MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings

The Dave Kops Tournament of Champions, considered one of the top high school softball tournaments, lived up to its reputation and impacted this week's MaxPreps Top 25 Softball Rankings. Three teams competing in the tournament dropped out of the rankings, while No. 1 Norco continued to cement its hold on the top spot after earning an event title.

The 11-0 Cougars defeated No. 7 Los Alamitos (Calif.) 7-0 in the finals and have scored 59 against five runs allowed this season. Despite losing to Norco, the 7-2 Griffins moved to No. 7.

Marist (Chicago) remained No. 2 though it doesn't open the season until March 21.

With last week's Nos. 3-5 teams all losing, unbeatens Huntington Beach (Calif.), Pinnacle (Phoenix) and Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.) round out this week's Top 5, respectively.



The biggest mover of the week was Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.) which ran its win-streak to 45 games. Senior pitcher Aspen Wesley has pitched four no-hitters already on the young season for the 9-0 Rockets.

1. (Last week 1) Norco (Calif.), 11-0
The Cougars blanked No. 7 Los Alamitos in the title game of the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions as Sarah Willis (Washington commit) allowed only an infield single and Paige Smith (Mississippi signee) homered twice.

2. (2) Marist (Chicago), 31-4 (2018)
Season begins March 21.

3. (6) Huntington Beach (Calif.), 5-0
Opponents are hitting 0.74 against the Oilers and only one of the two runs against was earned.

4. (8) Pinnacle (Phoenix), 6-0
The Pioneers have 25 extra base hits on the young season.



5. (9) Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.), 5-0
Opponents have yet to score and have just 11 hits against Lakewood Ranch pitching.

6. (7) Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.), 3-0
Oklahoma pledge Nicole May opened the season with a pair of shutouts.

7. (10) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 7-2
The Griffins lost to Norco in the finals of the 32-team Dave Kops Tournament of Champions.

8. (11) Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas), 17-0
The Raiders got three hits and four runs batted in from senior Maddie Boldt (Incarnate Wood signee) and senior pitcher Tori McCann (Texas State signee) hurled her 14th win of the season.

9. (13) Winter Springs (Fla.), 8-0
Through 8 games, the Bears have allowed five earned runs while stealing 44 bases, batting .502 with 20 strikeouts.

10. (4) Forney (Texas), 7-1
Since losing, the Jackrabbits have blitzed two foes, West Mesquite (Mesquite) 19-0 and Lancaster 15-0.

11. (14) Gahr (Cerritos, Calif.), 3-0
The Gladiators are hitting over .500 as a team.



12. (16) Estero (Fla.), 6-0
The Wildcats average 10 runs per game, while only committing one error in 122 chances for a .992 fielding percentage. The pitchers have allowed only one run, which was unearned.

13. (3) Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.), 6-1
Oakleaf committed three errors and gave up six runs in the top of the seventh to lose 9-8 to Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) despite out-hitting them 5-3.

14. (NR) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 9-0
The Rockets have 45 straight wins and senior Aspen Wesley (Mississippi State signee) has pitched four no-hitters with 121 strikeouts in 49 innings. In a no-hit win against Lake, she struck out all 21batters she faced. In a no-hit win over Ethel, she fanned 19. And in beating No. 23 Fairhope (Alabama), she allowed one hit and struck out 16. It was Fairhope's first loss of the season.

15. (24) Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas), 19-1
The Eagles have won 16 in a row and own 13 shutout wins this season.

16. (22) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 5-1-1
The Sharks have a Tuesday showdown with No. 1 Norco, and own a win over Los Alamitos and tied No. 21 Orange Lutheran 3-3.

17. (NR) East Central (San Antonio), 13-0
Junior Kayla Gonzales has 17 RBI, five homers and is hitting .667 to lead the Hornets. Senior pitchers Bella Saldivar and Nikkolette Hernandez have combined for a sub-1.00 ERA.



18. (5) Grand Terrace (Calif.), 5-1-1
The Titans' hopes of running the table were dashed in a 4-2 loss to 7-2 Centennial (Corona).

19. (19) Bonney Lake (Wash.), 1-0
The Panthers opened the season with a 5-0 win for their 15th victory dating back to last season.

20. (NR) Apopka (Fla.), 8-0
The Blue Darters ended Lake Brantley's unbeaten start as junior Nyah Vogel (hitting .462) drove in a run and pitched a four-hitter. Vogel is 4-0 with a 0.71 ERA.

21. (NR) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 6-3-1
The Lancers went 4-1 at the Kops TOC, losing 3-2 to runner-up Los Alamitos, but winning the third-place game.

22. (12) Chino Hills (Calif.), 13-2
The Huskies went 4-1 in the Kops TOC with a win over previously ranked O'Connor (Phoenix) before losing to Orange Lutheran.

23. (18) Fairhope (Ala.), 11-1
The Pirates ran into Neshoba Central's Aspen Wesley and managed one hit and struck out 16 times in a 2-0 loss.

24. (NR) Empire (Tucson, Ariz.), 13-0
The youthful Ravens (only two seniors) are batting .369, have scored 91 runs and allowed just 16 earned runs.



25. (NR) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), 10-0
The Eagles edged South Hills (West Covina) 3-2 and routed El Segundo 11-0.

Dropped out: Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), O'Connor (Phoenix), Bentonville (Ark.), La Porte (Texas), Cienega (Vail, Ariz.).