Missouri High School Team Rankings: Update (5/5/24)
May 6, 2024
PREP BASEBALL MISSOURI TEAM RANKINGS
Our rankings are broken up into two divisions: large school and small schools. We classify the 'large' schools as those residing in Class 5 & 6, while the small schools make up the remaining MSHSAA classifications. We rank what we believe to be the top teams in the state at that level, as well as highlighting several 'On Deck' teams.
Make sure to follow along on Twitter at @PrepBaseballMO for all of our high school coverage throughout the spring.
LARGE SCHOOL NOTES
+ There’s a new No. 1 in this week’s update, as Staley (23-8) bumps back up to No. 1, a ranking they held a few weeks ago. The Falcons have won eight of their last nine games and are coming off a 4-1 week. Their only loss came to Liberty North, who’s red hot right now, and they beat Lee’s Summit, ranked Rock Bridge, and CBC convincingly, with a 4-3 victory over Grain Valley, too. Staley’s roster is arguably the most talented in the entire state and the Falcons are shaping up nicely as District play approaches.
+ Francis Howell (24-9) climbs one spot to No. 2 overall on our board after sweeping Fort Zumwalt West in a two-game conference set, who was the No. 1 team on our rankings for two straight weeks.
+ Liberty North (25-8) continues to rise, bumping up one spot to No. 4 on our updated list. They’ve won 11 of the last 12 games played, with their only loss coming to Staley, and swept Raymore-Peculiar in a three game conference set this past week. With the playoffs in the near future, the back-to-back state champion Eagles are playing their best baseball at the right time.
+ Right behind the Eagles at No. 5 is Blue Springs (20-10). The Wildcats took two of three from Lee’s Summit West, who we had at No. 2 in last week’s rankings, and also defeated Lee’s Summit North. They’ve won six of their last seven games and should be a tough draw for anyone in the playoffs given how deep their pitching staff is.
+ Few teams in the state are as hot as Glendale (21-5) is right now, with the Falcons rising two more spots this week to now sit at No. 7 overall. They won all three of their games this week, outscoring their opponents 34-10 in that span. Since March 30th, Glendale has only lost one game, having won 16 of 17.
+ Two teams falling on our rankings are Lee’s Summit West (24-9) and Rock Bridge (22-9). The Titans fall from two to six after dropping two of three to conference rival Blue Springs. They did pick up wins over Park Hill South and Lee’s Summit on the week as well and sit at 24-9 on the year. Rock Bridge falls two more spots, now at No. 8, with two losses to Staley and CBC on the week, as well as a win over cross-town foe Hickman.
+ We’re welcoming back Parkway South (20-5) and Liberty (22-8) to the rankings after a brief hiatus out of them for both clubs. Winners of eight straight, the Patriots’ vaunted pitching staff appears to really be hitting their stride. In their last seven games, they’ve combined to allow just five total runs, including two shutouts. They took down Lindbergh and SLUH, respectively, this past week, scoring 22 runs and allowing one. The Blue Jays have won eight of their last nine, including five victories this past week. Liberty beat top-ranked Staley on Tuesday before rattling off wins over Park Hill South, Lee’s Summit North, and a sweep of Jefferson City.
+ SLUH (20-7) and Nixa (18-14) drop out of the rankings in this update.
LARGE SCHOOL RANKINGS (5/5/24)
RANK | TEAM | HEAD COACH | RECORD |
1 | Staley |
Dave Wilson |
23-8 |
2 | Francis Howell |
Tony Perkins |
24-9 |
3 | Fort Zumwalt West |
Eric Gough |
24-9 |
4 | Liberty North |
Ryan Stegall |
25-8 |
5 | Blue Springs |
Tim McElligott |
20-10 |
6 | Lee's Summit West |
Jay Meyer |
24-9 |
7 |
Glendale |
Jim Julian | 21-5 |
8 |
Rock Bridge | Justin Towe |
22-9 |
9 | Willard | Scott McGee |
26-4 |
10 | Fort Zumwalt South |
Bill Friedel |
21-4 |
11 |
Parkway South |
Matt Brown |
20-5 |
12 |
Eureka | Ken Droege |
21-10-1 |
13 |
Jackson |
Josh Roach |
21-7 |
14 |
Webb City |
Andrew Doennig |
21-7 |
15 |
Liberty (KC) |
Kirk Bragg |
22-8 |
On Deck: Branson, SLUH, Nixa, Blue Springs South, Kearney, Warrenton, West Plains, Festus, Lebanon, Fort Zumwalt East, Borgia, DeSmet, Helias Catholic, St. Dominic, Lebanon, Seckman, Lafayette, Pacific, Liberty-Wentzville, Lee's Summit, Westminster Christian, Union, Farmington, Rockwood Summit, Oak Park, Marshfield
SMALL SCHOOL NOTES
+ There’s not much movement at the top of our board, as the top seven ‘Small School’ clubs remain the same on our rankings.
+ Blair Oaks (19-11) and Forsyth (20-4) each rise up one spot to No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. St. Pius X (14-7-1) drops out of the rankings, which makes way for Benton (24-3) who jumps in for the first time as the playoffs approach. The Cardinals have won 13 straight games and look like one of the top teams in Class 4.
SMALL SCHOOL RANKINGS (5/5/24)
RANK | TEAM | HEAD COACH | RECORD |
1 | Logan-Rogersville | Casey Ledl | 23-4 |
2 | Valle Catholic |
Nathan Gegg |
29-2 |
3 | Southern Boone |
Brian Ash |
25-8 |
4 | Lone Jack |
Dustin Darby |
25-1 |
5 | Father Tolton |
Ehrich Chick |
18-6 |
6 | Licking |
Harv Antle |
20-3 |
7 | Scott City | Skylar Christian Cobb |
27-3 |
8 | Blair Oaks |
Mike DeMilia |
19-11 |
9 | Forsyth |
Byron Richardson |
20-4 |
10 | Benton |
Johnny Coy |
24-3 |
On Deck: Benton, Duchesne, Summit Christian, St. Pius X (KC), Mid-Buchanan, MICDS, Portageville, Kennett, Seneca, St. Louis Patriots, St. Elizabeth's, Ash Grove, Lawson, Valley Park, Notre Dame, West County, Knob Noster, Putnam County, Savannah, Sullivan, Chaffee, Windsor, Oran, Fulton, Pembroke Hill, Moberly, Nevada, Pleasant Hill, Eldon, Boonville, Fatima, Galena, Mansfield, Northland Christian, Iberia, Wheatland, West County, Strafford, Clever, Fair Grove, Greenville, Halfway, Sacred Heart
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