Four state champions are ranked No. 1 in the first Alabama Sports Writers Association Baseball poll for the 2023 season with one small asterisk.

Mobile Christian, which won the last two Class 4A state titles, opens this year’s polling as the top-ranked team in Class 5A. The Leopards are 11-3 so far under first-year head coach Jason Smith, who was a longtime assistant for former coach Talley Haines. They moved up a class again by competitive balance.

The other reigning champs at No. 1 are Central-Phenix City (7A), Hartselle (6A) and G.W. Long (2A). Bayside Academy is No. 1 in 4A, Phil Campbell tops the first 3A poll with Appalachian No. 1 in 1A and Glenwood at the top in the AISA poll.

Two-time Class 1A champ Bayshore Christian is No. 2 in Class 2A after moving up by competitive balance.

Here are the first week’s rankings:

CLASS 7A

1. Central-Phenix City (13-2)

2. Thompson (17-0)

3. Bob Jones (18-4)

4. Hewitt-Trussville (12-3)

5. Tuscaloosa County (16-2)

6. Vestavia Hills (11-2)

7. Spain Park (12-4)

8. Auburn (6-4)

9. Enterprise (8-3)

10. Hoover (9-6)

Others nominated: Chelsea (6-8), Daphne (8-6), Fairhope (8-7), Grissom (8-4), Huntsville (11-4), James Clemens (9-7), Oak Mountain (8-7), Prattville (9-5), Smiths Station (10-5), Sparkman (10-6).

CLASS 6A

1. Hartselle (11-4)

2. Oxford (10-3)

3. Saraland (9-5)

4. Briarwood Christian (9-3)

5. Cullman (5-5)

6. Northridge (10-6)

7. Stanhope Elmore (11-3)

8. Mountain Brook (7-7)

9. Hueytown (10-6)

10. Faith Academy (9-5)

Others nominated: Athens (8-6), Baldwin County (10-5), Calera (7-6), Chilton County (10-3), Fort Payne (6-6), Gardendale (6-7), Hazel Green (6-9), Helena (4-10), Homewood (8-2), Minor (9-4), Mortimer Jordan (8-6), Pike Road (10-3), Spanish Fort (8-8).

CLASS 5A

1. Mobile Christian (11-3)

2. Russellville (6-6)

3. Headland (10-2)

4. Alexandria (10-2)

5. St. Paul’s (11-5)

6. Arab (11-3)

7. Sardis (9-1)

8. John Carroll (6-6)

9. Gulf Shores (10-5)

10. Southside-Gadsden (11-6)

Others nominated: Charles Henderson (7-5), Demopolis (5-4), Jasper (7-6), Scottsboro (10-7), Shelby County (8-5), West Point (7-7).

CLASS 4A

1. Bayside Academy (8-5)

2. Andalusia (10-2)

3. Priceville (9-2)

4. UMS-Wright (9-7)

5. West Limestone (13-3)

6. Etowah (6-5)

7. Geneva (10-1)

8. Corner (5-5)

9. Cleburne County (8-1)

10. Deshler (11-4)

Others nominated: Bibb County (8-5), Central-Florence (7-5), Cherokee County (7-6), Dora (10-4), Madison County (9-4), Munford (7-2), North Jackson (9-5), Oak Grove (7-6), Satsuma (10-2), St. John Paul II (9-4), T.R. Miller (8-4), West Morgan (2-3-2).

CLASS 3A

1. Phil Campbell (9-3)

2. Decatur Heritage (7-4)

3. Piedmont (5-4)

4. Gordo (8-2)

5. Westbrook Christian (7-3)

6. Providence Christian (7-4)

7. Houston Academy (9-4)

8. St. James (7-3)

9. Excel (6-3)

10. Fayette County (12-3)

Others nominated: Clements (6-6), Elkmont (6-3), Plainview (5-4), Sylvania (4-5), Winfield (7-5).

CLASS 2A

1. G.W. Long (8-4)

2. Bayshore Christian (8-3)

3. Mars Hill (9-3)

4. Ariton (8-4-1)

5. Lindsay Lane (10-5)

6. Vincent (8-1)

7. Pike Liberal Arts (9-6)

8. Donoho (7-1)

9. Tuscaloosa Academy (7-2-1)

10. North Sand Mountain (8-1)

Others nominated: Collinsville (5-5), Cottonwood (7-4), Fyffe (4-5), Hatton (7-7), Ider (4-7), Lexington (6-1), Sheffield (10-4).

CLASS 1A

1. Appalachian (8-1)

2. Sweet Water (4-4)

3. Ragland (7-2)

4. Sumiton Christian (6-4)

5. Billingsley (7-1)

6. Lynn (8-2)

7. Florala (5-1)

8. Coosa Christian (9-4)

9. Covenant Christian (3-1)

10. Hackleburg (8-5)

Others nominated: Addison (5-6), Red Level (5-2), Spring Garden (3-2)

AISA

1. Glenwood (16-2)

2. Autauga Academy (15-4)

3. Lee-Scott (11-5)

4. Patrician (10-3)

5. Macon-East (11-6)

6. Hooper Academy (9-8)

7. Abbeville (7-8)

8. Fort Dale (9-7)

9. Bessemer Academy (4-5)

10. Coosa Valley (9-4)

Others nominated: Crenshaw Christian (7-8), Lowndes Academy (NA).