Atlanta Braves are ranked No. 4 in first MLB power rankings of 2021

Major League Baseball released its first power rankings of 2021 earlier this week, and the Atlanta Braves found themselves ranked No. 4 (out of 30 teams) behind the Dodgers, Padres and Yankees. These rankings were based on the analysis of nine experts, and they indicated that Atlanta’s starting pitching will be among the best in the Major Leagues next season. Pitchers like Ian Anderson, Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Drew Smyly and Mike Soroka will put Atlanta in a great position to win their tough division next season.

It should be noted that power rankings this early in the calendar year are tricky. Free-agent signings, blockbuster trades and payroll considerations all play a part in what teams (and entire division races) will look like in April. Throw COVID-19 into the mix, and it gets even trickier.

In addition to their top-notch pitching staff, Atlanta also has an ace in the hole when it comes to outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. He’s arguably Atlanta’s best player, and he’s only 23 years old. Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman won the National League MVP Award last season, but don’t be surprised if Acuna wins it next year.

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Over the holidays, a couple of AHSAA girls basketball records fell by the wayside. On Dec. 21, G.W. Long High School’s girls team made 22 three-pointers in a 101-23 win over Dale County, breaking the record for most three-pointers by a single team in a game. Three schools shared the old record of 20 three-pointers in a game – Cold Springs, West Point and Locust Fork.

Presumably because of the Coronavirus, G.W. Long only had six players available to play on Dec. 21, and all 22 three-pointers were scored by three juniors: Makenna Long, Emmaline Hughes and Lilly Grace Payne. Long had nine three-pointers, Hughes sank seven and Payne got six.

This past Saturday, Trinity Presbyterian’s Emma Kate Smith broke the state’s single-game record for most three-pointers in a game. She made 14 three-pointers in 79-24 win over Booker T. Washington. Five players held the previous record of 13 three-pointers in single game. Those players (and the year they set the record) were Camryn Crider of Cold Spring (2019), Erica Smith of Belgreen (2012), Jordan Dollar of Russellville (2007), Heather Morris of Vestavia Hills (1996) and Heather Mayes of Fyffe (1995).

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Speaking of high school basketball, I look for all four of Conecuh County’s varsity teams to be ranked in their respective classifications when the newest rankings come out later this week. I’m writing this column on Monday, and I believe that the next poll will hit the streets either late Wednesday or early today (Thursday). Hillcrest’s boys and Sparta’s boys were both ranked in the Top 10 when the first poll came out on Dec. 16, and the fact that neither of the county’s girls teams were ranked in that poll was a gross oversight.

My hope is that the Coronavirus doesn’t mess up the rest of basketball season because all four of our local teams have great chances to make deep runs in the playoffs. Hillcrest’s girls team may be the best that I’ve seen at Hillcrest in many years, and I’m looking forward to seeing them make a run at the 3A title. The other three teams aren’t far behind, so we’ve got a lot of great basketball to look forward to if the virus doesn’t screw everything up.