High school softball rankings: Lake Creek secures No. 1 spot in MaxPreps Top 25 after winning Texas 5A title

The Lions beat previously unbeaten Canyon (New Braunfels, Texas) 8-0 in the title game, clinching a second-consecutive state championship and compiling an astonishing 85-1 record over the past two seasons. Texas State Player of the Year Ava Brown will go out as one of the top softball prep players of all time, finishing her career with an 81-0 record, 0.55 ERA and 844 strikeouts.

Pearland (Texas) beat Denton Guyer 4-2 to capture the 6A crown, the school's third overall state championship and first since 2010. Texas A&M commit Hailey Golden had three hits and drove in a pair of runs and UT Arlington pledge Abigail Gutierrez went the distance for the Oilers, striking out six and allowing five hits.

After knocking off Saint Francis 4-0 in the Central Coast Open Section Finals, Hollister (Calif.) found itself in a rematch with the Lancers, but with a Northern California Division 1 Regional championship on the line. The Haybalers scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win 1-0. Molloy University commit Sophia Mariottini tossed a two-hitter over nine innings and the defense played lights out behind her.

Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio) captured the school's first state title beating Anthony Wayne 6-1 in the Ohio Division 1 finals. Ayla Ray hit a home run and freshman Kylie Folkwein had a pair of RBI to lead the Falcons. Ohio State Player of the Year Sydnie Watts was once again dominant in the circle, striking out 13 and allowing two hits.



For the third-consecutive year Rockridge (Taylor Ridge, Ill.) brings back a Class 2A state title back to the school. The Rockets scored early and held on to beat Beecher 7-1. Kori Needham, Cierra Bush and Morgan Hofer all had multiple RBI.
MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings

1. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 44-1 | Last week: 1
Payton Bauer had three hits and drove in three during the Lions 8-0 state title victory.

2. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 34-1 | Last week: 2
Mikayla Milby drove in two runs in the top 11th, which was enough to give the Bruins an eventual 4-1 win over Greenwood on Saturday. Brooke Gray pitched all 11 innings, striking out 16.

3. Roncalli (Indianapolis)
Record: 31-3-1 | Last week: 4
Keagan Rothrock threw a no-hitter, striking out 13 during the Royals 8-0 win over Pendleton Heights. Lyla Blackwell hit three triples during the state semifinal game.

4 Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 29-3 | Last week: 5
Season complete. Class 6A state champions.

5. Hollister (Calif.)
Record: 30-3 | Last week: 15
Dominique Oliveira's ninth-inning single sparked the gamewinning run giving the Haybalers a NorCal Division 1 title.

6. Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Record: 22-0 | Last week: 6
After a 5-1 win over Spotsylvania on Friday, the Hawks enter Class 4A state play on Tuesday against Smithfield.

7. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 32-2 | Last week: 7
Season complete. Division I Non-Select state champions

8. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)
Record: 24-8 | Last week: 9
Season complete. Southern Section Division 1 champions



9. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 35-1 | Last week: 10
Season complete. Class 4A state champions
Record: 46-8 | Last week: 11
Season complete. Class 7A state champions

11. North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.)
Record: 25-0 | Last week: 11
Julia Shearer struck out 18 and allowed one as the Knights beat Governor Mifflin 3-1 to advance to the 6A quarterfinals.
Record: 40-3 | Last week: NR
Kaylee Schweitzer and Darian Deleon each had an RBI during the Oilers' 4-2 win over Guyer.

13. Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.)
Record: 21-0 | Last week: 12
Season complete. VISAA champions.

14. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.)
Record: 27-1 | Last week: 14
Season complete. Class 4A state champions

15. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 22-0-2 | Last week: 16
Senior Caitlin Mitchell, junior Ayla Ray and freshman Abby Toth all had multiple hits in the Division 1 title game

17. Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Record: 28-4 | Last week: 18
Season complete. Class 5A state champions

18. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 28-4 | Last week: 19
Season complete. Division 1 runner-up



19. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 26-4-1 | Last week: 20
Season complete. Class 6A state champions
Record: 32-4 | Last week: 21
Season complete. Class 6A state champions
Record: 38-1 | Last week: 22
Kendra Lewis allowed one earned run, striking out six during the Rockets' 2A state championship victory.

22. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record: 38-2 | Last week: 3
Season complete. Class 6A state runner-up

23. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 28-2 | Last week: 23