MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings

Arm injuries claimed yet another Xcellent 25 team this week, but it was a loss by the No. 1 team to a lower division team at the Mercy Hospital Slamfest that allowed Alvin (Texas) to jump into the top spot this week.

Palm Beach Gardens, a Class 8A team in Florida, fell to Bishop Snyder, a Class 3A team, at the Slamfest for its first loss of the season. The defeat was enough to knock the Gators down a couple spots to No. 5 this week.

One team that dropped entirely from the rankings is Lee-Davis, which likely saw its hopes for a second-straight AAA state title in Virginia come to an end when star pitcher Kelly Heinz went under the knife for arm surgery.

Lee-Davis opened the season with the loss and thus dropped out of the Xcellent 25. Heinz's injury marks the third time this season a highly ranked Xcellent 25 team has lost due to having a pitcher with arm injuries. The Woodlands (ranked No. 1 at the time) and Alexander Central (also ranked No. 1) both have had their star pitchers miss time due to arm injuries.

The Xcellent 25 had five teams leave this week, including Basha, which lost three games in the Desert Mountain Tournament, Pearland and Plano East, both of which lost district matches in Texas, and Woodcreek.

Moving in are Chamberlain and Winter Springs from Florida, Pacifica from California, Topsail from North Carolina and Hillcrest from South Carolina.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings

1. (3 last week) Alvin (Texas), 26-1
The Yellowjackets completed the first round of district play undefeated after knocking off Dickinson 4-2 and Clear Creek 7-3 last week. The second half of district play resumes this week against Brazoswood.

2. (4) Niceville (Fla.), 17-1
The Eagles had only one game last week, a 10-0 shutout of Mosely in district play.

3. (6) Estrella Foothills (Goodyear, Ariz.), 21-0
The Wolves won both their games last week, topping Agua Fria 1-0 and Youngker 10-0.

4. (7) Norco (Calif.), 13-0
Norco went 6-0 at the TNT Tournament in Torrance, including a 1-0 win over Freedom (Oakley), a 5-0 win over Foothill (Henderson, Nev.) and an 8-0 win over North (Torrance).

5. (1) Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.), 18-1
The Gators went 3-1 in tournament play over the weekend, falling to Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) 5-1. Palm Beach Gardens also shut out West Broward (Pembroke Pines) 5-0, Ransom Everglades (Miami) 8-0 and Verala 12-0. Shelby Turnier pitched a no-hitter and struck out 11 in the win over West Broward. The Gators have a big game this week against Gulliver Prep.

6. (8) Tomball (Texas), 14-1
Tomball returned from spring break with a pair of decisive wins, topping Dekaney 16-2 and Klein Oak 13-3.

7. (12) El Diamante (Visalia, Calif.), 13-0
The Miners defeated Mt. Whitney 12-2 in league play.

8. (13) The Woodlands (Texas), 18-3
The Highlanders continue their climb back with a 16-1 win over College Park last week.

9. (14) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 8-1
Chelsea Wilkinson captured her 94th career win with a 16-strikeout no-hitter against South Caldwell in a 7-0 win. The game was also her 67th career shutout. The Cougars also defeated Riverdale 3-1 with Wilkinson striking out 11.

10. (NR) Winter Springs (Fla.), 14-1
Ranked No. 1 in the Class 7A rankings in Florida by Pitch2Fast, Winter Springs has only a 2-1 loss to Lake Howell marring its record.

11. (NR) Chamberlain (Tampa, Fla.), 16-1
Chamberlain has a win over Durant at the Bartow Tournament. Last week it defeated Gaither 14-4 in its only game of the week.

12. (17) Durant (Plant City, Fla.), 15-1
Durant bounced back from a loss to Chamberlain to edge Wharton (Tampa) 6-4 and Plant (Tampa) 4-2.

13. (18) Eau Gallie (Melbourne, Fla.), 19-1
The Commodores went 4-0 at the Mercy Hospital Slamfest, including a 6-3 over Bishop Snyder, a team that defeated previous No. 1 Palm Beach Gardens. Eau Gallie also topped Southwest (Miami) 5-0, Varela (Miami) 11-1 and Cooper City 19-0.

14. (19) Walla Walla (Wash.), 2-0
Southridge (Kennewick) proved no match for the defending state champions as Walla Walla won both games by a score of 17-0.

15. (23) Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.), 17-0
The Mustangs went 2-0 over the weekend with a 3-0 shutout of Cactus (Glendale) and a 9-0 win over Westview (Avondale).

16. (24) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 12-0
The Falcons won three times, beating Mission Hills (San Marcos) 11-2 and Escondido 13-1 at the North County Tournament and then opening the Falcon Fiesta with a 13-0 win over Morse (San Diego).

17. (NR) Hillcrest (Simpsonville, S.C.), 13-0
The Rams are ranked No. 1 in the state of South Carolina and recently knocked off defending state champion J.L. Mann 2-1.

18. (NR) Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.), 11-1
Pacifica's only loss of the season is a 4-0 defeat at the hands of No. 4 Norco and is ranked No. 3 in the Southern Section coaches poll.

19. (16) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 13-1
The Lancers split a pair with La Mirada, losing the first game 3-1 and winning the second 5-0. They also topped Dana Hills 7-1 earlier in the week.

20. (NR) Topsail (Hampstead, N.C.), 12-0
Topsail started the season at No. 4 in the North Carolina preseason Class 4A rankings and has racked up nine shutouts in its first 12 games of the season.

21. (20) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 0-0
Season opens Tuesday vs. Edison (Milan, Ohio).

22. (21) Robbinsville (N.J.), 0-0
Season opened last week vs. Monroe Township (N.J.).

23. (22) Poland Seminary (Ohio), 0-0
Season opens April 9 at American Heritage (Delray Beach, Fla.).

24. (15) Soddy Daisy (Tenn.), 11-1-1
The Trojans went undefeated this weekend in tournament play, defeating Huntington 7-2, Wilson Central 5-0, Nashville Christian 2-0, Karns 3-1, Ooltewah 1-0 and Baylor 5-4. Soddy Daisy then fell to Central 3-0 on Monday.

25. (25) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 13-2
The Warriors split their two games with a pair of North Carolina powerhouses, falling to Alexander Central 3-1 but defeating North Davidson 4-2. They also beat Oakland (Murfreesboro) 12-1.

Dropped out: No. 2 Lee-Davis, No. 5 Basha, No. 9 Pearland, No. 10 Woodcreek, No. 11 Plano East.