One of the most challenging things about ranking teams in the spring is the disparity in seasons. While a powerhouse team like Hudsonville (Mich.) is just beginning its season in the north, teams in Florida, like East Lake and American Heritage, are beginning the first round of the postseason.
Therefore it's a difficult decision to make, weighing the potential of a team like Hudsonville to go undefeated in Michigan against the proven results of unbeaten teams from Florida and Texas.
Hudsonville opened its season this week and while the 2-0 record looks out of place amongst the likes of The Woodlands, at 30-0, and East Lake at 23-0, the Michigan squad has shown that it is for real. All-American pitcher Sara Driesenga opened the season with a perfect game and a one-hitter in a doubleheader shutout. Hudsonville is seeking to win its third straight Michigan state championship.
Meanwhile East Lake and American Heritage began district play this week. Both teams were No. 1 seeds and will hope to advance to the state playoffs.
The two Florida squads and Hudsonville, along with The Woodlands and Alexander Central, all won last week to create a status quo among the top five teams in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings. In fact Valencia and Soddy Daisy were the only teams in the top 10 to lose last week and they both fell toward the bottom of this week's list.
New teams to the rankings this week include Northern (Owings, Md.), which is ranked ahead of Bishop O'Connell in the Washington Post All-Metro rankings, North Davidson (N.C.), which is now ranked ahead of Lake Norman in the North Carolina state rankings, and Braden River, which moved into the No. 1 spot in the Class 4A state rankings in Florida after wins over Dunellon and Jupiter.
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS
Faith Bohack and The Woodlands are the top team in the Xcellent 25 this week.
Photo by Jim Redman
The Highlanders remained undefeated with a 15-0 win over Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas) and a 7-1 win over Kingwood.
Faith Bohack was 2-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs against Oak Ridge while
Kelsey Jolly was 4-for-5 against Kingwood.
2. (2) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 15-0
The Cougars edged Watauga 4-1, St. Stephens 4-0 and Rutherfordton-Spindale Central 9-0 last week.
Chelsea Wilkinson tossed a perfect game against St. Stephens, striking out 11 while also hitting a solo home run. Wilkinson also no-hit RS Central with 15 strikeouts and one walk. Watauga managed five hits off Wilkinson, but she still managed 15 strikeouts for the win.
3. (3) East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 23-0
The Eagles got back onto the field after a two-week break and downed Pinellas Park (Largo, Fla.) 9-1.
Alyssa Bache gave up one run on two hits with five strikeouts. East Lake opens the postseason against Tarpon Springs this week.
4. (4) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 21-0
The Patriots edged Park Vista 2-1 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to conclude the regular season undefeated.
Aimee Chapdelaine got the win, giving up one run while striking out nine. She also scored one of the two runs in the seventh. American Heritage opens the postseason today against Pine Crest.
5. (5) Hudsonville (Hudsonville, Mich.), 2-0
The Eagles finally got their season underway with a sweep of Northview (Grand Rapids, Mich.), 5-0 and 7-0. Senior pitcher
Sara Driesenga was on target from the start, throwing a perfect game with eight strikeouts in the opener and a one-hitter in five innings in the second game.
6. (6) Plano (Texas), 29-3
The Wildcats closed in on 30 wins with a 3-2 win over Flower Mound Marcus and a 12-2 victory over Lewisville.
Julia Knight had a home run to lead a 15-hit attack in the win over Lewisville.
7. (9) Sarasota (Fla.), 22-2
The Sailors completed the regular season with a 9-0 win over Venice. The Lady Sailors received the No. 1 seed for the Class 6A-District 7 playoffs and will host the winner of the North Port/Countryside game on Tuesday.
8. (10) Gulliver Prep (Miami), 22-2
The Raiders won their only game last week, edging Florida Christian (Miami) by a 2-1 score.
Christina Gabriele nearly had her third consecutive no-hitter, but Florida Christian broke it up in the seventh inning. The Raiders won on a base hit by
Rosemary Salguiero in the bottom of the eighth.
9. (11) Poland Seminary (Ohio), 7-0
The Bulldogs won three times, shutting out Hubbard 12-0 and Lake Park (Roselle, Ill.) 1-0 and topping Howland (Warren, Ohio) 10-4.
