Two teams in the latest Top 25 poll came into the weekend with high hopes. Klein High of Spring, Texas was the No. 1 team in the country and a favorite among the Texas 5-A final four. In Virginia, No. 24 Woodbridge High was staring a perfect season and 3-A state title in the face. But their opponents had different ideas.
Carroll High of Corpus Christi, Texas, sealed the 5-A title on a spectacular diving catch by senior center fielder Mark Blackmar. Carroll started eight underlcassmen, six of which were sophomores, so it's safe to say the Tigers will be a factor in the rankings beyond this season. Sophomore righthander/outfielder Courtney Hawkins got the win, giving up two runs (none earned) on 10 hits in the complete game. He also struck out six and walked one.
Woodbridge High was 27-0 when its seniors graduated Saturday morning, but they had to face West Springfield High of Springfield, Va., and its ace, righthander Bobby Wahl. Wahl was a High School Top 100 prospect coming into the season. He was drafted in the 39th round by the Indians and will likely honor his commitment to Mississippi. The Spartans shut down Woodbridge, ending the Vikings shot at a perfect season. Wahl tossed seven innings allowing two runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out seven.
The final Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches Association poll will be released on June 22 and feature a Top 50. The biggest note is that Klein's loss moves Flanagan High of Pembroke Pines, Fla. into the top spot, making the Falcons national champions. Head coach Ray Evans was watching the game online and could hardly contain himself when called immediately afterward. Flanagan won the 6-A state title in Florida and lost just two games on the season–a 1-0 game to perennial power American Heritage High (Plantation, Fla.) and a 2-0 decision to Farragut High of Knoxville, who threw 2011 lefthander Philip Pfeifer in a spring tournament. We'll have more on Flanagan being the Team of the Year in the next issue of Baseball America and online at BaseballAmerica.com.
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