High school softball: Best team in every state

Thompson (Alabaster)
Finished the 2022 season as 7A state champions with Auburn commit Chalea Clemmons returning after a 15-1 record in the circle. Sophomore Olivia Tindell hit nearly .500 as a freshman.

Alaska
South Anchorage (Anchorage)
The Wolverines have a chance at a three-peat this season and will have MaxPreps Alaska State Player of the Year Emily McCutcheon back for her senior year. Fellow senior Alexis Keaveny is also returning after hitting 10 home runs as a junior.

Arizona
Salpointe Catholic (Tucson)
Coach Tricia Sztan hopes to keep the tradition alive by reloading rather than rebuilding. Salpointe has won four state titles since 2018 and six going back to 1993.

Arkansas
Benton
Enter the 2023 season with a 64-game winning streak after capping 2022 with their second straight undefeated record. MaxPreps Arkansas State Player of the Year Alyssa Houston returns for her senior season.

California
Beaumont
Playing in the Southern Section means no days off with the talent and depth being among the best in the country. The Cougars are already feeling that as they are off to a 1-1 start in 2023.
Columbine (Littleton)
The Rebels lost one game in the fall, which they later avenged by defeating Douglas Country 7-3 in the Class 5A state championship game. Senior ace Araya Ogden finished the season with a 24-1 record and a 0.89 ERA.

Connecticut
Woodland Regional (Beacon Falls)
The Hawks won their first state title in 2022 with a perfect 26-0 record. Samatha Sosnovich, who was the ace during the state championship game, returns with hopes of repeating.

Delaware
Sussex Central (Georgetown)
Return several players and a sour taste in its mouth after falling 8-7 to Caravel in the state championship game last spring. Senior Madge Layfield was the team's workhorse in 2022.

Florida
Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton)
Had it not been for the pandemic in 2020, the Mustangs would likely have three consecutive state championships. Tennessee commit Ella Dodge and Florida commit Cassidy McLellan aim to do just that in 2023.

Georgia
Buford
The Wolves ended the fall as the No. 1 team in the nation. They dominated on their way to a 7A state championship, outscoring opponents 265-41.
Maryknoll (Honolulu)
Commits Jenna Sniffen (Arizona) and Nellians McEnroe-Marinas (Oklahoma) led the Spartans to their first state championship. Both players return in 2022.

Idaho
Skyview (Nampa)
Although the Hawks lost some major contributors from their 5A championship team, key players like senior Analisa Zamora (25 career home runs) remain.

Illinois
Rockridge (Taylor Ridge)
Aim to secure their third consecutive state title in 2023. Illinois State commit Payton Brown (.500 average, 17 home runs) and reigning state player of the year Kendra Lewis return to the lineup.

Indiana
Roncalli (Indianapolis)
The Royals finished 2022 as the MaxPreps National Champions and start 2023 in the same position after a perfect 33-0 record. Many key players return to the roster.

Iowa
Northwest (Waukee)
Won its first state title in 2022 and return several key players, including Minnesota State commit pitcher Maddie Oetzmann.

Kansas
Washburn Rural (Topeka)
Fell one run short in the state championship game to back-to-back state champions Topeka, which had ace NiJa Canady (Stanford). Now Nebraska signee Emerson Cope is ready to get Washburn Rural to the next level.

Kentucky
Ballard (Louisville)
Completed a perfect 32-0 season with its first state championship in 2022. The Bruins checked in at No. 10 in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 team with Louisville commit Brooke Gray returning to the circle.

Louisiana
St. Amant
The Gators look for their third straight state title in 2023. With seven championships since 2002, the AAAAA champions have a solid foundation in MaxPreps All-American and Boston College commit pitcher Addison Jackson.

Maine
Biddeford
Seniors Baylor Wilkinson and Charlotte Donovan (Maine Player of the Year) return to help defend the school's Class A championship.

Maryland
Rising Sun (North East)
Fell 5-4 to Calvert in the Class 2A championship game. Key players, including pitcher and South Alabama commit Cadence Williams and Virginia Tech commit Jordan Lynch, return for another title run.

Massachusetts
Peabody Veterans Memorial (Peabody)
The Tanners fell 5-3 to Taunton in last year's title game. Junior Abby Bettencourt, who had a strong sophomore year, will play a key role in the team's pursuit of the title in 2023.

Michigan

Minnesota
Forest Lake
Won their first Class AAAA state championship in 2022. Junior Hannah Tong, a do-it-all player, returns for the 2023 season after a strong performance in the title game going 3-for-4 at the plate, and striking out seven on the bump.

Mississippi
Neshoba Central (Philadelphia)
The Rockets have won an impressive nine straight MHSAA Class 5A State Championships and remain the top team until dethroned.

