The national periodical “Baseball America” in its June 16 weekly edition has ranked Jefferson High 18th in the nation among high school baseball teams.

The Cougars finished the season with a 36-3 overall record and won the school’s second consecutive big-school state championship.

“Baseball America” ranked the Cougars when their record was 33-3 and before the state championship was secured.

Stoneman Douglas of Parkland, Florida was the No. 1 rated team by the venerable publication. Stoneman Douglas had a 27-2 record. Ranked second in the country was Buchanan High from Clovis, California. Clovis had a record of 30-1.

Only two teams within a 100-mile radius of Jefferson County received the periodical’s mention.

Chantilly High in Virginia had a 27-2 mark and was given the 28th ranking and Riverdale Baptist from Upper Marlboro in Maryland was pegged as the 39th best team in the land. Riverdale Baptist had a 32-3 record.

Jefferson played Riverdale Baptist in 1999 in Cooperstown, New York at historic Doubleday Field.

The Cougars, behind the complete-game pitching of left-hander Josh Cenate, defeated Riverdale Baptist, 5-2, that May morning and then went on to become the big-school state champions in early June.