TOP OF THE CROP

Dropped out: None. Watch list: Brookside 7-4, Clearview 7-4, Keystone 7-5, Lorain, 8-6, Fairview 6-6, Wellington 6-4 Crop comments: Amherst (14-3) went 5-0 on the week to remain in the top spot. The Comets are in first place in the Southwestern Conference and outscored opponents, 45-2, in five games this week, improving their winning streak to eight . ... Vermilion (13-5) moves up to No. 2 thanks to a 5-0 week. The Sailors picked up two crucial Sandusky Bay Conference wins and beat Bay and Wellington in non-league matchups . ... Olmsted Falls (9-3) earns its highest ranking of the season at No. 3. The Bulldogs went 3-0 this week, including a huge SWC win over Avon to remain in the conference race. A showdown with No. 1 Amherst looms April 26 . ... Avon (10-6) drops two spots to No. 4 with a split week. The Eagles’ losses to Avon Lake and Olmsted Falls will make repeating as SWC champions more difficult as they will now need some help from other teams . ... Elyria (10-6) stays put at No. 5, going 2-3 on the week. The Pioneers beat Avon Lake twice in a doubleheader but lost three Greater Cleveland Conference games . ... Avon Lake (10-6) remains at No. 6, going 2-3 on the week. A 10-4 win over Avon April 19 keeps the Shoremen near the top five . ... Elyria Catholic (9-2) improves to No. 7 with a 5-0 week. The Panthers went 4-0 in Great Lakes Conference play and have extended their GLC winning streak to 31 straight games . ... Firelands (9-3) picked up three PAC wins this week to remain two games ahead of Keystone for first place in the PAC Stars Division standings. ... Midview (7-8) continues to drop after three losses this week. The Middies have pulled some big upsets but are essentially out of the SWC race . ... Lake Ridge (90) continues its dominance of the Lake Effect Conference and went 3-0 this week. The Royals face tough tests in a tournament with Elyria Catholic, Wellington and Columbia this weekend at Oberlin College.

Note: Records as of April 24.