After producing a 13-14 mark a year ago, Guardian Angels Central Catholic is sitting at 16-3 so far this fall.
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With the high school softball season heading into District play in just a couple of weeks, we have decided to calculate which Nebraska softball programs have improved the most over a year ago.
After climbing 41 spots over last fall's MaxPreps Nebraska softball ranking, and improving its won-loss record by seven games, Guardian Angels Central Catholic earns the title "Most Improved" in the Cornhusker State. The Bluejays grabbed the No. 32 rung in MaxPreps' Nebraska rankings Tuesday.
Following an 11-17 campaign a year ago, Bennington moves into the No. 2 spot with a 38 place improvement after winning 11-of-17 games this fall. Beatrice improved its won-loss record by 10 games over a year ago and climbed a third best 37 spots to No. 3 in this week's rankings. Columbus Lakeview and Douglas County West/Concordia sit in the Nos. 4 and 5 spots, respectively, this week after climbing 34 and 32 rungs respectively over a year ago.
In the case of a tie, the program making the greatest improvement in its won-loss record over last fall claimed the higher position in this week's Top 10. Therefore, Nebraska City is ranked a spot higher than Gothenburg after the two programs tied for the ninth spot with 22 rung improvements over a year ago. The Pioneers produced a six game improvement over last fall's 6-18 mark, while Gothenburg bettered its 2017 record by five games to 13-10 so far this season.
Nebraska has three classifications (A, B and C) and 113 programs competing in softball in 2018, but only Classes B and C are represented in this week's Top 10. That does not mean that Nebraska's largest classification is not well represented. Omaha Marian, who improved 21 spots to No. 12 in this week's MaxPreps Nebraska softball rankings, clocks in as Class A's most improved club and is tied for the No. 11 position overall.
Nebraska's most improved softball programs1. Guardian Angels Central Catholic (West Point) +41Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 73rd (13-14)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 32nd (16-3)
2. Bennington +38
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 53rd (11-17)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 15th (11-6)
3. Beatrice +37
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 39th (14-18)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 2nd (19-3)
4. Lakeview (Columbus) +34
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 98th (7-20)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 64th (8-10)
5. Douglas County West/Concordia (Valley) +32
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 51st (15-16)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 19th (15-3)
6. Freeman (Adams) +31
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 92nd (7-20)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 61st (9-9)
7. Platteview (Springfield) +29
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 95th (7-24)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 66th (8-13)
8. Scottsbluff +25
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 93rd (10-22)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 68th (12-10)
9. Nebraska City +22
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 75th (6-18)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 53rd (7-7)
10. Gothenburg +22
Final 2017-18 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 94th (12-19)
2018-19 MaxPreps Rating (Record): 72nd (13-10)
