint Xavier’s schedule; they will play anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Here is a look at this week’s updated Top 5.

1 Saint Xavier – The Tigers are off to a 7-0 start with good wins and a tough schedule ahead.

2 Henderson County – Off to a 5-0 start, but the schedule gets tougher beginning this week.

3 Tates Creek – With 38 runs in 3 games, the Commodores are scoring runs in bunches.  Lexington Catholic and LCA await this week.

4 Paul Laurence Dunbar – PLD falls from the No. 1 spot with a 5-2 record.  The pitching has been outstanding as expected, but the offense has struggled at times.

5 Lafayette – The Generals are off to a 3-0 start with big games against PLD and Lexington Catholic this week.

A few other things to note:

+ Ballard made a big jump into the Power 25 checking in at No. 12.  The Bruins are off to a 6-0 start with a big 8-5 win over Paul Laurence Dunbar on Saturday.

+ Trinity hangs in at No. 19 this week, despite a 4-4 record, on the strength of wins over Paul Laurence Dunbar and Lexington Catholic, and a one-run loss to St. Xavier, but they have certainly been a Jeckyl and Hyde act early this season.

+ Aside from Ballard, several other new teams find their way in with South Laurel at No. 20, South Warren at No. 21, Danville at No. 23, East Jessamine at No. 24, and Owensboro Catholic at No. 25.

CLICK HERE to view the entire Power 25