MaxPreps Top 25 national high school softball rankings

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The top two teams in the MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 National Softball Rankings continue to make headlines.

As expected, senior outfielder Alyssa Palomino broke the California state career home run record by hitting a pair of homers as No. 1 ranked Mission Viejo moved to 21-0 on season. The Arizona-bound slugger has 55.

And Alexander Central broke the state consecutive win streak of 83 by winning three times last week. The Cougars' streak stands at 86, No. 4 all-time according to the National Federation of State High School Associations record book.

Also, Mission Viejo's Taylor McQuillin is just six wins away from tying the CIF-Southern Section record for most career victories by a pitcher (100).

New to the Top 10 this week is Coronado, while Sherwood jumps to No. 13 in this week's poll after running its win streak to 75 straight – only two shy of the state record.

Also new to the Top 25 this week are Santiago, Mt. St. Dominic Academy and Bald Knob.


1. (No. 1 last week) Mission Viejo (Calif.), 21-0
Alyssa Palomino set a California career home record (55 and counting) as Mission Viejo defeated crosstown rival Capistrano Valley, 4-1, and El Toro (Lake Forest), 13-0. It was the team's 14th shutout of the season, as Taylor McQuillin ran her record to 21-0.

2. (2) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 20-0
The Cougars picked up three wins last week to give them a North Carolina record for consecutive wins at 86. Eleven of their last dozen wins have come via shutout.

3. (3) Pioneer (San Jose, Calif.), 21-0
Sophomore Holly Azevedo is 20-0 and has not allowed an earned run in 119 innings. She has allowed just 37 base hits and has recorded 180 strikeouts.

4. (4) St. Amant (La.), 26-0
St. Amant has opened the 5A state playoffs with wins over Barbe (11-4) and Chalmette (11-0). Next up: the quarterfinals versus 23-8 Denham Springs.

5. (6) Rockwall (Texas), 22-0-1
The Jackets captured the District 11-6A title with a pair of run-rule wins, then routed nonleague foe Byron Nelson, 11-5.

6. (7) Aledo (Texas), 14-0
Having their four preseason tournaments washed out has not slowed the Bearcats, who have outscored their opponents 162-16.

7. (8) Lebanon (Ohio), 16-0
Behind the pitching of Tara Trainer and Kim Frank, Lebanon has won five of its last six by shutout.

8. (11) Coronado (Lubbock, Texas), 25-0-1
Coronado defeated Frenship, 16-7, to clinch its 20th-straight district title.

9. (5) Crown Point (Ind.), 12-1
Crown Point lost to Portage, 1-0, then bounced back to beat Merrillville and Michigan City by 10-0 margins. Miranda Elish had a five-inning perfect game and 14 strikeouts against Michigan City, and Alexis Holloway pitched a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts in the win over Merrillville.

10. (10) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 22-1-1
After a 17-2 win, Heritage moves into the second round of the 5A playoffs led by .500 hitters Hannah Sipos and Brooke Langston. Pitcher Jenna Goodrich is 13-0 with a 0.39 ERA.

11. (12) Bishop Carroll (Wichita, Kan.), 14-0
The Golden Eagles have scored 92 runs in their last four wins and allowed just two. As a team, they are hitting .617 with eight starters batting over .500. Add to that, their pitchers have allowed just 22 hits and own 92 strikeouts in 59 innings.

12. (13) Woodinville (Wash.), 13-0
The Falcons have outscored their opponents 123-12.

13. (NR) Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.), 13-0
Led by Nicole Stockinger's nine home runs, the Warriors have extended their winning streak to 75 games. The three-time Maryland 4A state champion Sherwood has outscored its opponents 198-10. The state win streak record is 77, held by Northern (Owings).

14. (14) La Grange (Texas), 27-0
La Grange takes on two-loss Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu) in what might be its toughest game to date this season.

15. (15) West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 25-1
The Warriors, averaging 11 runs and allowing one run per game, have won 16 straight, including 12-2 over Dr. Phillips (Orlando) in their playoff opener.

16. (17) Eagle (Idaho), 22-0
Since moving into the Top 25 three weeks ago, Eagle has routed eight opponents by a combined 142-7 score and six wins have been by shutout.

17. (19) Yucaipa (Calif.), 20-3
Since losing to No. 1 Mission Viejo, the Thunderbirds have shut out seven opponents behind the pitching of senior Brooke Bolinger (20-3, 0.33 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 148 innings). She has allowed just 10 hits in that seven-game span.

18. (9) Reed (Sparks, Nev.), 27-1
Since losing to Bishop Manogue by one run, the Raiders have won three straight by a combined 40-8 margin.

19. (21) Boiling Springs (Spartanburg, S.C.), 21-2
Behind the pitching of McKenna Quinn, the Bulldogs beat Byrnes, 1-0, to capture the Region II-4A title.

20. (22) Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 22-3
Led by junior Shelby Mcglaun (13-2, .516 batting average), and Madison Emswiler (.457, 37 RBIs), Atascocita opens bi-district play next.

21. (NR) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 20-3
A week after falling from the Top 25, Santiago blanked Centennial (Corona) and beat hard-hitting Norco to run the Sharks' win streak to three.

22. (NR) Mount St. Dominic Academy (Caldwell, N.J.), 18-1
Kelsey Oh is hitting .511 and is 12-0 pitching with 152 strikeouts in 81 innings. Opponents are hitting .067 against her.

23. (24) Cape Fear (Fayetteville, N.C.), 16-0
Run-rule wins over three Fayetteville schools and Overhills (Spring Lake) moved Cape Fear's shutout streak to nine.

24. (23) Orange Lutheran (Calif.), 21-2
Orange Lutheran lost to Dater Dei, 2-1, for its second one-run loss in seven days, but bounced back to beat Santa Margarita, 7-4.

25. (NR) Bald Knob (Ark.), 15-2
Led by Autumn Humes, Bald Knob has won nine straight. Humes is hitting .537 with 34 RBIs and is 12-1 with a 0.45 ERA in the circle.

Dropped Out: Gainesville (Fla.), Southside (Ala.), Deer Park (Texas), Curry (Ala.).