Cardinals become fourth team from the Lone Star State and third in the last five years to finish No. 1.
The high school softball season has come to a close and
Melissa (Texas) has been crowned the 2025 MaxPreps National Champion.
In addition to earning the national title, the Conference 5A Division 1 state champs made headlines throughout the season by rewriting the record books. The Cardinals smashed 122 home runs as a team led by junior Florida commit
Kennedy Bradley with 22. Texas pledge
Caigan Crabtree followed with 20 while Class of 2027 slugger
Finlee Williams added 19.
In total, six players hit double-digit home runs and the team racked up 254 extra-base hits.
But it wasn't just about power. Sophomore ace
Eloisa Maes anchored the defense, striking out 238 batters and holding opponents to a .127 batting average.
Melissa finished with a 38-1 record and became the third Texas team to finish No. 1 in the last five years.
Last year's national champion,
Orange Beach (Ala.), finishes No. 2 after another dominant campaign. The Makos earned wins over No. 3
Doral Academy (Fla.), No. 7
Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) and No. 47
Curry (Jasper, Ala.) in the 4A state championship game. Led by Arkansas commit and MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year
Katie King, the lineup also featured South Carolina-bound pitcher
K.G. Favors, Arkansas pledge
Ava Hodo and Mississippi State commit
Teagan Revette.
Doral Academy's loss came to Orange Beach in early April was its only setback of the season. The Firebirds rebounded with 14 straight wins, capped by a Class 6A state championship victory. MaxPreps Florida Player of the Year
Meagan Villazon starred on both sides of the ball while junior Texas commit
Anabela Abdullah had a monster season, batting .582 with 14 home runs.
Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) slots in at No. 4 after outscoring opponents 403-68 on the year, including a dominant 12-1 win in the Conference 5A Division 2 title game. Wichita State commit
Sara Wiggins was nearly untouchable in the circle, helping the Lions complete an undefeated season. A matchup between Lake Creek and Melissa would have been a dream showdown for Texas softball fans.
Rounding out the top five is
Norco, California's Southern Section Division 1 champions. In a region loaded with talent, winning this crown means national credibility. The Cougars will remain contenders next year with MaxPreps California Player of the Year
Coral Williams returning for her junior season. Norco doesn't rebuild — it reloads.
Past MaxPreps National Champions2011 —
The Woodlands (Texas)2012 —
Norco (Calif.)2013 —
Northern (Owings, Md.)2014 —
Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.)2015 —
Bishop Carroll (Wichita, Kan.)2016 —
Eagle (Idaho)2017 —
Los Alamitos (Calif.)2018 —
James Madison (Vienna, Va.)2019 —
Norco2020 — No champion crowned (Pandemic)
2021 —
Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)2022 —
Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.)2023 —
Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)2024 —
Orange Beach (Ala.)Final MaxPreps Top 251. Melissa (Texas)Record: 38-1
| Last week: 1
Conference 5A Division 1 state champions.
2. Orange Beach (Ala.)Record: 47-2
| Last week: 2
Class 4A state champions.
3. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)Record: 31-1
| Last week: 3
Class 6A state champions
4. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)Record: 37-0
| Last week: 4
Conference 5A Division 2 state champions.
5. Norco (Calif.)Record: 29-3
| Last week: 5
Southern Section Division 1 champions.
6. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)Record: 37-1
| Last week: 6
Division III Select state champions.
7. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)Record: 47-6
| Last week: 7
Class 7A state champions.
8. Coahoma (Texas)Record: 35-1
| Last week: 8
Conference 3A Division 2 state champions.
9. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)Record: 30-1
| Last week: 9
Class 2A state champions.
10. Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.)Record: 31-2
| Last week: 10
Northern California Division 1 champions.
11. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.)Record: 26-5
| Last week: 11
Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 champions.
12. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)Record: 32-4
| Last week: 12
Class 7A state champions.
13. Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.)Record: 18-0
| Last week: 13
Division 1 state champions.
14. Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.)Record: 28-1-1
| Last week: 14
Class 5A state champions.
15. Kingwood (Texas)Record: 37-4-1
| Last week: 15
Conference 6A Division 2 state champions.
16. Neshannock (New Castle, Pa.)Record: 26-0
| Last week: 16
Class 2A state champions.
17. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.)Record: 32-2
| Last week: 17
Division 1 Non-Select state champions.
18. Centennial (Las Cruces, N.M.)Record: 30-0
| Last week: 18
Class 5A state champions.
19. Palo Verde (Las Vegas, Nev.)Record: 25-0
| Last week: 19
Class 5A state champions.
20. Catawba Ridge (Fort Mill, S.C.)Record: 31-2
| Last week: 20
Class 5A Division 2 state champions.
21. Kaukauna (Wis.)Record: 28-0
| Last week: 21
Division 1 state champions.
22. Byrnes (Florence, S.C.)Record: 30-4
| Last week: 22
Class 5A Division 1 state champions.
23. Midway (Waco, Texas)Record: 32-3
| Last week: 23
Conference 6A Division 1 state champions.
24. Taunton (Mass.)Record: 25-0
| Last week: 24
Division 1 state champions.
25. Kenton Ridge (Springfield, Ohio)Record: 32-0
| Last week: 25
Division IV state champions.
Next 25
26. Moody (Ala.)Record: 44-6
| Last week: 26
Class 5A state champions.
27. South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.)Record: 32-2
| Last week: 26
Class 4A state champions.
28. La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.)Record: 25-1
| Last week: 28
Division 1 state champions.
29. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)Record: 35-4
| Last week: 29
Conference 5A Division 1 runner-up.
30. Summerville (S.C.)Record: 33-2
| Last week: 30
Class 5A Division 1 runner-up.
31. Pace (Fla.)Record: 24-4
| Last week: 31
Class 6A state runner-up.
32. North DeSoto (Stonewall, La.)Record: 32-3
| Last week: 32
Division II Non-Select state champions.
33. Wellington (Fla.)Record: 23-4
| Last week: 33
7A state champions.
34. Wheelersburg (Ohio)Record: 28-0
| Last week: 34
Division V state champions.
35. Crown Point (Ind.)Record: 31-4
| Last week: 35
Class 4A state champions.
36. Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.)Record: 24-1
| Last week: 36
Class 4A state champions.
37. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)Record: 25-6-4
| Last week: 37
6A state champions.
38. Hernando (Miss.)Record: 33-4
| Last week: 38
Class 7A state runner-up.
39. George County (Lucedale, Miss.)Record: 34-3
| Last week: 39
Class 6A state champions.
40. Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista, Calif.)Record: 27-7
| Last week: 40
Southern California Division 1 champions.
41. Kenosha Bradford (Kenosha, Wis.)Record: 29-1
| Last week: 41
Division 1 state runner-up.
42. Somerset Academy-Silver Palms (Miami, Fla.)Record: 24-6
| Last week: 42
Class 3A state champions.
43. Bentonville (Ark.)Record: 27-4
| Last week: 43
6A state champions.
44. Hunterdon Central (Flemington, N.J.)Record: 25-3
| Last week: 44
Group 4 champions.
45. Liberty Creek (Gallatin, Tenn.)Record: 32-2
| Last week: 45
Class 2A state champions.
46. Midlothian (Va.)Record: 24-0
| Last week: NR
Class 5 state champions.
47. Curry (Jasper, Ala.)Record: 55-4
| Last week: 46
Class 4A state runner-up.
48. Saline (Mich.)Record: 26-3-1
| Last week: NR
Division 1 state champions.
49. Oswego (Ill.)Record: 38-2
| Last week: 49
Class 4A state champions.
50. Bear River (Garland, Utah)Record: 33-3
| Last week: 50
Class 4A state champions.
