Russellville, Vina, Red Bay ranked

The Vina baseball team is fifth in the Class 1A poll, the Red Bay softball team is ranked 10th in the Class 2A poll and the Russellville baseball team is ranked sixth in the Class 5A poll.

Two area baseball teams and one local softball team are ranked in the Alabama’s Sports Writers Association polls released Thursday.

The Vina baseball team is the highest ranked of the teams, earning a No.-5 spot in the class 1A poll. The Red Devils are off to a 6-1 start and Vina is the only team in Franklin County that was ranked last season.

The Red Devils were ranked No. 9 in the first poll last year, but slipped to 10th the next week. Vina moved back to ninth in the third poll and remained there for the rest of the season.

Russellville’s baseball team started the season 0-3, but has gone on a 17-game winning streak since then. The turnaround has earned the Golden Tigers a No.-6 ranking in the Class 5A poll.

If all the teams ranked in the first poll remain ranked throughout the season, both Vina and Russellville will face ranked opponents in area competition. The Red Devils were scheduled to play No.-7 Hackleburg earlier this week, but the games were rained out. Russellville will play ninth-ranked Athens at the end of the regular season.

Both Vina and Russellville reached the playoffs last year.

Russellville finished second in the area and had to travel to East Limestone in the first round and lost both games.

Vina fared a little better, winning its area and hosting Decatur Heritage in the first round. The Red Devils won the first game, but lost the next two in the best-of-three series.

Red Bay is the only softball team in Franklin County to earn a ranking. The Lady Tigers are ranked 10th in the Class 2A poll.

Red Bay is 2-1 and returns two quality pitchers as well as many strong bats that helped carry the Lady Tigers deep into the Regional Tournament last season.