MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings

An outstanding performance at the Kissimmee Klassic was enough to put Palm Beach Gardens back into the No. 1 spot in the Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings this week.

The Gators outscored their opponents 48-2 in four games, including a 16-0 rout of Gulliver Prep. The wins were enough for Palm Beach Gardens to leapfrog undefeated Estrella Foothills, which remains in the No. 2 spot this week.

Niceville dropped from the No. 1 spot to No. 7 after falling to a Chiles team that is ranked among the top five teams in Florida. Norco, which was No. 3, also lost to drop one spot to No. 4.

One team to watch is Alexander Central, which has standout pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson back at full strength. She threw her eighth-straight shutout to avenge her team's only loss of the season.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings

1. (4 last week) Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.), 23-1
The Gators won the Kissimmee Klassic in impressive fashion, defeating Cypress Bay 13-2, Trinity Prep 15-0, Plant 4-0 and Gulliver Prep 16-0.

2. (2) Estrella Foothills (Goodyear, Ariz.), 25-0
Estrella Foothills remained undefeated on the season with a pair of shutout wins over Fountain Hills (11-0) and Youngker (10-0).

3. (7) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 14-1
Alexander Central avenged its only loss of the season with a 4-0 victory over Foard. Chelsea Wilkinson, who did not pitch in the first meeting between the two teams, threw her eighth-straight shutout of the season in the win.

4. (3) Norco (Calif.), 17-1
Norco topped Aliso Niguel 11-2, Lakewood 6-2 and Agoura 10-1, but lost to Orange Lutheran 2-1. The team is still ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section.

5. (15) Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.), 19-1
Pacifica makes a big move this week by winning the Michelle Carew Classic. Five wins including an 8-0 win over San Clemente, a 9-1 win over Agoura, a 9-1 win over Valencia, a 7-2 victory over Canyon and a 13-5 victory over Los Alamitos.

6. (12) Eau Gallie (Melbourne, Fla.), 21-1
Eau Gallie registered a pair of shutouts last week with a 5-0 win over Viera and an 8-0 win over Satellite.

7. (1) Niceville (Fla.), 20-2
Niceville knocked off Owensboro Catholic (Ky.) but lost to Chiles, one of the top-ranked 8A teams in Florida, 1-0.

8. (16) Topsail (Hampstead, N.C.), 16-0
Topsail claimed two shutout wins to start the West Brunswick Easter Tournament, defeating East Wilkes 12-0 and West Brunswick 14-0.

9. (13) Walla Walla (Wash.), 6-0
Alyson Ambler had a no-hitter in an 11-0 win over Eisenhower. Walla Walla won the second game of the doubleheader 16-2 after scoring 10 runs in the first inning.

10. (NR) Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.), 13-0
The Dons defeated Archbishop Mitty in the semifinals of the Livermore Stampede and went on to win the championship to stay undefeated on the season.

11. (17) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 6-0
Three more shutouts for Keystone as it topped Oberlin 14-0, Midview 4-0 and Clearview 10-0. Also knocked off Woodridge 4-1.

12. (18) Poland Seminary (Ohio), 5-0
Erin Gabriel had a no-hitter and 12 strikeouts and also hit a home run and a double in a 19-0 win over Hubbard. Poland Seminary heads to Florida for games against Gulliver Prep and Palm Beach Gardens.

13. (5) Tomball (Texas), 17-2
Tomball lost to Klein 11-10 after defeating Klein Forest 10-0.

14. (8) Alvin (Texas), 27-3
Alvin had only one game last week, a 1-0 win over Clear Brook. Alvin drops since it has a loss to Tomball, which lost last week and fell to No. 13 in the rankings.

15. (9) The Woodlands (Texas), 21-3
The Highlanders erupted for 21 runs to rout Lufkin 21-0.

16. (21) Porter Ridge (Indian Trail, N.C.), 18-0
Porter Ridge remained in the hunt among a strong group of North Carolina teams by defeating Weddington 2-0.

17. (22) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 16-2
The Monarchs went 4-1 in the Livermore Stampede, falling to Amador Valley 8-1, but defeating Alhambra 3-2 for third place.

18. (23) Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 23-1
Xavier College Prep could be the top team in Arizona after Sunrise Mountain's loss. Xavier Prep topped Ironwood 14-2 and Westwood 14-7 last week.

19. (6) El Diamante (Visalia, Calif.), 20-1
El Diamante lost at the Clovis West Easter Tournament, falling to Central (Fresno) 4-2. Also defeated Buchanan 5-3.

20. (NR) Woodcreek (Roseville, Calif.), 13-1
Woodcreek avenged its only loss of the season with a victory over crosstown rival Roseville last week.

21. (NR) Plano East (Texas), 25-2
Plano East moves back into the rankings as it continues to rack up the wins.

22. (10) Winter Springs (Fla.), 21-2
Winter Springs suffered a 5-3 loss to Gulliver Prep at the Kissimmee Klassic but easily defeated Aquinas 9-0, Cooper City 12-1, Plant 4-0 and Seminole 17-0.

23. (14) Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.), 22-1
Sunrise Mountain lost its first game of the season, falling to Kellis 7-6. Also picked up a 10-0 win over Cactus.

24. (NR) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 20-4
Lancers are ranked No. 3 in Southern California and have a recent win over previously undefeated Norco.

25. (20) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 19-2
Torrey Pines defeated Granite Hills 4-3, Vista 10-0, and Mira Mesa 4-1, but it lost to a strong West Hills team 1-0.

Dropped out: No. 11 Chamberlain, No. 19 Riverdale, No. 24 Pearland, No. 25 Newton County