There was a shakeup near the top of this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings after an epic showdown in Florida over the weekend.
In a battle between two of the best teams and two of the best pitchers in the country at the Roger Jones Kissimmee Classic, Florida State commit
Jasmine Francik struck out 14 and allowed just two hits as
Melbourne (Fla.) outlasted
Bartow (Fla.) 1-0 in the Blue Bracket final. Florida commit
Katelynn Oxley pitched a gem as well, striking out 14.
Alyssa Arnold dropped the squeeze bunt in the bottom of the seventh that brought home
Rylie Mecchella to pull out the victory for Melbourne. The Bulldogs jump four spots to No. 5 overall while the Yellow Jackets slide seven to No. 9.
Kaukaunsa (Wis.) finally began its season as the Galloping Ghosts beat Appleton North 14-4 to extend their win streak to 82 games. Returning MaxPreps State Player of the Year
Karly Meredith struck out 14 and didn't allow a hit in five innings of work.
Lake Central (St. John, Ind.) jumps into the rankings this week at No. 24 after an impressive 6-0 start. Sophomore
MaKayla Van Vossen has come out swinging, batting .571 with a pair of home runs.
Kendall Bragg, right, hypes up her Basha team along with Gabriella Garcia. Bragg is hitting .500 with 11 home runs for the 14th-ranked Bears. (Photo: Michael Cazares)
Record: 28-1-1 |
Last week: 1
The Tigers have outscored opponents 129-1 over the past 10 games.
2. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 3
The Lancers have a big week with two games against West Catholic League rival Archbishop Mitty (San Jose).
3. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 4
Grace Wallis hit a home run and drove in both runs during the Cougars' 2-1 win over South Panola (Batesville) on Saturday.
4. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record: 22-0 |
Last week: 5
Sophomore
Addy Oldham had a pair over doubles and had six RBI during the Makos' 13-2 win over Todd County Central (Elkton, Ky.) on Friday.
5. Melbourne (Fla.)
Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 9
Layna Ayala drove in four runs and
Jasmine Francik tossed a no-hitter on Monday, as the Bulldogs blanked Eau Gallie (Melbourne) 10-0.
6. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 14-3 |
Last week: 6
The Lancers were idle last week.
7. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 15-1 |
Last week: 7
Jayden Heavener eclipsed 1,000 strikeouts during her career after mowing down 13 and tossing a no-hitter on Thursday.
8. Kaukaunsa (Wis.)
Record: 1-0 |
Last week: 8
Paige Bodenheimer had four hits and
Jozy Ebben hit a home run during the Ghosts' opening-day victory.
9. Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 2
The Yellow Jackets will look to bounce back on Friday at Lake Wales.
10. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 10
Ayla Ray hit a home run and had six RBI as the Falcons blanked Princeton (Cincinnati) 19-0 on Thursday.
11. Summerville (S.C.)
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: 13
Hope Chase tossed a no-hitter as the Lady Wave won 1-0 in extra innings on Friday.
12. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)
Record: 16-2 |
Last week: 12
The Mariners racked up 16 hits and 17 runs on Thursday.
Kayli Counts and
Catherine Benitez both had a pair of hits.
13. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record: 9-1 |
Last week: 11
The Firebirds fell 1-0 to No. 7 Bartow at the Rogers Jones Kissimmee Classic.
14. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 21-1-1 |
Last week: 15
Kendall Bragg smashed two home runs and drove in seven RBI as the Bears handed Chandler a 13-1 loss on Monday.
15. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 7-0 |
Last week: 16
Carsyn Cassady mowed down 12 hitters on Sunday, as the Warriors beat Mt. Vernon 2-0.
16. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)
Record: 21-4 |
Last week: 17
Corey Goguts went yard twice and drove in six runs on Thursday to help beat Springville 10-0.
17. Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas)
Record: 23-1 |
Last week: 21
Tyra Thompson went deep as the Raiders extended their winning streak to 23 games, after a 15-3 win over Vandegrift (Austin) on Friday.
18. Bloomingdale (Valrico, Fla.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 22
The Bulls went 6-0 last week.
Paige Sanchez hit a three-run home run in the seventh to secure a 6-5 championship victory over Venice at the Leopard Slam Tournament.
19. Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.)
Record: 6-0-1 |
Last week: 19
The Storm were idle last week.
20. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 16-3 |
Last week: 20
The Cougars were idle last week.
21. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 2-0 |
Last week: 23
Madison McDougall mowed down 16 hitters on Monday during the Lacers' 9-0 shutout over Manasquan.
22. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
Record: 31-2 |
Last week: 14
The Cavaliers dropped their second game of the season 5-3 to St. Thomas More (Lafayette) on Friday. They look to bounce back on Tuesday against Ouachita Christian (Monroe).
23. Marist (Chicago)
Record: 7-1 |
Last week: 24
The RedHawks have outscored its opponents 37-3 over the past three games.
24. Lake Central (St. John, Ind.)
Record: 6-0 |
Last week: 27
Izzy Calinski and
Mackenzie Calinski both hit jacks during a 6-1 win over Pendleton Heights (Pendleton) on Saturday.
25. Melissa (Texas)
Record: 24-2-1 |
Last week: 25
The Cardinals bounced back with a 15-0 win over Greenville. The team combined to hit seven home runs, including two by
Kennedy Bradley.
On the bubble: Guyer (Denton, Texas), 24-2;
Gaylord (Mich.), 2-1;
Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 10-1;
St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.), 27-3-1;
Woodgrove (Purcellville, Va.), 7-0
