As most Northern Utah schools emerge from spring break this week and head for region play in baseball and softball, Layton High baseball currently tops the 6A classification (18 teams) in the UHSAA’s RPI formula.

RPI is calculated using a team’s winning percentage, opponents’ winning percentage and their opponents’ strength as well, and is the determining number for seeding state tournament brackets in May.

Layton enters region play with a 7-2 record; its losses are to a 17-4 Summit High team from California and to Skyridge, who is No. 5 in the current 6A RPI. The Lancers open region play with a three-game series against Weber (4-6, No. 15 RPI) this week. Senior Eli Anderson (.522) is 13th in the state across all classifications in batting average.

Davis (8-2) is No. 4 in current RPI. The Darts play three against Syracuse (3-5, No. 14) this week. Fremont (7-3) sits at No. 7 in RPI. The Silverwolves face Farmington (2-7, No. 16) to open Region 1 play.

In the 6A tournament, seeds 15-18 contest play-in series, then the top-eight seeds host three-game series, then the eight remaining teams are slotted into a double-elimination bracket to decide the state champion.

Outside of No. 2 Viewmont (6-3), who has the state’s leader in batting average (Cal Miller, .600), the area’s top 5A baseball teams are No. 10 Northridge (8-2) and No. 11 Bonneville (7-3). Northridge faces Bonneville on Wednesday and Viewmont on Friday to open Region 5 play.

Other Region 5 teams in the 5A RPI among 31 teams: No. 13 Box Elder (4-5), No. 18 Clearfield (4-7) and No. 26 Roy (1-9).

The 5A tournament is not an all-comers affair. Seeds 1-8 bye and host series against the winners of series held between seeds 9-24. The eight remaining teams then play double-elimination.

Bear River (12-4) checks in at No. 4 in the 24-team 4A RPI. Gehrig Marble, who is hitting .485, is No. 5 in the state in slugging percentage (1.000). All 24 teams make the tournament, with the top eight seeds getting byes to the second round.

In 3A, No. 7 Morgan (7-7) leads area teams. No. 10 Ogden (9-6) has the state’s No. 2 hitter in Will Minkevitch, who is batting .594. Ben Lomond (0-6) checks in at No. 17 in the 18-team classification. The top 16 teams make the postseason.

SOFTBALL

Davis High (7-2) leads Region 1 schools at No. 6 in the current 6A softball RPI ratings. Sophomore Jewel Korth is hitting .600 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in nine games.

No. 8 Syracuse (5-3) and No. 9 Fremont (2-2) are close behind. Davis hosts Syracuse and plays at Fremont this week to begin region play. No. 12 Farmington (4-3), No. 13 Weber (2-6) and No. 17 Layton (2-5) round out Region 1.

The top 16 teams make the 6A softball playoffs, with the top eight hosting three-game series.

In 5A, Box Elder (9-2) currently sits at No. 3 and Bonneville (9-1) at No. 4. They join No. 2 Bountiful (11-2) for a strong trio atop Region 5. All presently sit inside the top eight who would earn first-round byes.

Box Elder freshman Kailee Hall has a .581 on-base percentage and has stolen 12 bases. Bonneville plays at Box Elder on Tuesday and hosts Bountiful on Thursday to open the Region 5 schedule.

No. 13 Clearfield (5-5), No. 21 Northridge (1-6) and No. 22 Roy (1-10) currently sit in the top-24 threshold for the 5A playoffs.

Bear River (7-4) currently sits at No. 4 in the 4A RPI rankings, a spot that would earn a first-round bye.

In 3A, Morgan (9-1) is No. 1 after a 3-0 start in Region 13; the top four seeds host regional pods to open the 3A tournament. Junior pitcher Eva Birkeland has a 1.13 ERA in 31 innings, totaling 45 strikeouts.

Seeds 14-18 contest play-in games and the 19th place team in 3A misses the playoffs; Ogden (3-5) sits at No. 15 and Ben Lomond (0-6) at No. 18.

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