The Florida Class 6A softball playoffs begin Thursday and the bracket is loaded with five teams ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25.
The path to a state title features No. 5
Melbourne, No. 7
Pace, No. 9
Bartow, No. 12
Doral Academy, and No. 14
Bloomingdale (Valrico). The quintet has a combined record of 124-5. It would be hard to argue against this being the toughest path to a championship in the entire country.
The Southern Section Division 1 bracket in California also could make a case as three MaxPreps Top 25 teams are sprinkled throughout the 16-team pool of heavy hitters. There are no easy games from the start with powerhouse programs from top to bottom. No. 6
Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) and No. 11
Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) are on opposite sides of the bracket, but the path to an early season rematch won't be easy.
While there are no changes in this week's rankings that's likely to change in coming weeks as the majority of MaxPreps Top 25 teams have started postseason play.
No. 4 Orange Beach is 41-1 on the season and opened regional play with a pair of no-hit shutout victories in Alabama regional play. (Photo: Holly Mapel)
Record: 36-1-1 |
Last week: 1
The Tigers started the postseason scoring 49 games in four games without allowing a run.
2. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 22-0 |
Last week: 2
Sophomore
Jaime Oakland homered as the Lancers scored 27 runs during a two-game sweep over Valley Christian (San Jose) last week.
3. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: 3
Eighth-grader
Jaliya Sullivan and senior
Chloe Miller hit home runs to help lift the Cougars to the 7A state semifinals after beating D'lberville 10-0 and 7-2 last week.
4. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record: 41-1 |
Last week: 4
The Makos opened up regional play, winning 17-0 and 15-0.
Kaitlynn Robertson,
Kaylee Favors and
M.K. McMullan combined to throw no-hitters in both contests.
5. Melbourne (Fla.)
Record: 27-0 |
Last week: 5
The Bulldogs open the 6A state playoffs on Thursday against Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens).
6. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 6
The Lancers open Southern Section Division 1 play on Tuesday against Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo).
7. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 23-2 |
Last week: 7
The Patriots open up with Oviedo on Thursday.
8. Kaukauna (Wis.)
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: 8
Karly Meredith struck out 16 and did not allow a hit as the Ghosts scored two in the seventh to beat Hortonville 2-0 on Tuesday.
9. Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 26-1 |
Last week: 9
The Yellow Jackets open postseason play Thursday with East River.
10. Summerville (S.C.)
Record: 24-0 |
Last week: 10
The Lady Wave await their opponent for Tuesday's district final matchup.
11. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)
Record: 23-2 |
Last week: 11
The Mariners open playoffs with South Hills (West Covina) on Tuesday.
12. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 12
The Firebirds have Lourdes Academy (Miami) on Thursday night.
13. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 13
The Warriors fell for the first time this season, but bounced back with a 10-4 win over Lebanon on Saturday.
14. Bloomingdale (Valrico, Fla.)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 14
The Bulls open up the 6A state playoffs against Gaither (Tampa) on Thursday.
15. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record: 32-2 |
Last week: 15
The Wildcats swept Martin (Alrington) in area play and will face Marcus (Flower Mound) in the regional quarterfinals.
16. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 16
The Cougars face Great Oak (Temecula) on Tuesday.
17. Lake Central (St. John, Ind.)
Record: 25-0 |
Last week: 17
Freshman
Maddie Such stuck out 12 in a 3-1 win over Hanover Central (Cedar Lake) on Monday.
18. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)
Record: 34-6 |
Last week: 18
The Huskies won both games in North 7A regional play on Monday, allowing just two hits in a 7-0 win over Bob Jones (Madison) and a 6-0 win over Austin (Decatur).
19. Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.)
Record: 15-0-1 |
Last week: 19
Maya Figueroa hit a bomb and
Maddie Milhorn struck out 17 as the Storm blanked Union (Vancouver) 5-0 on Wednesday.
20. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
Record: 35-2 |
Last week: 20
Season complete. Division III (Select) state champions.
21. Melissa (Texas)
Record: 30-2-1 |
Last week: 21
Kennedy Bradley hit two home runs and
Isabell Gonzales added another as the Cardinals took down Huntsville 5-1 on Friday.
22. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 16-1 |
Last week: 22
The Falcons have scored 190 runs in 17 games, allowing just 11.
23. Carterville (Ill.)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 23
The Lions have now pushed their win streak to 28 straight games.
24. Woodgrove (Purcellville, Va.)
Record: 15-0 |
Last week: 24
Virginia Dowell drove in a late run to lift the Wolverines to a 2-1 win over Osbourn Park (Manassas) on Wednesday.
25. Silverdale Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Record: 44-3 |
Last week: 25
Ella Cunningham,
Gabriella Hensley and
Jaliyah Whitaker all went deep during a 12-1 win over Boyd-Buchanan (Chattanooga) on Monday.
On the bubble: Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 17-1;
Liberty (Texas), 34-2;
Queen Creek (Ariz.), 25-4;
Hoover (Ala.), 35-8-1;
Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas), 34-4-2