Erin Gabriel had 14 strikeouts and allowed one hit in the win over Lake Park.
10. (12) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 33-2
Riverdale won big all week long, shutting out LaVergne 11-0, Blackman (Murfreesboro) 10-0 and Smyrna 10-0 in league play.
Dene Souviney had a home run against LaVergne while
Brittany Pendergrast hit one out against Blackman.
Rachel Albritton threw her seventh perfect game of the season with 14 strikeouts against Smyrna.
11. (13) Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.), 23-1
The Dorados defeated Sabino (Tucson) 6-1 and Pueblo (Tucson) 18-0 last week in conference play.
12. (14) Coronado (Lubbock, Texas), 30-0
The Mustangs won their 16th straight district championship and won their 30th game of the season with a 12-7 win over Lubbock.
Ciarra Galindo had four hits and
Megan Granado had three for the Mustangs.
13. (16) Johansen (Modesto, Calif.), 16-0
The Vikings continue to dominate in league play, topping Davis (Modesto) 13-2 and Modesto 11-0.
Jazmine Pedrotti was 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and six RBIs against Davis while
Gabrielle Maurice had a home run against Modesto.
14. (19) Bartow (Fla.), 22-1
The Yellowjackets topped McKeel Academy (Lakeland) 13-1 and Forest (Ocala) 15-0 to end the regular season.
15. (NR) Northern (Owings, Md.), 10-0
The Patriots have dominated the competition so far, winning eight games by shutout including the first seven games of the season. Had a game with O'Connell set for Saturday postponed.
16. (22) Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.), 20-1
The Mustangs won three games by shutout, blanking Copper Canyon (Glendale) 20-0, Kellis (Glendale) 8-0 and Copper Canyon again, 28-0.
Melissa Sechrest homered against Copper Canyon in the latter game while
Karissa Haleman homered against Kellis.
17. (NR) North Davidson (Lexington, N.C.), 14-0
The defending North Carolina Class 4A champions lost a ton of talent from last season's undefeated team, but so far North Davidson hasn't shown any dropoff. Moved into the No. 2 ranking in the state and is undefeated after Saturday's 14-0 win over Reagan.
18. (24) Bonita Vista (Chula Vista, Calif.), 24-0
The Barons are one of the few undefeated teams in California, defeating Carlsbad 9-5, Chula Vista 10-2 and 13-0 and Valhalla (El Cajon) 10-0 last week.
Celinna Cosio had two home runs in the 10-2 win over Chula Vista.
19. (7) Valencia (Calif.), 15-2
The Vikings suffered their second loss of the season, falling to West Ranch 7-6 in Foothill League play. Valencia also shut out Golden Valley 4-0.
20. (8) Soddy Daisy (Tenn.), 16-2
The Trojans defeated McMinn County 6-2 on Thursday but then fell to Jefferson County 2-0 on Saturday. Soddy Daisy also had a matchup with undefeated Baylor on Monday but results were not available.
21. (15) Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) 17-1
The Aztecs went 5-1 at the Michelle Carew Classic, falling to Norco 4-2 in the championship game. Esperanza also defeated Agoura 9-0, Wilson (Long Beach) 6-1, Rosary (Fullerton) 10-6 and Canyon (Anaheim), 2-1.
22. (17) Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), 12-1
The Knights won three straight since losing their first game of the season. O'Connell topped St. Mary's Ryken 18-4, Bishop McNamara 10-0 and Holy Cross 10-1 last week.
23. (18) Etiwanda (Calif.), 15-2
The Eagles went 2-1 during the week, defeating Rancho Cucamonga 18-0 to avenge an earlier loss and Alta Loma 12-4. Fell to Glendora 3-2 for just the second loss on the season.
Delaney Spaulding had three home runs in the win over Rancho Cucamonga and added one in the victory over Alta Loma.
24. (21) Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.), 16-1
The Wildcats dropped their first game of the season, falling to Hopewell (Huntersville) 3-1 last week to go along with a 3-2 win over West Rowan (Mt. Ulla) and a 16-0 win over Vance (Charlotte).
Meredith Fleming and
Shannon Murphy each had three RBIs against Vance.
25. (25) Braden River (Bradenton, Fla.), 23-2
Ranked No. 1 in Class 4A in Florida, Braden River knocked off Jupiter last week.
