Who's ranked and who's not

With high school baseball, softball and girls soccer about to begin the state playoffs, here's a quick glance at who's ranked and who's not.

In the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 3-A girls poll, Fike rose one spot to No. 6 this week while Hunt lurks just outside the top 15.

Fike (16-1-1) lost to No. 5 Asheville T.C. Roberson and tied 2-A No. 2 Swansboro at The Brittany. Hunt (15-2) lost to Jacksonville early in the season and Fike a few weeks ago. Both teams won their conference regular-season championships and with tonight's wins (Fike 4, Nash Central 0 — Hunt 3, Charles B. Aycock 0), advance to the tournament finals of the NEW 6 Conference and Eastern Carolina Conference, respectively.

The N.C. Softball Coaches Association lists Aycock at No. 4 in its 3-A state poll. The Golden Falcons' only loss came to No. 1 D.H. Conley early in the season and a rematch this week was rained out. Looks like second-year head coach Brad Matthews may have CBA back at Walnut Creek Softball Complex for the state final four after a two-year absence.

The IMPACT Baseball state poll, voted on by IMPACT staff, coaches and media, had a curious turn of events in the most recent poll released Monday. Previously unranked Charles B. Aycock rose to the No. 4 spot with a 17-5 record on the strength of its defeat of former No. 1 Eastern Wayne (16-3) now fifth, last week.

Not to denigrate CBA or its win against Eastern Wayne because the Falcons are always a dangerous club, but that kind of ascension is circumspect. And Aycock head coach Charles Davis will be the first to tell you that polls don't mean a thing. Having said that, it wouldn't surprise me if CBA wins the ECC tournament, set to begin Friday night after two rain delays.

In the IMPACT 1-A poll, North Johnston moved to second from fourth.

Finally a note from the N.C. High School Athletic Association spring meeting this week. The organization has voted to play girls and boys sectional basketball games on the same nights next winter. The old format had girls playing Monday, Wednesday and Friday and boys playing Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Now they will all play Monday, Wednesday, Friday and girls-boys doubleheaders will be encouraged to trim travel expenses.