MaxPreps Top 25 national high school softball rankings

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Eagle might think the pressure of playing while ranked No. 1 is easier than not playing while ranked No. 1.

Eagle, which concluded its unbeaten season two weeks ago, remains atop this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, but a pair of California teams and a handful of unbeaten squads are busy making their cases to be No. 1.

No doubt the top-ranked Mustangs will be keeping close eyes on the top 25.



California's Grand Terrace (27-1 and winner of 25 in a row) has reached the finals of the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section D-3 playoffs. Winning a CIF-SS title is always an impressive accomplishment, considered by some to be more impressive than winning state titles in other states. And its only loss was 1-0 three months ago.
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Riding the arm of super sophomore Montana Fouts (13 no-hitters this season), East Carter jumped from No. 9 to No. 3 this week.

Three unbeaten teams -- Lakewood, Fitch and Bald Knob -- are quick to remind they, too, like Eagle and East Carter, are unbeaten.

That said, Sherwood completed its fifth-straight unbeaten season in winning Maryland's large school title and has 103 wins in a row. Bald Knob (36-0) and Sherwood have completed their seasons.

New to the Top 25 are Frisco (Texas), McCracken County (Paducah, Ky.), Valley View (Moreno Valley, Calif.), Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), Lakota East (Makomb, Ohio) and Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.).


1. (last week No. 1) Eagle (Idaho), 29-0 *season over
The Mustangs won their second-straight 5A state title and finished the season 29-0 (59-1 over two seasons).

2. (2) Grand Terrace (Calif.), 27-1
Grand Terrace ran its win streak to 25 with shutout playoff wins over Burroughs (Burbank), San Clemente and Don Lugo. Grand Terrace has 17 wins via shutout, including six of its last seven and three straight in the playoffs. Up next: 23-9 Redondo Beach on Friday for the CIF-Southern Section D-3 title game.



3. (9) East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), 33-0
The Raiders beat Ashland Blazer 2-0 despite getting just one hit, to advance to the regional finals.

4. (5) West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 30-1 *season over
Won Florida's 9A state title.

5. (7) La Grange (Texas), 38-2
The Leopards open Texas state 4A championship play on Thursday against Brownwood. Led by senior pitcher Missy Zoch (30-2) and senior shortstop Blake-Ann Fritsch (.550), the Leopards have won 38 of their last 39 games.

6. (6) Curry (Jasper, Ala.), 47-2 *season over
The Yellow Jackets won 21 straight and captured the state 4A title.

7. (13) Orange Lutheran (Calif.), 30-3
The Lancers have won 18 straight after beating last week's No. 2 team, Los Alamitos, in the CIF Southern Section D-1 playoffs.

8. (8) Bald Knob (Ark.), 36-0 *season over
The Bulldogs won their third-straight state 3A title and improved their win streak to 60.



9. (18) Lakewood (Hebron, Ohio), 27-0
Lakewood routed Maysville 10-0 to advance to the state semifinals on Friday.

10. (24) Fitch (Groton, Conn.), 24-0
With playoff wins over Stonington, Norwich Free Academy and East Granby, Fitch advanced to state Tournament play on Wednesday. Fitch has allowed just 13 runs on the season. Earlier in the season, Fitch ended Southington's 77-game win streak (one shy of the state record).

11. (12) Gainesville (Fla.), 28-2 *season over
Gainesville won Florida's 7A title.

12. (15) Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.), 20-0 *season over
Sparked by senior Kara Carney's home run, Sherwood defeated Cropticon 7-2 to win its fifth-straight Maryland large schools championship. Sherwood, which has a five-year winning streak of 103 games, recorded 15 shutouts this season and allowed just 16 runs this season.

13. (23) Downers Grove South (Ill.), 32-3
The Mustangs have won 11 straight and the most recent was coach Ron Havelka's 700th career victory. The Mustangs are the top seed in the Class 4A Plainfield East sectional which opens Thursday (weather permitting) versus crosstown rival Downers Grove North.

14. (14) Cape Fear (Fayetteville, N.C.), 29-1
The Colts took two of three from Conley in the state 4A semifinals and will play 28-2 West Forsyth (Clemmons) in the best-of-three championship series beginning Friday.



15. (NR) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 28-1
Winners of 26 in a row, the Blue Eagles are led by juniors Olivia Sprofera (0.44 ERA, 24 wins and 209 strikeouts in 141 innings) and Reese Guevarra (.488, 20 steals, 40 runs). Next up: Union Catholic (Scotch Plains) in the state non-public state quarterfinals.

16. (NR) McCracken County (Paducah, Ky.), 35-2
The Mustangs continued their postseason march with a 10-0 win over Murray and 11-2 victory over Carlisle. Next up: the region finals.

17. (NR) Lakota East (Liberty Township, Ohio), 26-1
Led by senior Kianah Towe, the Thunderhawks have won 20 straight.

18. (NR) Frisco (Texas), 31-2
Maddie MacGrandle pitched two complete games Saturday as Frisco beat Lufkin twice and advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2002. A Texas A&M commit, MacGrandle has 31 wins this season.

19. (20) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 27-1 *season over
Neshoba Central won the 5A state title and ended the season with 22 straight wins.

20. (NR) Valley View (Moreno Valley, Calif.), 27-1
Valley View, winner of 25 straight, plays Friday versus 26-4 Mission Viejo in the CIF-Southern Section D-2 title game.



21. (21) Ironwood Ridge (Tucson, Ariz.), 35-4 *season over
The Nighthawks captured the Arizona D-2 state title, winning 20 of their last 21 games.

22. (22) Campbell (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), 18-1 *season over
Campbell repeated as the state large schools champion.

23. (23) Bentonville (Ark.), 27-1 *season over
The Tigers won the Arkansas 7A title and finished the season with 19 straight wins.

24. (25) Union Grove (Wis.), 21-1
Union Grove beat Burlington, 4-1, on Tuesday to advance to the D-1 sectional final.

25. (NR) Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 29-2
The Crusaders have won 16 straight and super sophomore Olivia Strickland has allowed just four runs in her last five starts. They play in the state 6A final on Saturday.

Dropped out: Crown Point (Ind.), La Habra (Calif.), Oaks Christian (Calif.), Los Alamitos (Calif.), Etiwanda (Calif.), Puyallup (Wash.).