Naples debuts at No. 8 in FAB 50

Updated: April 21, 2009, 5:04 PM ET

Editor's note: The ESPN RISE FAB 50 baseball rankings are compiled by Doug Huff, Mark Tennis, Jon Mahoney, Matt Remsberg, Andrew Drennen and Chris Lawlor. They will be released each Tuesday throughout the season.

A few months ago, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), generated attention for having both its boys' and girls' basketball teams near the top of the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national rankings.

The school that has accomplished that feat in the spring -- with both the baseball and softball teams in the top 10 of the FAB 50 -- is Naples (Fla.) High School.

In the intense atmosphere that is Florida baseball, the Eagles' baseball team has kept climbing the ladder and last week it won its biggest games yet, improved to 20-0 and has made a splash in this week's FAB 50.

After winning the title game of the Sarasota Baseball Classic, 6-5, over Archbishop McCarthy, Naples improved to No. 8 in the nation. The MVP for the Eagles in their Sarasota Baseball Classic triumph was junior third baseman Brad Fieger. In four games, he knocked in 12 runs, went 7-for-13 and displayed terrific range on defense.

Two other unbeaten Florida teams, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) and Lakeland (Fla.), remained in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions in this week's FAB 50.

In addition to Naples, 10 other teams were newcomers to this week's FAB 50, including No. 33 Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.), and No. 34 Strongsville (Ohio).

Look for a lot of movement in next week's rankings, as nine FAB 50-ranked teams are playing in the Anderson Bats National Classic in Southern California this week.

Rankings: FAB 50 / Regional


ESPN Conversation