Lake Creek-Barbers Hill, Norco-Pacifica headline high-profile playoff games between ranked teams.
Louisville commit
Brooke Gray went the distance and got the win for the Bruins, allowing seven hits and striking out seven. Florida commit
Keagan Rothrock struck out 10 for the Royals, allowing one earned run in the loss.
Lilli Koch scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory for Ballard as the Bruins move to No. 2 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings.
Led by freshman sensation
Lilly Goodwin,
Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) stunned
Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.) in the 5A Arizona state championship on Monday. The ninth-grader struck out 11 as the Wolves put a stop to the Wildcats' quest for a three-peat with a 4-2 victory. The big hit of the night was
Emily Strittmatter's two-run blast off one of the best pitchers in the country, Mizzou commit
Marissa McCann.
In Texas, No. 1
Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) battles No. 3
Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas) in the 5A Region 3 semifinals this weekend. These two elite programs met in 2021 in the regional finals, where Barbers Hill swept the series on its way to a state and MaxPreps National Championship. Lake Creek took this year's regular-season matchup in early February.
No. 4
Norco (Calif.) and No. 14
Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) battle for the Division 1 Southern Section championship on Friday in another MaxPreps Top 25 postseason showdown. Norco's bats have been on fire in playoff action, scoring at least eight runs in all three games. The Mariners have had one of the most impressive postseason runs of anyone so far. They've beaten Los Alamitos and Oaks Christian, two powerhouse programs.
New Mexico commit Natalie Fritz helped No. 22 Basha win the Arizona 6A title and jump into this week's MaxPreps Top 25. (Photo: Steven Davis)
Record: 38-0 |
Last week: 1
Ava Brown struck out 15 and
Carmen Uribe had three of the team's 12 hits during the Lions' 9-0 win over Pflugerville.
2. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 4
Kady Dennis had a pair of hits, including a clutch one in the bottom of the ninth, to help the Bruins to the walk-off win over Roncalli (Indianapolis).
3. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
Record: 38-4 |
Last week: 2
Reagan Duty had five RBI to help secure the Eagles' 11-1 series-clinching win over Friendswood.
4. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 28-3 |
Last week: 14
Alyssa Hovermale and
Mya Perez each went yard during the Cougars' 8-1 semifinal victory over Murrieta Mesa.
5. Roncalli (Indianapolis)
Record: 22-3-1 |
Last week: 3
Lyla Blackwell,
Anna Dressman,
Ann Marie Meek and
Carley Keller each had three hits as the Royals bounced back to beat Floyd Central 7-2 on Saturday.
6. Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 6
Olivia Gibson and
Julia Cuozzo each drove in a pair of runs during the Hawks' 6-0 victory over Cosby on Monday.
7. Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.)
Record: 24-0-2 |
Last week: 7
Sophia Bertorelli and eighth-grader
Courtney Wahlbrink combined to strike out 14 as the Panthers knocked off Ransom Everglades 12-0 to advance to the 3A regional semifinals on Tuesday.
8. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 32-2 |
Last week: 8
Season complete. Division I (Non-Select) state champions.
9. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 9
Jayden Heavener mowed down 17 batters and
Mallory Baker went yard twice as the Patriots blanked Niceville in 6A playoff action.
10. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 24-2 |
Last week: 10
The Lancers pounded out 16 hits and scored 16 runs during their final regular-season game. Playoffs begin on May 20.
11. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 24-1-1 |
Last week: 11
The Broncos fell for the first time this season, 2-1 to Central on Tuesday. They open up postseason play on Thursday.
12. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record: 33-0 |
Last week: 12
Finley Montgomery threw a complete game shutout as the Wildcats beat Plano West 8-0. Next up is Southlake Carroll in regional semifinal action.
13. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 34-1 |
Last week: 15
The Lancers play Greenway on Tuesday for the 4A state championship. Greenway has UCLA commit
Kaitlyn Terry in the circle.
14. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)
Record: 22-8 |
Last week: NR
Long Beach State commit
Brynne Nally has 31 strikeouts during their postseason run.
15. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 22-0 |
Last week: 18
Maleya Thompson went yard and had a pair of hits as the Warriors blanked Teays Valley 8-0 on Monday.
16. North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.)
Record: 19-0 |
Last week: 18
The Knights have held their opponents scoreless in 16 of 19 games played this season.
17. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 17-0-1 |
Last week: 19
The Falcons opened up Division 1 postseason play with an 11-0 win over Madison.
18. Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.)
Record: 22-3 |
Last week: NR
The Patriots have yet to allow a run in the postseason so far. The staff has a combined 1.03 ERA, led by
Lauren Compton and
Gabriella Mike.
19. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)
Record: 41-7 |
Last week: NR
The Huskies have advanced to 7A state playoff action. They open up Friday against Daphne.
20. Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Record: 28-4 |
Last week: NR
Freshman
Lilly Goodwin had a double and RBI during the Wolves' state title victory over Willow Canyon.
21. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.)
Record: 20-1 |
Last week: 23
The Timberwolves have rolled off six straight wins and have outscored their opponents 179-16.
22. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 26-4-1 |
Last week: NR
The Bears combined to hit 45 home runs as a team on their way to a 6A title.
23. North Posey (Poseyville, Ind.)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 24
Alyssa Heath drove in three runs and
Addison Fullop went the distance as the Vikings beat Wood Memorial 11-0.
24. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Record: 32-4 |
Last week: NR
The Cougars join the rankings after advancing to the championship of the 6A finals. They play South Panola on Tuesday.
25. Notre Dame (Lawrenceville, N.J.)
Record: 19-1 |
Last week: NR
Houston commit
Rylee Michalak is 14-1 in the circle this year with a 0.24 ERA.
