Same teams, different spots: Cape Cod and Islands high school baseball rankings

As the regular season comes to an end this weekend, baseball teams are stepping up to the plate for the playoffs.

Some teams have turned their seasons around, while others have slid off the radar since the last rankings.

Ten teams are in the playoff hunt.

This list looks a lot different than the last one because it's difficult when you have so much talent on the Cape Cod and Islands.

Presenting the second Cape Cod high school baseball rankings:

1. Sandwich (12-6, 3)

Some of you are reading this and wondering how the Blue Knights have the top spot. Keep in mind that records aren't everything. Sandwich knows how to win when it comes to tough competition and that's why they are first in this ranking. After losing their season opener, the Blue Knights went 7-1. They have won five of their last six.

The Blue Knights have defeated four top 10 teams in the state in Hanover (3rd, Div. 3), Carver (5th, Div. 5), East Bridgewater (6th, Div. 4), and Abington (9th, Div. 4). In addition to that, they have wins over Mashpee (27th, Div. 4), Nauset (15th, Div. 3), Cohasset (31st, Div. 4), Norwell (14th, Div 3), and Middleborough (23rd, Div. 2).

Outside of a loss to Falmouth's team that has found its bats recently, all of the Blue Knights losses are to current playoff teams in Middleborough (23rd, Div. 2), East Bridgewater, Norwell (14th, Div 3), and Dennis-Yarmouth (18th, Div. 4).

Brayden Ramsey, Jack Mulcahy, Matt Sullivan, Matt Taylor, Ty Creighton, Casey Woodill, Connor Finn, and Joe Coughlan have been some of the leaders at the plate and on the mound for Sandwich.

2. St. John Paul II (15-5, 5)

The Lions are the hottest team on the Cape and Islands right now, winning nine of their last 10 games. Their only loss over that stretch was to Carver (5th, Div. 5). They have scored double-digit runs in six of those games. Their defense has been solid too as they have not allowed double digits runs this season so far. JPII may have beat some good teams this season with wins over Monomoy twice (26th, Div. 4), Abington twice (9th, Div. 4), Dennis-Yarmouth (18th, Div. 4), and Barnstable. The Lions made the Sweet 16 last season, but I think they have the depth to go further this season.

Tyler Ross, Hunter Alten, Colin Buckley or Drew Richards are just some of the pitchers who have held it down on the mound. Henry Roy, Logan Our, Brian Mancinelli, Brady Meyer, Colin Buckley, Max Ingraham, Tim Cronin, and Brandon Gomes have been effective at the plate all season.

3. Barnstable (14-5, 4)

This second spot was tough, but I'm going to go with the Red Hawks. They know how to bounce back from losses. Barnstable lost by one run to the Division 1 top seed in Boston College High. They have notable wins over Dennis-Yarmouth twice (18th, Div. 4), St. John Paul II (11th, Div. 4), Nauset twice (15th, Div. 3), and Fairhaven (12th, Div. 3). They only have lost to three other teams, St. John Paul II (11th, Div. 4), Durfee twice (14th, Div. 1) and Lawrence (15th, Div. 1).

Eric Stanley, Sladen Johnson, and Jack Tarbox have led the way on the mound, while Luke Harmon, Reed Buckler, Anthony DiGiacomo, Owen Jones, Josh Hunter, and Jake Kross are some of the key contributors at the plate.

Barnstable lost in their first playoff game last season, ironically to Boston College High, but I don't think they will have a problem this season as they have the tools to make a deep run.

4. Nauset (14-6, 2)

The Warriors ended their regular season with losses but they were to Barnstable and Bishop Stang (8th, Div. 3). Prior to that, they had won five straight games. The Warriors also have a victory over Bishop Stang, and have beaten Fairhaven (12th, Div. 3), and Dennis-Yarmouth twice. Ryan O'Keefe, Chase Beach, Ethan Beer, Evan Archer, Jake Doherty, James Breda, Kieran Handville, and Brody Bassett have paced the Warriors this season.

The Warriors have one of the biggest turnarounds this season as they missed the playoffs last year with a 7-13 record. This year they are, not only in the postseason, but are poised to surprise some teams this season.

5. Upper Cape (18-2, 1)

This last spot was the toughest decision for me. When you play in 19 games and win 17 of them (one forfeit), no matter who you play, it's something that should be mentioned. I struggled with this pick because the only team the Rams have defeated (twice) who's worth mentioning is the Division 5 defending state champs, the Bourne Canalmen. However, the Canalmen are not the same team from a year ago as they are 3-15 on the season. Outside of that, the Rams have not defeated a team within the top 32. The Rams two losses are also to teams that are below .500, Sturgis (41st, Div.4), Mashpee (27th, Div. 4).

The pitching has led Upper Cape this season with pitchers like Tyler Kutil, Jared Coates, Nolan Roche, and Devyn Shultze. The Rams have only allowed more than three runs in a game once: four runs to Wareham. Defense wins championships and the Rams have one of the best on the Cape and Islands. Roche, Logan Ewell, Mitchell Kirkland, Nate Smith, Harrison Gargan, Jacob Allen, and Patrick Acord have been good at the plate for Upper Cape.

Honorable Mention

Mashpee (6-11)

The Falcons, and every team after them on this honorable mention list, could have an argument for making the fifth spot. The Falcons, who handed Upper Cape one of its losses, also have wins over Carver, Dennis-Yarmouth, Monomoy, and Cohasset. They also have one of the toughest schedules on the Cape and Islands as they have dropped games to Cohasset, Abington twice, Norwell, Sandwich, Middleborough, Dennis-Yarmouth, East Bridgewater, Upper Cape, Monomoy, and Carver.

Falmouth (9-10)

The Clippers actually beat the number one team in this rankings 11-1. They also have two wins over a good D-Y team. Like Mashpee, the Clippers' schedule was not one of the easiest. They have losses to Silver Lake (32nd, Div. 2), Norwell, Hanover, Barnstable twice, and Nauset twice. They started the season 1-7, but have gone 8-3 since then. After looking like a rebuilding year at the start with a young team, the Clippers now have a chance to make the postseason.

Dennis-Yarmouth (9-11)

The Dolphins have a 8-0 win over Sandwich on the road, but they can't string wins together. They have not won more than two games in a row this season. They are currently on their best stretch as they have won three of their last four. The Dolphins also have beaten Monomoy twice, and the Mashpee. Their schedule has been rough, with losses to Barnstable twice , Nauset twice, Mashpee, Braintree (4th, Div. 1), and St. John Paul II.

Monomoy (10-9)

The Sharks have a win over Mashpee, but they made this list more so because of the teams they have fallen to. Monomoy has lost to Dennis-Yarmouth twice, Abington, St. John Paul II twice, Mashpee, Bourne, and Abington.

Cape Tech (12-7)

The Crusaders have no wins against a team over .500, but they don't make their schedule and they are beating the teams that are put in front of them. The team has its best record since 2012, which is also the last time they made the postseason.

Contact Courtney Jacobs at cjacobs@capecodonline.com . Follow him on X/Twitter: @CJ_Journalist.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Same teams, different spots: Cape Cod and Islands high school baseball rankings