High school softball rankings: Texas' Leander takes over top spot in MaxPreps Top 25

MaxPreps Top 25 sofbtall preseason No. 1 Chino Hills (Calif.) began its season with two tough losses. The Huskies lost 3-2 in 10 innings Thursday to visiting Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.), and Mya Perez hit a two-run walk-off home run Friday to give Norco (Calif.) a thrilling 5-4 victory.

The Cougars, meanwhile, suffered their first loss of the early season earlier in the week as Los Alamitos (Calif.) got the bats going in an 8-4 win. The Griffins jumped out to a 5-0 start.

Leander (Texas) takes over as the top team in the MaxPreps Top 25 as LSU commit Baylea Brandon has hit 14 home runs. Her junior teammate Marley Neises is right behind her with 11 for the 24-0 Lions.

Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) joins this week's rankings at No. 25. The Buccaneers have won 17 straight games as 2022 Arkansas commit Nyjah Fontenot has seven home runs and is batting .542.
MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings



1. Leander (Texas)
Record: 24-0 | Last week: 2
SJ Geurin is 14-0 in the circle with a 0.62 ERA.

2. Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 3
Ella Coiner blasted two home runs as the Mustangs won big 16-0 over Hardee.

3. Los Alamitos (Calif.)
Record: 5-0 | Last week: 8
The early season top Southern California team. In SoCal, things change quickly with so many solid programs.

4. Marist (Chicago)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 3
Season opens April 17.

5. Park Vista (Lake Worth, Fla.)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 6
Emily Konz, Danielle Dougherty and Rylee Kent each had two hits in a 14-0 win over American Heritage.

6. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 3-1 | Last week: 5
After a tough loss to Los Alamitos, the Cougars bounced with big wins over Chino Hills and Santa Margarita.

7. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)
Record: 18-1-1 | Last week: 7
Sophomore Kenleigh Cahalan has eight home runs; Alabama signee Jenna Lord has six.

8. Trenton (Trenton, Fla.)
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 9
May 2018 is the last time the Tigers lost.

9. Eastern Alamance (Mebane, N.C.)
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 7
Kenna Raye Dark and the Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 start.



10. Crown Point (Ind.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 12
Season opens April 3.

11. Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Record: 2-0 | Last week: 13
Catcher Daryn Siegel has two home runs and eight RBI to start the season.

12. Spring-Ford (Royersford, Pa.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 14
Season opens April 5.

13. Gahr (Cerritos, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 15
Season opens March 30.

14. Saugus (Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 16
Season opens March 31.

15. Warren (San Antonio)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 17
Annika Litterio and sophomore Haley Vinton have struck out 141 batters.



16. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
Record: 21-2 | Last week: 18
University of Louisiana at Lafayette signee Samantha Landry struck out 17 in a win over Nederland.

17. Sickles (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 19
Opposing teams are hitting .083 off junior Robyn Herron and sophomore DaNia Brooks.

18. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 23-0 | Last week: 20
Texas A&M Softball Signee Emiley Kennedy has nine home runs. The team has combined for 30.

19. Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.)
Record: 10-1 | Last week: 21
The Patriots have won seven-straight.

20. O'Connor (Phoenix)
Record: 3-1 | Last week: 11
Washington signee Rylee Holtorf is showing why she's one of the top players in the country with seven hits in 10 at-bats, including three long balls.

21. Glen Allen (Va.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 22
Season opens April 13.

22. Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 23
Season opens April 15.

23. Chino Hills (Calif.)
Record: 1-2 | Last week: 1
The Huskies remain in the Top 25 despite two tough losses.
24. Fairhope (Ala.)
Record: 16-1 | Last week: 25
Sophomores Bella Cabral, Ryley Harrison and juniors Yasmin Harmon and Alea Johnson all have at least three home runs.

25. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 20-1 | Last week: NR
Halie Pappion has hit six home runs and is 10-0 in the circle.

On the bubble: Cooper City (Fla.); Central (Phenix City, Ala.); Xavier College Prep (Phoenix); Gilbert (Ariz.); Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.).