High school softball rankings: Thompson of Alabama, Melissa of Texas join this week's MaxPreps Top 25

By Steve Montoya Mar 12, 2024, 11:00am

No. 7 Orange Beach, No. 5 Pace headline this week's slate with their top 10 showdown.

It's an exciting week of high school softball as more and more states get going, highlighted by a top 10 showdown of MaxPreps Top 25 squads.

No. 7 Orange Beach (Ala.) hosts No. 5 Pace (Fla.) on Tuesday. Pace features one of the top pitchers in the country in Jayden Heavener while the Makos have a lineup full of big hitters.

Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) has jumped into the MaxPreps Top 25 this week after an impressive 13-3 win over Hewitt-Trussville on Wednesday. UAB commit Olivia Tindell hit a home run as the Warriors racked up 17 hits.

Melissa (Texas) is making some noise in the Lone Star State after an 19-1-1 start. Michigan State commit Alex Starr is 13-0 in the circle with 114 strikeouts in 62 innings.
Michigan State commit Alex Starr has helped Melissa of Texas climb into the MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings. The Cardinals are 19-1-1 and enter the rankings at No. 23. (Photo: Michael Horbovetz)
Michigan State commit Alex Starr has helped Melissa of Texas climb into the MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings. The Cardinals are 19-1-1 and enter the rankings at No. 23. (Photo: Michael Horbovetz)
MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings


1. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)
Record:
10-0 | Last week: 1
Annika Sogsti had a pair of hits and drove in three runs Friday during the Mariners' 4-1 win over Esperanza.

2. Katy (Texas)
Record:
21-1-1 | Last week: 2
Ella-Kate Smith and Montgomery Henderson went deep as the Tigers beat Cinco Ranch 16-0 on Saturday.

3. Bartow (Fla.)
Record:
9-0 | Last week: 3
The Yellow Jackets have allowed one run over the past eight games.

4. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Record:
10-0 | Last week: 4
Jolie Hays struck out 18 during the Cougars' 7-1 win over Stone on Saturday.

5. Pace (Fla.)
Record:
8-0 | Last week: 5
Britten Kettler hit a home run and Jayden Heavener stuck out 11 as the Patriots improved to 8-0 with an 8-1 win over Tate on Thursday.

6. Marist (Chicago)
Record:
0-0 | Last week: 6
Season begins March 15.

7. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record:
5-0 | Last week: 7
Teagan Revette, Taylor Poland, Ava Hodo and K.G. Favors all went yard during a 9-1 win over Mobile Christian on Thursday.

8. Kaukauna (Wis.)
Record:
0-0 | Last week: 8
Season begins in April.



9. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.)
Record:
1-0 | Last week: 9
The Timberwolves hit seven home runs in their season opener, including two each from Yanina Sherwood and Allie Thomsen.

10. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record:
3-0 | Last week: 10
Kate Munnerlyn tossed a no-hitter and struck out seven, and Hayden Hummel and Ava Bulanti went deep as the Lancers beat Willow Glen 12-0 on Friday.

11. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record:
0-0 | Last week: 11
Season begins March 23

12. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record:
5-0 | Last week: 12
Yessenia Lopez tossed a one-hit shutout striking out 11 as the Firebirds rolled to a 11-0 win Friday over Dwyer.

13. Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.)
Record:
0-0 | Last week: 13
Season begins March 21.

14. Summerville (S.C.)
Record:
3-0 | Last week: 14
It took nine innings, but the Green Wave pulled out a 2-0 win Friday over Aynor.

15. North DeSoto (Stonewall, La.)
Record:
17-0 | Last week: 15
Laney Johnson, Sasha Falls and Carsyn Curtis each drove in two on Saturday to lift the Griffins over Archbishop Chappelle 10-0.

16. Melbourne (Fla.)
Record:
8-0 | Last week: 16
After back-to-back hits by Rylie Mecchella and Jasmine Francik, Alisha Thompson drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh to lift the Bulldogs over West Nassau 2-1 on Friday.

17. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record:
10-1 | Last week: 17
MiaLania Ocampo, Gabriella Garcia, Aniyah Jaiman and Kendall Bragg all hit bombs as the Bears beat Westwood 12-2 on Friday.

18. Gaylord (Mich.)
Record:
0-0 | Last week: 18
Season begins in April.



19. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record:
0-0 | Last week: 19
Season begins March 16.

20. Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)
Record:
1-0 | Last week: 20
Kinley Pappas had three hits, including a home run, as the Irish started the season Monday with a 16-0 win.

21. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)
Record:
19-1 | Last week: NR
The Warriors are averaging nearly nine runs per game this season.

22. Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.)
Record:
7-0 | Last week: 22
Sarah Coccillos hit a home run and Analia Lopez struck out nine during the Spartans' 1-0 win over South.

23. Melissa (Texas)
Record:
19-1-1 | Last week: NR
Texas commit Caigan Crabtree has 10 bombs this season and is batting well above .500.

24. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record:
17-1 | Last week: 24
Jordan Osborne and Jenny Robledo hit jacks, and Finley Montgomery was dealing in the circle during Friday's 12-1 win over Little Elm.

25. Norco (Calif.)
Record:
8-2 | Last week: 25
The Cougars were off last week.



On the bubble: Hoover (Ala.), 11-1-1; Huntington Beach (Calif.), 6-1; Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.), 11-0; Granada Hills Charter (Granada Hills, Calif.), 8-0; Wellington (Fla.), 7-0.