MaxPreps Top 25 national high school softball rankings

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The Canyon (New Braunsfels, Texas), Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) and Marist (Chicago) softball teams have a lot in common. Each has one loss. Each has been ranked in the Top 5 much of the season. And each is making a good pitch to be ranked No. 1 in weekly MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 national softball rankings.

Canyon gets the honor this week, but loud voices are coming from Arizona and Illinois as the season begins its final month.

While the once beaten trio have been impressive, unbeatens Mansfield (Texas), Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.) and East Carter (Grayson, Ky.) also are making noise at Nos. 4, 5 and 6. It's a good argument to make. They are, after all, unbeaten.



Defending MaxPreps champion Los Alamitos (Calif.) lost last week, fell to No. 7 and made its quest to repeat more difficult.

Showdowns in the Texas state 6A playoffs are in the spotlight this week as No. Mansfield takes on No. 14 Keller and No. 12 Katy takes on No. 25 Ridge Point (Missouri City). It's a sure thing two of those teams will not be in next week's Top 25.

New the Top 10 this week Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.) and San Marcos (Calif.).

Ridge Point and Lake Stevens (Wash.) returned to the Top 25 this week. Also new to the Top 25 this week is unbeaten Keystone (La Grange, Ohio).

1. (Last week 1) Canyon (New Braunfels, Texas), 29-1
The Cougars road the pitching Aliyah Pritchett to a 5-2 one-game playoff win over Buda Hays (Buda). Up next: 26-4 Holmes (San Antonio), winners of 17 straight.

2. (3) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 32-1
The Huskies needed eight innings and a three-run rally to defeat 25-8 Corona del Sol (Tempe) to move into the state large school semifinals.



3. (4) Marist (Chicago), 23-1
The Redhawks have won 17 in a row since losing 1-0 to 16-1 Lincoln Way East (Frankfort).

4. (6) Mansfield (Texas), 29-0
Mansfield puts its perfect record on the line on the line Saturday against No. 14 Keller in the third round of the Texas 6A playoffs.

5. (8) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 32-0
The Rockets play Pearl River Central (Carrier) in a best-of-three series to determine the state 5A champion. The series against the 26-5 Blue Devils begins on Thursday.

6. (7) East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), 24-0
The Raiders won three games last week as All-American pitcher Montana Fouts raised her batting average to .597.

7. (2) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 24-2
The Griffins fell from No. 2 after losing to 18-7 Huntington Beach, 5-2. It was junior Sarah Ladd's first loss after recording 22 wins.

8. (12) Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 21-0
The Trojans won four games last week allowing just one run in three of them.

9. (11) Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.), 27-2
Oakleaf has won 18 straight and faces 22-3 Chiles (Tallahassee) in the state 7A regional semifinals on Tuesday.



10. (13) San Marcos (Calif.), 22-2
With a pair of wins last week, the Knights ran their win streak to 14.

11. (14) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 21-3
Cathedral has won 14 in a row and closes out the regular season this week against San Diego rivals Point Loma (7-18) and University City (14-10).

12. (18) Katy (Texas), 34-1
Katy enters the third round of the state 6A playoffs with a showdown with once beaten Ridge Point (Missouri City) riding a 25-game win streak. Ridge Point, ranked No. 25, has won 15 straight.

13. (16) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 24-3
The Lancers close the regular season on Wednesday against 20-4 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita).

14. (15) Keller (Texas), 29-2-1
Since seeing their 17-game win streak snapped, the Indians have won four in a row, allowing just one run in the short streak. Up next is No. 4 and unbeaten Mansfield.

15. (17) Fort Myers (Fla.), 26-2
The Green Wave move to Tuesday's state 7A regionals against 27-3 Estero. They are hitting .417 as a team and senior Hannah Perkins is 18-1 with an 0.83 ERA.



16. (19) Norco (Calif.), 23-3
Since losing to No. 10 San Marcos, the Cougars have won four straight and close the regular season Wednesday against 11-15 Roosevelt (Eastvale).

17. (20) Eagle (Idaho), 23-0-1
After routing four opponents, Eagle closed the regular season with a 1-0 win over Boise. Since a 10-10 tie with 19-1-1 Toole (Utah), the Mustangs have won 22 straight.

18. (21) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 19-0
It was an impressive week for the Redhawks as they won four games, totaling 55 runs and allowing four. The regular season ends Tuesday against crosstown rival Oakton.

19. (23) Tualatin (Ore.), 21-0
The Timberwolves have outscored their opponents 157-31.

20. (22) Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), 28-1
Byrnes, riding a 21-game win streak, faces 25-4 Fort Mill on Monday in the second round of the Upperstate playoffs.

21. (24) Spanish Fork (Utah), 20-1
The Dons have won 17 in a row.

22. (NR) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 24-0
Since winning their opener, 3-2, Keystone has not had a one-run game. It has scored 298 runs and only allowed 12. Fifteen wins have come by shutout. Keystone is hitting .453 as a team and has committed just eight errors. Pitchers Sydney Campbell (20-0, 0.13 ERA) and Madi Herrington have a combined 0.36 ERA to go along with six starters hitting over .400.

23. (NR) Lake Stevens (Wash.), 14-1
Lake Stevens won its rematch with previously unbeaten and previously ranked Jackson (Mill Creek) 3-1.

24. (25) King's Academy (Seymour, Tenn.), 33-2
The power-hitting Lions won their district tournament to run their win streak to 28.



25. (NR) Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas), 32-1-1
Winners of 15 in a row, Ridge Point plays No. 12 Katy in the third round of the state 6A playoffs.

Dropped out: Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), Freedom (Oakley, Calif.), Johnson (San Antonio).