Behind junior pitcher Keagan Rothrock, Royals edge Lake Creek of Texas as nation's top team.
The race for the No. 1 spot in the final MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings was a battle to the very end.
Roncalli (Indianapolis) and
Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) had two of the most remarkable seasons of all time. The Royals from Indiana began the season as the No. 1 team in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25 and did not budge. They outscored opponents 322-22 with three runs as the slimmest margin in 32 wins.
Class of 2023 Florida commit
Keagan Rothrock led a pitching staff that shutout 20 opponents. On offense, the team batted a combined .442, clubbed 58 home runs and set a state record with a .713 slugging percentage.
Roncalli is the 2022 MaxPreps National Champion, becoming the first Indiana school to earn the honor.
The only team with a shot at unseating Roncalli this season was Lake Creek, a Texas juggernaut that went undefeated in a state loaded with talent.
The Lions also were led by a junior, Florida commit
Ava Brown. She struck out more than 330 batters and finished with a near flawless 0.46 ERA in over 183 innings. The team went 41-0 overall, scored over eight runs per game and had to win 11 playoff games to take home the Texas 5A state title.
Both teams return a majority of their talent for the 2023 season so this may not be the end of the Roncalli-Lake Creek debate.
Past MaxPreps National Champions2020 — No champion crowned
Final MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings1. Roncalli (Indianapolis)
Record: 32-0 |
Last week: 1
4A state champions
2. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 41-0 |
Last week: 2
5A state champions
3. Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 3
7A state champions
4. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 31-2 |
Last week: 4
5A state champions
5. O'Connor (Helotes, Texas)
Record: 32-1 |
Last week: 5
6A state champions
6. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 32-0 |
Last week: 6
5A state champions
7. Lexington (Tenn.)
Record: 49-1 |
Last week: 7
TSSAA 3A state champions
8. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Record: 34-1 |
Last week: 8
SoCal Division 1 champions
9. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 27-2 |
Last week: 9
4A state champions
10. Triway (Wooster, Ohio)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 10
Division II state champions
11. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)
Record: 44-8 |
Last week: 11
7A state champions
12. Riverton (Utah)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 12
6A state champions
13. Rockridge (Taylor Ridge, Ill.)
Record: 35-0 |
Last week: 13
2A state champions
14. Allegany (Cumberland, Md.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 14
1A state champions
15. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 39-0 |
Last week: 15
Kentucky state champions
16. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix)
Record: 24-5 |
Last week: 16
6A state champions
17. North Augusta (North Augusta, S.C.)
Record: 33-2 |
Last week: 17
AAAA state champions
18. Eastern Alamance (Mebane, N.C.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: 18
3A state champions
19. Melbourne (Fla.)
Record: 26-2-1 |
Last week: 19
6A state champions
20. Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio)
Record: 28-4 |
Last week: 20
Division I state champions
21. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 31-2 |
Last week: 21
Division I NorCal champions
22. Monroe-Woodbury (Central Valley, N.Y.)
Record: 23-0 |
Last week: 22
AA champions
23. Tigard (Ore.)
Record: 29-4 |
Last week: 23
6A state champions
24. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
Record: 27-3 |
Last week: 24
Division 1 state champions
25. Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.)
Record: 31-3 |
Last week: 25
5A state champions
Next 25
27.
Allen Park (Mich.)28.
Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)29.
Georgetown (Texas) 30.
Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.)31.
Calvert (Prince Frederick, Md.)32.
Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)33.
Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)34.
Beaver (Pa.)35.
St. Charles North (St. Charles, Ill.)36.
Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.)37.
West Monroe (La.)38.
Chatfield (Minn.)39.
Aledo (Texas)40.
Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.)41.
Spring-Ford (Royersford, Pa.)42.
Appomattox County (Appomattox, Va.)43.
Tumwater (Wash.)44.
North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.)45.
Marist (Chicago)46.
Kaukauna (Wis.)47.
Clovis (Calif.)48.
Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.)49.
Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)50.
Carlsbad (N.M.)
