Battle between two of Florida's top teams ends with Gulliver Prep handing the Patriots a loss for the second straight season.
The American Heritage Patriots have lost just twice the past two seasons, and both times those losses have come against Gulliver Prep.
The Raiders made it two seasons in a row with a 3-0 win in the regional finals of the Florida Class 3A playoffs Tuesday. The loss eliminates American Heritage from the postseason, a fate it also suffered last year when Gulliver Prep ended its season.
American Heritage entered the game ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball rankings and drops to No. 8 with the loss, just behind No. 7 Gulliver Prep.
American Heritage's loss, along with Hudsonville's loss at the No. 5 spot, allowed Plano to move up to No. 4 overall and Sarasota to move up to No. 5.
The Woodlands holds on to the No. 1 spot with impressive wins in bi-district play. The Highlanders have held down the No. 1 spot since the second week of the season.
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS
1. (last week 1) The Woodlands (Texas), 34-0
The Highlanders opened bi-district play with a pair of shutout wins over Klein, winning 12-0 and 10-0.
Paige McDuffee picked up the win and also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a double in the 12-0 win. McDuffee was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, a double and a home run in the 10-0 victory while throwing a one-hitter.
2. (2) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 19-0
The Cougars topped Forbush 6-0 with
Chelsea Wilkinson hitting a home run and striking out seven for the win. Wilkinson also had a home run in a 25-1 win over Mt. Pleasant while striking out 11.
Brooke Sharpe added two home runs against Mt. Pleasant while
Cortlin Hartness had one.
3. (3) East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 27-0
The Eagles have breezed through the first two rounds of the playoffs, dispatching Northeast (St. Petersburg) 15-0 and Pinellas Park (Largo) 13-0.
Marisa Palumbo drove in three runs with two doubles against Northeast while
Alyssa Bache struck out 10 in the win over Pinellas Park. Palumbo also helped out by going 4-for-5.
4. (6) Plano (Texas), 32-3
The Wildcats won their first two games in bi-district play, stopping Keller Central 2-0 and 5-2.
Julia Knight had a triple and
Tori Seasor had a double in the 2-0 win while
MacKenzie Velasquez had a triple and
Erin Lowell and
Katherine Batey each doubled in the second game.
5. (7) Sarasota (Fla.), 26-2
The Sailors advanced in the Class 6A Florida state playoffs with a pair of close wins. Sarasota held off Alonso 1-0 and edged Plant (Tampa), 2-1 to reach the regional final.
6. (8) Bartow (Fla.), 25-1
The Yellowjackets advanced to the regional final with shutout wins over Lake Wales, 19-0, and Osceola, 7-0.
Elizabeth Glass had a pair of home runs against Osceola to lead the Bartow hitting attack. Late Tuesday, Bartow advanced to the semifinals with a 4-3 win over Plant City.
7. (9) Gulliver Prep (Miami), 28-2
The Raiders set up the showdown with undefeated American Heritage by downing Doral Academy Charter 3-1 and University School of NSU 6-1 in the Class 3A Florida state playoffs. For the second straight season, Gulliver Prep ended American Heritage's season with a win in the playoffs.
Kelsea Roth, Esperanza
Photo by Heston Quan
The Patriots fell from the playoffs after suffering their first loss of the season, a 3-0 defeat to Gulliver Prep on Tuesday. The Patriots shut out St. Andrew's 16-0 and Pompano Beach 13-0 to open the Florida Class 3A playoffs.
Bailey Castro and
Hayley Lombard homered against St. Andrew's.
9. (11) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 38-2
Riverdale continues to rack up the wins, beating Wilson Central (Lebanon) 12-0, Smyrna 12-1 and Oakland (Murfreesboro) 9-0.
Rachel Albritton struck out nine on a one-hitter against Wilson Central while
Taylor Lee had two triples against Smyrna. Albritton had another big game with a two-hitter and 12 strikeouts.
Dene Souviney homered in the Oakland win and Albritton threw another one-hitter.
10. (12) Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.), 29-1
The Dorados claimed wins over Flowing Wells (Tucson) 21-1 and Sabino (Tucson) 18-2.
11. (13) Coronado (Lubbock, Texas), 34-0
The Mustangs opened bi-district play with a sweep of Montwood (El Paso), 10-7 and 12-1.
12. (14) Northern (Owings, Md.), 13-0
Northern outscored opponents 53-0 last week, beating Westlake 25-0, Chopticon 16-0 and Lackey 12-0.
13. (17) Bonita Vista (Chula Vista, Calif.), 26-0
The Barons returned to action this week by taking two from Mater Dei (Chula Vista), 12-1 and 19-6.
Celinna Cosio had a home run in the 12-1 victory.
14. (18) Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.), 20-1
The Aztecs knocked off Villa Park 7-1 and Foothill (Santa Ana) 5-2 in Century League play last week.
15 (19) Chesapeake (Pasadena, Md.), 14-0
The Cougars won three times last week, topping Glen Burnie 3-2, Meade 6-0 and Glen Burnie again by a 3-2 score.
16. (21) Etiwanda (Calif.), 19-2
The Eagles beat Alta Loma 5-3 and Rancho Cucamonga 6-0 in Baseline League play.
Delaney Spaulding had a home run and three RBIs against Alta Loma
17. (22) Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.), 19-1
The Wildcats did not play last week.
18. (NR) Lakota East (Liberty Township, Ohio), 18-1
The Thunderhawks are 18-1 after a 5-0 win over Colerain last week.
Sara Pearson just missed a perfect game due to an error. She finished with a no-hitter and 10 strikeouts.
19. (23) North Davidson (Lexington, N.C.), 16-1
The Black Knights rebounded from their first loss in more than a year and a half by beating Central Davidson 1-0 and Davie County 7-2 in Central Piedmont Conference play.
Eliza Davis had 14 strikeouts against Davie County.
20. (16) Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.), 23-2
The Mustangs split two games with Agua Fria (Avondale) last week, winning 10-0 and losing 5-4.
Karissa Haleman had four RBIs in the win.
Dani Bonnet had a home run in the loss.
21. (NR) East Ridge (Clermont, Fla.), 28-3
The Knights advanced to the Florida 6A regional finals before falling to Sarasota 3-2 on Tuesday. East Ridge knocked off St. Lucie West Centennial 5-2 in the regional semifinals and topped Vero Beach in its playoff opener.
22. (NR) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 21-2-1
The Griffins moved up to No. 2 in the Southern Section Division 1 rankings behind Esperanza. Defeated Huntington Beach 6-0 and Fountain Valley 5-4 last week.
23. (NR) Bartram Trail (St. Johns, Fla.), 28-2
The Bears are the favorite to win the Florida 4A state championship after winning their regional final over Wakulla 8-0 on Tuesday. Also defeated Paxon School in the regional semifinals 4-3 and opened the tournament with a 7-0 win over Bishop Kenny.
24. (NR) Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.), 28-5
The defending Florida Class 6A champions moved within a game of the championship with an 11-1 win over Cooper City. Palm Beach Gardens also topped Douglas 6-1 in the regional semifinals and opened the playoffs with a 1-0 win over Taravella. Next up is Sarasota.
25. (NR) Tomball (Texas), 28-3
The Cougars finished district play undefeated at 14-0 and opened the 5A playoffs with a pair of wins over Atascocita.
Katie Doerre leads the team with a .514 batting average and six home runs.
Dropped Out: No. 5 Hudsonville, No. 10 Poland Seminary, No. 14 Johansen, No. 20 Bishop O'Connell, No. 24. Morris Knolls, No. 25 Valencia.
