Xcellent 25 national softball rankings: No. 1 The Woodlands now 27-0

Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.) continued its strong play as it won a pair of games against interstate competition last week and took advantage of a Soddy Daisy loss to move into the No. 2 spot in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings.

The Cougars, undefeated at 10-0, played two of the top teams in the south, Tennessee's Riverdale (Murfreesboro) and Alabama's Hueytown and came out on top in both games. The win over Riverdale was significant since it had a previous win over defending national champion Dunellon (Fla.) earlier in the season.

Chelsea Wilkinson, Alexander Central

Photo by Damon Thomas

With one of the top pitchers in the country in Chelsea Wilkinson leading the way, Alexander Central moved up one spot to No. 2 this week after Soddy Daisy suffered its first loss of the season at the Chik-Fil-A Tournament in Brentwood, Tenn.

The Woodlands (Texas) still leads the pack with a 27-0 record, but is joined in the Xcellent 25 by another undefeated Texas team - the Coronado Mustangs, who are 25-0 on the season.

Other newcomers this week include a pair of one-loss teams from Arizona, Canyon del Oro and Sunrise Mountain, and Kissimmee Classic champion Sarasota (Fla.)

We now have computer-generated national rankings. CLICK HERE.

MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS.

1. (last week 1) The Woodlands (The Woodlands, Texas), 27-0
The Highlanders dominated in District 5A-14 play last week, topping Conroe 9-0 and Atascocita 24-0. Paige McDuffee gave up one hit in six innings against Conroe for the win. Against Atascocita, Jessica Snyder was 3-for-5 with six RBI and two home runs.

2. (3) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 10-0
The Cougars won three times last week, including a 3-1 victory over previous No. 18 Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and a 4-0 win over Alabama's top-ranked team Hueytown. Chelsea Wilkinson struck out eight in the win over Hueytown and six in the win over Riverdale.

3. (4) East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 22-0
The Eagles were unable to play last week due to poor field conditions.

4. (5) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 18-0
The Patriots played only one game last week, stopping Westminster Christian 12-0. Bailey Castro and Ashley Lonergan each had home runs in the win.



5. (6) Hudsonville (Hudsonville, Mich.), 0-0
Will open its season in mid-April.

6. (7) Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), 7-0
The Knights did not play last week and had games against Elizabeth Seton and Oakton postponed to a later date..

7. (8) Plano (Plano, Texas), 25-3
The Wildcats dropped Plano West 9-3 and Allen 3-1 in District 5A-8 play last week. MacKenzie Velasquez, Ashley McDowell and Tori Seasor all doubled against Plano West while Velasquez and Jill Holub rapped doubles against Allen.

8. (9) Etiwanda (Etiwanda, Calif.), 12-0
The Eagles shut out Glendora 6-0 and topped a strong Upland team 9-3 to remain undefeated. Delaney Spaulding had three doubles and went 4-for-5 against Upland. Against Glendora, Kelsey Barak and Melissa Taukeiaho each hit a home run.

9. (10) Valencia (Valencia, Calif.), 12-1
The Vikings got back on track with an 8-1 win over El Dorado and a 2-1 victory over Santiago (Corona). Justine Sibthorp hit a home run over the fence at Norco to give the Vikings the win over Santiago and the championship of the Stu Penter Classic.

10. (12) Bartow (Bartow, Fla.), 17-0
The Yellowjackets did not play their scheduled game with Auburndale last week and do not play again until Tuesday's district game against Lake Region..



11. (2) Soddy Daisy (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.), 6-1
The Trojans won four times last week, including a 5-0 win over Ooltewah. At the Chik-Fil-A tournament in Brentwood, Soddy Daisy beat Friendship Christian 13-3, Davidson Acadmey 3-1 and North Laurel 11-1, but also lost its first game of the season, 6-2, to Mt. Juliet.

