The top of the MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings held strong this week, but three new teams entered the picture, including a home-run hitting machine from Louisiana.
Oregon commit
Maddie Milhorn struck out 12 and allowed two hits as her
Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.) squad held off defending champs and previous No. 9
Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) 1-0 on Saturday. The Storm jump into this week's rankings at No. 19.
Yanina Sherwood was superb as well on the other end for the Timberwolves striking out nine. We can expect these two teams to meet again down the road.
Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas) is on a roll in the Lone Star State and the final team to join this week's MaxPreps Top 25. The Raiders have won 19 straight games behind the arms of Lubbock Christian University commit
Kendall Ward, University of New Mexico commit
Caitlin Benningfield and junior
Nicole McCann, who have a combined 0.79 ERA with 187 punch outs.
Florida State commit Jasmine Francik is 11-0 in the circle and hitting .353 as Melbourne is No. 9 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings. (Photo: Darryl De Fiore)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 1
Sophomore
Arianna Salas went deep and the Mariners racked up 17 hits during a 13-0 victory over Valencia on Wednesday.
2. Katy (Texas)
Record: 23-1-1 |
Last week: 2
The Tigers beat rival Katy Taylor 11-1 on Friday behind the bats of
Ashtyn Reichardt and
Ella-Kate Smith.
3. Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 15-0 |
Last week: 3
Ryleigh Knowlton threw a two-hit shutout, striking out eight, as the Yellow Jackets topped Academy of the Lakes 3-0 on Saturday.
4. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)
Record: 16-0 |
Last week: 4
Carlee Tubbs had three hits, including a home run, during the Cougars' 8-1 victory over DeSoto Central on Saturday.
5. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 5
Kaitlynn Robertson went deep and drove in four runs and
Kaylee Favors mowed down 12 batters as the Makos beat Ocean Springs 8-0 on Saturday.
6. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 7-0 |
Last week: 6
Kate Munnerlyn went the distance in the circle allowing one earned run and
Shannon Keighran hit a bomb during the Lancers big 7-1 over Hollister on Saturday.
7. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 12-1 |
Last week: 7
Jayden Heavener struck out 18 and she joined
Mallory Baker and
Shelby McKenzie with a home run as the Patriots blanked Niceville 6-0 on Friday.
8. Kaukauna (Wis.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 8
Season begins in April.
9. Melbourne (Fla.)
Record: 14-0 |
Last week: 10
Rylie Mecchella drove in three runs during the Bulldogs' 16-2 win over Melbourne Central Catholic on Thursday.
10. Melissa (Texas)
Record: 22-1-1 |
Last week: 20
Freshman
Hutton Adrian hit three home runs as the Cardinals closed out the week with two-straight 17-0 wins.
11. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 1-0 |
Last week: 11
Kylie Folkwein hit a home run during the Falcons' 5-0 opening season victory over Canfield.
12. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record: 6-0 |
Last week: 12
Anabela Abdullah hit a walk-off two run bomb on Thursday, lifting the Firebirds to a 3-2 victory over Coral Springs Charter.
13. Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.)
Record: 1-0 |
Last week: 13
The Lady Kingsmen jumped out to a big start beating Valparaiso 10-0 on Thursday.
Izabella Hanna,
Camille Biever and
Ava Zachary combined to drive in nine runs.
14. Summerville (S.C.)
Record: 8-0 |
Last week: 14
Hope Chase mowed down 14 batters leading the Green Wave to a 5-0 win over Gray Collegiate on Wednesday.
15. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
Record: 14-1-1 |
Last week: 15
The Bears were idle last week.
16. Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)
Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 16
Kinley Pappas has 11 hits in 15 at-bats, including six extra base hits to start the season.
17. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 2-0 |
Last week: 17
Carsyn Cassady pitched a complete game as the Warriors squeaked by Niceville 2-1 on Monday.
18. Gaylord (Mich.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 18
Season begins in April.
19. Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.)
Record: 5-0-1 |
Last week: NR
Maya Figueroa knocked in
Emma Kaufman for the lone run during the Storm's 1-0 victory over Jackson.
20. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 10-2 |
Last week: 22
Kai Minor blasted a home run and
Brianne Weiss tossed a 14-strikeout, no-hitter as the Lancers beat Rosary 7-0 on Friday.
21. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.)
Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 9
The Timbewolves bounced back after falling to No. 19 Skyview, beating Snohomish 7-1.
Yanina Sherwood hit two home runs and drove in four.
22. Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas)
Record: 19-1 |
Last week: NR
The Raiders have a combined 62 extra base hits, including 17 home runs.
23. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 23
Season begins April 1.
24. Marist (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 3-1 |
Last week: 24
Cameryn Lyons and
Soleil Tate hit home runs during the RedHawks' 7-1 win over Lincoln-Way West on Monday.
25. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: NR
The Cavaliers have hit 65 home runs and have an overall .411 team batting average.
On the bubble: Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), 23-3;
Daphne (Ala.), 20-1;
Bloomingdale (Valrico, Fla.), 10-0;
Poly (Riverside, Calif.), 20-1-1;
Woodgrove (Purcellville, Va.), 6-0
