MaxPreps Top 25 national high school softball rankings

Video: Quinn Fortner's highlights vs. Bushland
See highlights of Quinn Fortner of No. 11 Coronado

Within the last month, top-ranked Mission Viejo has captured the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions, the Best of the West Tournament and the Michelle Carew Classic – three of the highest-profile tourneys the West Coast has to offer.

In running its record to 17-0, Mission Viejo remains atop MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 National Softball Rankings, as it has since the beginning.

Pitcher Taylor McQuillin continued her dominance by pitching three shutouts and averaging 14 strikeouts per game in five tournament victories as the Diablos captured the Carew Classic.



No. 2 Alexander Central is on course to take down the state record for consecutive wins. The Cougars need just two more to tie Central Cabarrus' streak of 83 straight, from 2004-06. Ironically, those Cabarrus teams were coached by Alexander Central coach Monte Sherrill.

"This is too funny," said Sherrill. "But I really want to break my own record because this is my home."

New to the Top 25 this week are Gainesville, Bishop Carroll, West Orange, Cape Fear and Woodinville.


1. (No. 1 last week) Mission Viejo (Calif.), 17-0
Senior pitcher Taylor McQuillin has a dozen shutouts this season.

2. (2) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 15-0
The Cougars ran their win streak to 81 with a 9-1 win over North Stokes. The Cougars, who don't play again until April 14, have outscored their opponents 153-7 this season. Senior Kiana Millsaps has allowed just one earned run in 74 innings (0.09 ERA).

3. (3) Pioneer (San Jose, Calif.), 18-0
The Mustangs captured the Wilcox Tournament, defeating Carlmont (Belmont) 3-0 for the title. In four games, Pioneer scored 18 and allowed one run.



4. (5) Orange Lutheran (Calif.), 15-0
The Lancers are hitting .403 as a team and have 48 extra base hits, including 16 home runs. Sophomore Maddy Dwyer is 11-0 with a 1.06 ERA.

5. (10) St. Amant (La.), 21-0
The Gators continue to cruise. They edged 14-7 Dutchtown (Geismar), 10-9, after routing state rivals West Monroe, West Ouachita, Ruston, St. Joseph's and McKinley by a combined 74-3 margin.

6. (7) Crown Point (Ind.), 2-0
The Bulldogs opened the season with 3-1 and 10-0 victories. The latter – over Kimberly (Wis.) - was a 13-strikeout, no-hit effort by Miranda Elish.

7. (8) Aledo (Texas), 17-0
The Bearcats ran their win streak to 42 by scoring two in the seventh inning to beat Joshua, 2-1.

8. (9) Rockwall (Texas), 13-0-1
After a week off, Rockwall routed North Garland 17-1 to remain unbeaten.

9. (11) Edwardsville (Ill.), 5-0
Edwardsville continues to impress in all facets of softball. All five wins have been by 10 runs or more.



10. (17) Reed (Sparks, Nev.), 19-0
The Raiders continue to dominate with five convincing wins last week and a tournament title at their own event.

11. (13) Coronado (Lubbock, Texas), 20-1-1
CHS defeated Friendship (Wolffort), 3-2.

12. (4) Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 17-2
Atascocita allowed three runs in the ninth and lost to The Woodlands.

13. (12) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 16-1
American Heritage beat St. Thomas Aquinas, 2-1, to run its win streak to 24, then lost to Jupiter, 2-1.

14. (14) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 13-1
Batting .385 as a team, Santiago has 42 extra base hits this season. Senior Ashley Coleman is 6-0 with a 1.25 ERA.

15. (15) La Grange (Texas), 22-0
LaGrange routed Belleville, 14-0, for its sixth-straight shutout win.



16. (NR) Gainesville (Fla.), 21-1
Gainesville has won 18 straight games, 14 by shutout, including five straight and eight of its last 10 games.

17. (NR) Woodinville (Wash.), 8-0
After a year away from national polls, the Falcons are back, having outscored opponents 68-9.

18. (NR) Bishop Carroll (Wichita, Kan.), 4-0
It has taken the Golden Eagles just four games to score 69 runs.

19. (NR) West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 21-1
West Orange has won 11 straight and has outscored opponents 230-21.

20. (20) Meade County (Brandenburg, Ky.), 11-0
Meade has won its last three games by a 36-2 margin.

21. (21) Curry (Jasper, Ala.), 29-3
Ashlee Swindle has allowed just 51 base hits in 156 innings en route to a 27-3 record and a 0.22 ERA.



22. (22) Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.), 2-0
Two games into the season, Washburn Rural has 30 base hits, 33 runs scored and its win streak is at 11.

23. (23) Bald Knob (Ark.), 6-1
Bald Knob won its sixth-straight with 12-6 victory over Maumelle.

24. (NR) Cape Fear (Fayetteville, N.C.), 9-0
Behind the hitting and pitching of Mary Williams, the Colts are rolling. They have outscored their nine foes, 135-5, with seven wins coming by shutout and six by run rule margins.

25. (25) Southside (Gadsden, Ala.), 20-2
Southside had won 11 straight games before falling to 21-5 Springville at the Gulf Coast Classic III in Gulf Shores.

Dropped Out: Viera (Fla.), Hagerty (Fla.), Forest (Fla.), Neshoba Central (Miss.), Keystone (Ohio).