The first MIAA power rankings of the spring season were released on Tuesday and it should come as no surprise who the top two ranked teams in the Div. 5 softball field were. 

Greenfield and Turners come into the rankings with the top two spots, the Green Wave (7-3) in the top spot while the Thunder (9-3) are ranked second. All records shown are the records the MIAA used for the rankings and may not be up to date. 

It may come as a surprise to those in Turners that they are ranked below Greenfield, as the Thunder won both games against the Green Wave this season. The rankings are done by combining each teams average margin of victory with its opponent rankings, creating its power rating. Greenfield has an average margin of victory of 2.0 and an opponent rating of 2.9, making its power rating 4.9. Turners has a higher average margin of victory of 2.5 but a lower opponent rating of 2.2, making its power rating just lower than the Green Wave’s at 4.8. 

With the rating so close and still a number of games to go, expect the two — who have combined to win the last three Div. 5 titles, Greenfield in 2022 and 2023 and Turners last spring — to jostle for the top seed. However it pans out, a third battle between the two rivals in the postseason is most certainly in the cards, maybe even for a state title. 

Georgetown, who Turners beat in the title game a season ago, is ranked No. 6 while Tahanto, who upset the top-seeded Wave last spring, is ranked No. 7. 

Franklin Tech (7-3), who has reached the quarterfinals each of the last two years, is ranked No. 14 while Pioneer (5-6) is ranked No. 31. As a reminder, the top 32 ranked teams earn an automatic spot it the state tournament while each team ranked outside the top 32 that finishes the season with a record at or above .500 will also receive a bid. 

Mohawk Trail (2-7, No. 34), Athol (1-9, No. 44) and Mahar (0-9, No. 57) are on the outside looking in. 

Frontier is the lone Recorder Area school in Div. 4, with the Redhawks’ 6-4 start to the season earning them the N0. 10 ranking. With a rating of 2.8, Frontier would have the same exact ranking in the Div. 5 field. Uxbridge and Hampshire are the top two ranked teams in Div. 4. 

Pioneer baseball near the top of Div. 5 field

It’s been a long time since Pioneer baseball players Alex McClelland, Jackson Glazier and Ben Werner have experienced losing a game. 

The trio were all key cogs on the Panther basketball team that went 26-0 this winter and heading into Wednesday’s Suburban League West contest against Frontier, have won all 10 games they’ve played on the diamond this spring. 

That start has those Pioneer players seeking a second state title on the year, as the Panthers sit at No. 2 in the Div. 5 field in the initial power rankings released Tuesday. It’s no shock to see Pioneer high in the rankings, as it has made the state semifinals each of the last three years. 

May 9 will be a key day for the Panthers, as they make the trip to North Adams to face off with Drury (10-0), the No. 1 ranked team in the field. Boston English, the defending Div. 5 champions, sit at No. 3 in the rankings while Georgetown — a senior-laden team that beat Pioneer in the semifinals last year — is down at No. 25. 

Pioneer isn’t the only area team ranked in the top 10. Athol is off to a 5-2 start, which has it ranked No. 7 in the Div. 5 field. The Bears have been improving each of the past few years and has a veteran squad that will be looking to make a run at some hardware. 

Franklin Tech, which is looking neck-and-neck with Athol in the Bi-County North title race, comes in at No. 11 in the rankings with a 6-4 record. 

Greenfield — which has a knack for catching fire down the stretch, having made a run to the Div. 5 quarterfinals in 2023 and semifinals a season ago — is ranked No. 19 with a 5-4 record. Turners Falls, who won the Bi-County North a season ago, sits in the top 32 with the No. 21 ranking following a 4-5 start to the year. Mahar (0-7) is ranked No. 53. 

Over in Div. 4 Frontier, off to an 8-4 start to the season, is ranked No. 14. If the Redhawks were in Div. 5 with the rest of the Recorder Area schools, Frontier’s rating of 1.15 would have it ranked No. 8. Pittsfield is the top ranked team in Div. 4. 

Tennis, volleyball rankings

In the Div. 4 boys tennis field, Frontier — which started its season 6-0 before a loss to Lenox on Monday — is ranked No. 34. Greenfield (2-3) enters the ranking at No. 49 while Turners (1-8) is ranked No. 53. 

The Frontier girls tennis team has raced out to a 7-3 start to the season, earning it the No. 14 ranking in the Div. 4 field. Greenfeld (4-4) is safely in the top 32 as well, ranked No. 19. Mohawk Trail (1-6, No. 34) and Turners Falls (1-4, No. 36) are just outside the top 32. 

The Frontier boys volleyball team is off to a 4-7 start to the season, which has it ranked No. 22 in the Div. 2 field. Athol (3-6) is ranked No. 43.