By MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter

The Thompson Warriors baseball team took the No. 1 ranking for the third consecutive week in the final release of the the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll April 18.

The Warriors (37-8) finished the season 6-0 in Class 6A, Area 7 play and has won 14 straight games since coming back from the Panama City Invitational.

Thompson head coach Pat Hamrick said that the No. 1 ranking at the end of the regular season doesn’t mean much unless you are last team standing at the end of the playoffs.

“I think our players are relaxed and ready to play,” Hamrick said. “I know the atmosphere in the playoffs will be different than anything we have faced, but hopefully our players can pull from past game experience to handle any situation.”

The teams didn’t change in the rest of the Class 6A top-10, but the order did. Pelham (18-10) climbed from No. 7 to No. 5 after winning Area 8 with a 5-1 record. Spain Park received votes, but did not break into the top-10.

No. 1 Thompson will face Spain Park in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs while Pelham will host Prattville.

The Briarwood Christian Lions (14-15) received votes after taking second in Class 5A, Area 9. The Lions will take on No. 9 Chilton County in the first round of the playoffs.

The Indian Springs baseball team continued to pick up votes in Class 3A, but was not able to climb into the top-10. Indian Springs will face American Christian on the road in the first round.

Cornerstone Christian continued to pick up votes in the AISA composite poll while Coosa Valley made the list for the first time this season. Cornerstone will host Ashford in the first round of the AISA playoffs while Coosa Valley will host Northside.