12. (16) Jupiter (Jupiter, Fla.), 16-2
The Warriors knocked off Suncoast 10-1 and blanked Dwyer 8-0. Devin Williams had a home run and a triple with three RBI among her four hits in the win over Suncoast. Kylee Hanson went the distance to get the win over Dwyer, throwing a no-hitter and striking out six. Jupiter has big games against American Heritage and Gulliver Prep this week.

13. (NR) Sarasota (Sarasota, Fla.), 19-2
The Sailors went undefeated at the Kissimmee Classic, defeating Southwest (Miami) 8-1, St.Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) 1-0, Newsome (Lithia) 8-4 and Plant City, 2-0. The win over St. Thomas Aquinas avenged a previous loss for the Sailors. The win over Plant City allowed Sarasota to move into the rankings ahead of Gulliver Prep, which lost to Plant City in the tournament.

14. (17) Gulliver Prep (Miami, Fla.), 19-2
Gulliver Prep went 3-1 at the Kissimmee Classic, defeating Space Coast 8-2, Braddock 3-1 and Newsome 8-4, however Plant City handed the Raiders a 5-0 defeat. Crystal Garcia had a home run and a triple in the win over Newsome.

15. (14) Perry (Massillon, Ohio), 0-0
Panthers have had a tough time getting their season underway due to poor weather conditions.

16. (15) Poland Seminary (Poland, Ohio), 0-0
The Bulldogs had their games from last week postponed due to weather.

17. (18) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 21-2
Played Alexander Central close, falling 3-1. Won five other games against four other states during the Lady Warrior Southern Classic, three by shutout. Beat LaVergne (Tenn.) 20-2, Grant County (Dry Ridge, Ky.) 17-0, Hendersonville (Tenn.) 8-0, East Central (Moss Point, Miss.) 16-0 and Elyria (Ohio) 4-3.

18. (NR) Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.), 20-1
The Dorados have won nine straight since their lone loss, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sahuaro. Canyon del Oro has picked up wins over Red Mountain, Desert Mountain and Mesquite at the Desert Mountain Invitational late last month. It won big over Nogales last week, 17-1.

19. (19) Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.), 14-1-1
The Griffins won four times during the week, including a 5-4 win over Mater Dei. Defeated North (Torrance) in a doubleheader by identical 8-1 scores and topped Riverside Christian 14-2. Allison Brown had a home run and four RBI in the win over Riverside Christian. She also had a double and a home run against Mater Dei.



20. (NR) Coronado (Lubbock, Texas) 25-0
The Mustangs have moved up to No. 3 in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A state softball rankings. Coronado is undefeated with three tournament wins.

21. (20) Rodriguez (Fairfield, Calif.), 6-1
The Mustangs played two games in a week for the first time since March 12 and defeated Vanden (Fairfield) 7-2 and Benicia 7-1 in Solano County Athletic Conference play. Gabby Lopez had a home run against Vanden while Kiara Garcia had a double and a triple and Cheyenne Cordes had two triples in the Benicia win.

22. (21) Temecula Valley (Temecula, Calif.), 14-1
The Golden Bears avenged their only loss of the season by dropping Great Oak (Temecula) 4-2 and then knocking off Murrieta Valley 12-2 last week. Natalia Segovia, Chelsea Goodacre and Hailey Kofler all hit home runs against Great Oak.

23. (22) Johansen (Modesto, Calif.), 8-0
The Vikings stayed unbeaten with a 7-0 win over Modesto and a 4-2 win over Enochs. Jazmine Pedrotti homered and Gabrielle Maurice had two doubles against Modesto. Melissa Sandoval homered in the Enochs victory.

24. (25) Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.), 11-0
The Wildcats won their only game that was reported, defeating Hough 7-1.

25. (NR) Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.), 15-1
The top 4A school in Arizona, the Mustangs' only loss is to Pacifica (Oxnard, Calif.) at the Faster to First Tournament. Defeated Alvin (Texas) and Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) in California and also has a win over Deer Valley (Glendale, Ariz.).

Dropped Out: No. 11 Bolles, No. 13 Plano East, No. 23. Wakeland, No. 24 Chamberlain.