MaxPreps Top 25 national high school softball rankings

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After four weeks in the top spot, Johnson (San Antonio) lost and vacated its lofty perch. But another Texas team, previously ranked No. 1 Canyon (New Braunsfels), returned to the top spot in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 Softball Rankings.

Canyon regained No. 1 with the slightest of margins over MaxPreps' 2017 National Champion Los Alamitos (Calif.).

Preseason No. 1 Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) continues its rise and is at No. 3, followed by No. 4 Marist (Chicago) and Johnson.



The biggest mover of the week is unbeaten Mansfield (Texas) which jumped seven spots to No. 6.

New the Top 10 this week is unbeaten and No. 10 Freedom (Oakley, Calif.).

King's Academy (Seymour, TN) returned to the Top 25 riding a 25- game winning streak.

Also new to the Top 25 this week is unbeaten Tualatin (Ore.).

1. (Last week 2) Canyon (New Braunfels, Texas), 28-1
The Cougars needed eight innings to defeat Brennan, 6-4, in a one-game playoff.

2. (3) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 23-1
The Griffins got two homers from junior Samantha Denehy in a win over Fountain Valley and freshman Sophia Nugent homered and drove in five runs in a 12-4 win over Edison (Huntington Beach).



3. (6) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 30-1
In a state 6A tournament play-in game, the Huskies blanked Mountain Ridge (Glendale) 5-0 for its third-straight shutout victory. Senior Abigail Andersen pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10. The Huskies face 19-12 Basha (Chandler) on Tuesday. Anderson blanked Basha on three hits with 12 strikeouts on April 19.

4. (7) Marist (Chicago), 18-1
The Redhawks picked up 10 wins from April 19 to 28 and scored 142 runs in the process. They have won a dozen straight.

5. (1) Johnson (San Antonio), 28-1
Johnson opened the playoffs with 9-4 and 6-3 wins over Leander. Up next is 20-7 O'Connor (Helotes).

6. (13) Mansfield (Texas), 27-0
Mansfield opened the playoffs with 13-3, 7-5 wins over Fossil Ridge (Keller).

7. (8) East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), 21-0
The Raiders continue to ride the arm — and bat — of senior Montana Fouts. She pitched in four wins last week and struck out 47 in 20 innings. She has eight no-hitters, including six perfect games and 244 strikeouts in 109 innings. She has allowed just 16 hits. Fouts is also batting .579 and has driven in 35 runs.

8. (9) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 28-0
The Rockets swept Olive Branch, but barely won the second game 6-5. Up next, the state 5A quarterfinals on Tuesday. Aspen Wesley pitched a one-hitter with 16 strikeouts in a 10-0, six-inning win in the first playoff game and relieved to record the final two outs in game two.



9. (10) Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 16-0
Jackson has a rematch on Tuesday with once-beaten Lake Stevens, a team it beat 2-1 in nine innings on April 10.

10. (11) Freedom (Oakley, Calif.), 15-0
With lopsided run-rule wins over Deer Valley (Antioch) 13-3 and Pittsburg 10-0, the Falcons ran their win streak to 15.

11. (12) Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.), 26-2
Oakleaf has won 17 in a row and opens state 8A tournament play on Wednesday against 17-7 Lincoln (Tallahassee).

12. (16) Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 17-0
Junior Abby Herbst is batting .660 and has driven in 25 runs. She is also 10-0 in the circle with a 0.54 ERA.

13. (14) San Marcos (Calif.), 20-2
The Knights ran their win streak to a dozen after defeating Mission Hills (San Marcos) 12-4 and Oceanside 13-0.

14. (15) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 19-3
Senior Megan Faraimo (UCLA signee) pitched 5-0 shutout wins against Huntington Beach, Carlsbad and Patrick Hendy (San Diego) and struck out 37 in the process. Faraimo is averaging better than two strikeouts per inning.



15. (17) 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 Friendship (Wolfforth) in the state 6A playoffs.

16. (18) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 22-3
The Lancers got a two-run homer from Ciara Briggs (LSU commit) and Kira La Scola drove in three runs in a 6-1 win over 19-4 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita). The Lancers have a rematch with 19-5 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) on May 7. Mater Dei beat the Lancers 9-8 in 10 innings on April 10.

17. (19) Fort Myers (Fla.), 25-2
The Green Wave open state 7A tournament action on Wednesday against Palmetto Ridge (Naples) riding a nine-game win streak.

18. (5) Katy (Texas), 33-2
Katy saw its 24-game win streak end in a 12-1 loss to Fort Bend Clemens (Sugar Land), but bounced back to beat Fort Bend Clements 11-1 and 15-0 to advance in the state 6A playoffs. Up next is 14-11 Lamar (Houston) on Saturday.

19. (20) Norco (Calif.), 21-3
The Cougars routed Corona 17-0 and beat King (Riverside) 6-1.

20. (21) Eagle (Idaho), 22-0-1
Since a 5-4 walk-off win over Rocky Mountain (Meridian), the Mustangs have exploded for 48 runs in four victories. They close out the regular season on Tuesday at 12-9 Boise.

21. (22) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 15-0
The easy math continues for the Warhawks — three games, three shutouts, including a 5-0 blanking of previously ranked Woodgrove (Purcellville).



22. (23) Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), 25-1
Byrnes ran its win streak to 18 with a 16-0 win over T.L. Hanna (Anderson) in the District 2 playoffs.

23. (NR) Tualatin (Ore.), 17-0
The Timberwolves have won seven games via the shutout.

24. (25) Spanish Fork (Utah), 18-1
During its 15-game winning streak, Spanish Fork has allowed 17 runs. Gabby Beckstrom homered in wins over Salem Hills and Uintah last week.

25. (NR) King's Academy (Seymour, Tenn.), 26-1
The power-hitting Lions are averaging 10 runs per game and have won 25 in a row. Maddie Webber is putting up big numbers — .626 batting, 15 homers, 15 doubles and 59 RBIs.

Dropped out: Woodgrove (Purcellville, Va.), Hurricane (W Va.).