Missouri
Blue Springs South (Blue Springs)
Dominated the competition to win the Class 5 state championship in the fall. Senior Madi Ball and junior Abbie Wilhelm led the way, combining for 15 of the team's 33 home runs.
Capital (Helena)
A talented squad returns from a team that narrowly missed a state championship during the 2022 postseason. Key players include sophomore Anna Cockhill, who hit seven home runs, and senior pitcher Nyeala Herndon, a Montana commit.

Nebraska
Marian (Omaha)
Earned a Class A state title with 18 consecutive victories last fall. Senior Maddia Groff played a major role, finishing the season with a 25-1 record in the circle and a batting average over .500.

Nevada
Green Valley (Henderson)
Won the 5A state championship in 2022 and return a talented group of players. Junior Avari Morris, who was named a MaxPreps All-American, is a Seattle commit.

New Hampshire
Exeter
Blue Hawks enter 2023 as defending Division 1 state champions and have a strong chance to repeat with the return of state player of the year Kristen Beebe in the circle.

New Jersey
Donovan Catholic (Toms River)
The Griffins continue their dynasty run as reigning Non-Public A state champions. Key players back in the lineup include MaxPreps All-American Julia Apostolakos, who finished with a 26-1 record in the circle and a batting average of .634.

New Mexico
Carlsbad
Led by juniors Faith Aragon and Haiven Schoolcraftt, who combined for a 30-1 record in the circle last year, the Cavemen aim to repeat as 5A state champions.

New York
Ichabod Crane (Valatie)
The Riders dominated their competition in 2022, outscoring opponents 407-13. A good portion of their undefeated team returns, including sophomore Kari Graziano, who went 16-0 in the circle with a 0.53 ERA.
Panther Creek (Cary)
Layla Lamar, a Florida commit and MaxPreps Underclass All-American, hit 13 home runs and batted .638 in 2022. Other big bats also return.

North Dakota
Bismarck
Key players are back from last year's state championship team (the first in school history), fueling hopes of a repeat. 

Ohio
Triway (Wooster)
Captured the 2022 Division II state title after outscoring opponents 322-41. Junior Carter Wachtel, a Georgia Tech commit, returns after striking out over 300 batters last spring.

Oklahoma
Edmond Memorial (Edmond)
Won the Class 6A title this fall with Ryley Watkins driving in the only run and freshman pitcher Keegan Baker throwing a one-hitter.

Oregon
Bend
Shocked in the Class 6A state semifinals a year ago but hope to take the next step in 2023 with the top-ranked player in the Class of 2024 and UCLA commit Addisen Fisher.

Pennsylvania
North Penn (Lansdale)
The Rams were knocked out in the 6A state semifinals by the eventual state champions but return senior Julia Shearer, a Maryland commit who went 25-2 in the circle with an ERA of 0.26.

Rhode Island
Pilgrim (Warwick)
The Patriots fought their way to a state runner-up finish last spring led by junior pitcher Alyssa Twomey.
Coming off a Class AA state championship in 2022, the War Eagles return some key players for 2023 including senior pitcher Taylor Corley. She finished the previous season with a 15-1 record and 121 strikeouts.

Tennessee
Lexington
A remarkable 50-1 season ended with a Class 3A state championship. Mykenzi Duke, who hit a state-leading 21 homers, returns along with Memphis 2023 commit Marley Maness.

Texas
Lake Creek (Montgomery)
A strong favorite for 2023 after going 41-0 in 2022, the Lions return key players including Florida commit Ava Brown. She hit 10 home runs and had a 36-0 record in the circle with an ERA of 0.46 and 335 strikeouts.

Utah
Spanish Fork
The back-to-back Class 5A state champions are reloading for 2023, starting with pitcher Avery Sapp. The Utah Valley commit went 21-3 in the circle last season with a 0.94 ERA and 258 strikeouts.

Vermont
South Burlington

Virginia
Hanover (Mechanicsville)
The defending Class 4A state champions had a 23-1 record in 2022. Virginia Class of 2023 commit Julia Cuozzo, who went 18-1 in the circle as a junior, returns along with several other standout players.

Washington
Tumwater
Ella Ferguson hit a three-run bomb and was the winning pitcher during last year's Class 2A championship game. She returns to a Thunderbirds team that finished 23-2 last season.

West Virginia
St. Albans
The Red Dragons bring back major talent in 2023, including Kentucky commit pitcher Tayven Stephenson. Kyndall Harper, a big bat in the lineup, hit 13 home runs as a freshman.

Wisconsin
Kaukauna
The 2022 Division 1 state champions return three players who were named to the WFSCA All-State team, including sophomore pitcher Karly Meredith.

Wyoming
Thunder Basin (Gillette)