High school softball rankings: Top-ranked Pacifica jumps out to 4-0 start in first regular season MaxPreps Top 25

The 2024 high school softball season is officially underway in a handful of states, and several teams have already caught our attention and moved into the first MaxPreps Top 25 of the spring.

Each week, we will project who has the best chance of finishing in the final rankings and ultimately being crowned the MaxPreps National Champion. A single loss does not always impact positioning in the rankings, as we consider who was on the field, as non-conference games provide a chance to evaluate everyone.

Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) was picked as the top team entering the season and has done nothing to move from that position. Delaina Maae had a pair of hits, including a two-run home run in a 5-2 win over Los Alamitos last week. Brynne Nally struck out six, going the distance.

No. 2 Katy (Texas) has played 14 games, already outscoring opponents 118-7. Arkansas signee Cameryn Harrison threw two no-hitters last week.

Jolie Hays and Grace Wallis have come out of the gate strong in the circle for No. 4 Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.). They have combined to strike out 48 in 27 innings and have not allowed a single run.

Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.) has entered the MaxPreps Top 25 and is now the early favorite for the top squad in Arizona. Utah State commit Kendall Cochran and Minot State pledge Sarah Misner have helped the Mountain Lions to a 5-0 start.

Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.) is another California team on the rise. The Spartans are off to a 2-0 start including an impressive win over Sierra Canyon. Indiana commit Jasmine Reyes is a player to watch in the circle and at the plate.

Leander (Texas) has played in two tournaments already and has gone 13-0 during those events. The Lions can swing it, scoring 105 runs to start the year.
MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings

1. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)
Record: 4-0 | Preseason: 1
Cal State Fullerton commit Annika Sogsti and Cal Berkley pledge Kayli Counts are off to hot starts, both have five hits in eight at bats.

2. Katy (Texas)
Record: 13-1 | Preseason: 2
Montgomery Henderson has been on fire as of late, as she has 11 hits in her last 12 at-bats.

3. Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 2-0 | Preseason: 3
Katelynn Oxley, Ryleigh Knowlton and Brooklyn Tyson have yet to allow a run this season. The Yellow Jackets offense has exploded for 22 runs in two games.

4. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Record: 5-0 | Preseason: 4
Sophomore Hannah Sullivan has eight hits in nine at bats. Coastal Carolina commit Reese Collier has three home runs to start the season.

5. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 2-0 | Preseason: 5
Seniors Mallory Baker and Shelby McKenzie have picked up where they left off in 2023, combining for eight hits and 12 RBI in two games.

6. Marist (Chicago)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 6
Season begins in March.

7. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)
Record: 5-0 | Preseason: 7
Gulf Coast State commit AhKeela Honeycutt has been on a tear to start the year. She has 10 hits, 15 RBI and three home runs in five games.

8. Kaukauna (Wis.)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 8
Season begins in March.

9. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 9
Season begins in March.

10. Huntington Beach (Calif.)
Record: 3-1 | Preseason: 10
Standord commit Zoe Prystajko has struck out 29 in 14 innings to start the season. Junior Morgan Drotter has eight hits in four games.

11. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 11
Season begins in March.

12. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record: 1-0 | Preseason: 12
K.G. Favors had four hits, seven RBI, a home run and struck out nine during the Makos' 15-0 opening-night win.

13. Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 13
Season begins in March.

14. Summerville (S.C.)
Record: 2-0 | Preseason: 14
Season begins in March.

15. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record: 10-0 | Preseason: 17
Finley Montgomery struck out eight and Jenny Robledo had three hits during the Wildcats' 9-3 win over Lone Star on Saturday.

16. Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.)
Record: 5-0 | Preseason: NR
Sophomore Taylor Hampton has eight hits in 12 at-bats, including two bombs and five RBI.

17. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 18
Season begins Thursday.

18. Gaylord (Mich.)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 19
Season begins in March.

19. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 20
Season begins in March.

20. Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 21
Season begins in March.

21. Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.)
Record: 1-0 | Preseason: 22
Freshman Courtney Wahlbrink tossed a no-hitter and sophomore Gio Gurgel blasted a home run in their 16-0 opening win.

22. North DeSoto (Stonewall, La.)
Record: 8-0 | Preseason: NR
Laney Johnson, Mia Norwood, Maddy Stringer and Raegan Henderson each homered in a 13-0 win over West Monroe on Tuesday.

23. Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.)
Record: 2-0 | Preseason: NR
Northern Illinois commit Hailey Olivera has the bat going to start the year, as she has three home runs in the first two games.

24. Leander (Texas)
Record: 13-0 | Preseason: NR
Indiana commit Madalyn Strader, Illinois commit Taylor Porter, Wichita State pledge Cameryn Beckerley and sophomore Rachel Grundei have combined to hit 13 home runs in 13 games.
On the bubble: Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.), 1-0; South Bend St. Joseph (South Bend, Ind.), 0-0; Gordonsville (Tenn.), 0-0; St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 0-0; Murrieta Mesa (Murrieta, Calif.), 5-1.