High school softball: Southington leads list of programs with most state championships

Blue Knights have moved to the top of the list with six titles in the past 10 years.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Kevin Askeland
By
Mar 8, 2024, 11:30am
Southington (Conn.) tops the list when it comes to winning high school softball state championships. The Blue Knights have captured 20 state crowns with six of those coming in the past 10 seasons.

With 13 state final appearances over the past two decades, Southington looks like a good bet to add to its record in the coming seasons. The Blue Knights surpassed previous national record holders Crescent (Iva, S.C.) and Salem (N.H.) in 2022.

Southington won't be without competition, however. Salem won its 19th title in 2021 to tie Crescent for the top spot. The Blue Devils have won 11 state championships since 1998 including six in a row from 1998 to 2002.

A pair of New Mexico schools are also closing in on the record. Loving has won two straight state championships at the A-AA level to reach 19 all-time. The Falcons have won 11 state titles since the 2003 season. 

Meanwhile, Carlsbad has returned to power with back-to-back 5A state championships to raise its total to 18. The Cavemen dominated New Mexico softball from the first years of the state playoffs in 1976 with 13 state titles by 1996.

National powerhouse Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), which plays in the fall, also can't be counted out. Winners of 10 straight championships between 1995 and 2004, the Monarchs posted back-to-back 36-0 seasons in 2019 and 2020 to raise their total to 17.

Crescent was the early leader out of the gate with 11 straight championships from 1987 to 1997. The Tigers last won a state title in 203.

Sources for the list include the National Federation of High Schools record book and state association record books. Additions or corrections? Email kevinaskeland65@gmail.com.
Southington celebrates a win over Mercy in Connecticut's 2013 Class LL state championship game. (Photo: Todd Kalif)
Southington celebrates a win over Mercy in Connecticut's 2013 Class LL state championship game. (Photo: Todd Kalif)
Most softball state championships

Nos. 1-10
20 — Southington (Conn.)
19 — Loving (N.M.)
19 — Salem (N.H.)
19 — Crescent (Iva, S.C.)
18 — Carlsbad (N.M.)
17 — Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.)
16 — Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
15 — Needles (Calif.)
14 — Bishop Carroll (Wichita, Kan.)
14 — Vandebilt Catholic (Houma, La.)

11-24
13 — Ankeny (Iowa)
13 — Bishop Kelly (Boise, Idaho)
13 — Ezell-Harding Christian (Antioch, Tenn.)
13 — Silver (Silver City, N.M.)
13 — Silver Lake (Kan.)
12 — Buford (Ga.)
12 — Erie (Colo.)
12 — Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.)
12 — John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
12 — Northern (Owings, Md.)
12 — Pocola (Okla.)
12 — Seton Catholic (Chandler, Ariz.)
12 — Seymour (Conn.)
12 — Wheeling Central Catholic (Wheeling, W.Va.)

11 state titles
Adna (Wash.)
Bear River (Garland, Utah)
Brattleboro (Vt.)
Broken Arrow (Okla.)
Cobre (Bayard, N.M.)
Coginchaug Regional (Durham, Conn.)
Davenport (Okla.)
Frenchtown/Alberton (Frenchtown, Mont.)
Gordon Lee (Chickamauga, Ga.)
Florence-Carlton (Florence, Mont.)
Manti (Utah)
Montesano (Wash.)
Oxbow (Bradford, Vt.)
Peoples Academy (Morrisville, Vt.)
Tuttle (Okla.)

10 state titles
Arlington Memorial (Arlington, Vt.)
Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans, Vt.)
Caravel (Bear, Del.)
Churchill (Eugene, Ore.)
Gibbs (Corryton, Tenn.)
Kailua (Hawaii)
Lyndon Institute (Lyndon Center, Vt.)
Minersville (Pa.)
Naples (Fla.)
Pisgah (Ala.)
Tooele (Utah)
Turners Falls (Montague, Mass.)
West Fargo (N.D.)

Nine state titles
Alabama Christian Academy (Montgomery, Ala.)
Bartow (Fla.)
Billings Senior (Mont.)
Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Buckfield (Maine)
Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.)
Champion (Warren, Ohio)
Clear Creek-Amana (Tiffin, Iowa)
Hopkinton (Contoocook, N.H.)
Immaculate Conception (Lodi, N.J.)
Indian Land (Fort Mill, S.C.)
Juneau-Douglas (Juneau, Alaska)
Madison (Maine)
Masuk (Monroe, Conn.)
Northeast (Pasadena, Md.)
Pahranagat Valley (Alamo, Nev.)
Piedra Vista (Farmington, N.M.)
Reed (Sparks, Nev.)
Royal (Royal City, Wash.)
Russell (Great Falls, Mont.)
San Manuel (San Manuel, Ariz.)
Springfield (Akron, Ohio)
Spanish Fort (Ala.)
Stevens Point (Wis.)
Taylor (Ark.)
Unionville-Sebewaing (Sebewaing, Mich.)
Washington (Okla.)

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