MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings

As more teams opened their 2013 seasons, week two of the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Softball Rankings looks vastly different than week one — 11 new teams earned their way into the rankings.

The most notable inclusions were five teams from Florida, and two each from Texas and Arizona.

Led by senior pitcher Holly McKinnon, North Marion (Citra, Fla.) bolted from No. 39 to No. 4 in this week's poll.

North Marion, Florida's defending 5A state champions, is 6-0 as McKinnon has hurled six shutouts, including four no-hitters. McKinnon, who also has 11 hits and 12 RBIs on the young season, has allowed just five hits in 33 innings. She has 58 strikeouts.

McKinnon, the state's 5A Player of the Year had plenty of support from teammate Brooke Gonzalez, who drove in 9 runs in the six victories. North Marion has outscored its opponents 50-0.

Another Florida team off to an equally impressive start is American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), which has shut out each opponent after seven games. The team is hitting over .500 and has outscored its opponents 70-0. As a result, the Bobcats have gone from unranked to No. 5.

Two other Florida teams (West Orange and Lake Howell) have also grabbed headlines with impressive starts. In winning its first eight games, West Orange (Winter Haven) has a scoring margin of 99-12 and behind the pitching of Autumn Hanners, Lake Howell (Winter Park) is 6-0.

The two unbeatens were scheduled to play Tuesday, but were rained out.

The fifth Florida team to earn a ranking is 6-0 Wharton (Tampa Bay). Mak Dooley shut down previously-ranked No. 15 Chamberlain, 2-1. Wharton is ranked No. 22.

Arizona unbeatens Horizon (Scottsdale) and Mountain View (Mesa) are ranked No. 14 and No. 25.

Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas) and Pearland (Texas), both 14-1, were new to the Top 25 at No. 13 and No. 15. Cy-Fair is the lone team to beat Pearland this season and has won 12 straight.

Santiago (Corona, Calif.) defeated previously-ranked No. 4 Chino Hills, 5-2, and won its first games to be ranked No. 19.

The final new team to the poll is perennial Alabama power, Vestavia Hills, which has opened 5-0.

Top ranked Amador Valley (Pleasant Valley, Calif.) opens its season on March 14 in the Queen of the Mountain Tournament. The Dons are defending champions of the tournament.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings

1. (Preseason 1) Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.), 0-0
After winning their first 25 games of 2012 season, the Dons lost 1-0 on the season's final day. The Dons begin play March 14.

2. (2) Northern (Owings, Md.), 0-0
The 3A state champions will open the season March 10 and haven't lost since 2010 after going 25-0 last year and 21-0 in 2011.

3. (3) Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), 0-0
The Knights have recorded 16 straight shutouts since losing to No. 2 Northern last April. Their season begins March 12 at home against St. Mary's Ryken.

4. (39) North Marion (Citra, Fla.), 6-0
The Colts have outscored opponents 50-0 as senior pitcher Holly McKinnon dominates with six shutouts. McKinnon's .524 average, 11 hits and 12 RBI also lead the team. The Colts host Vanguard (Ocala) Thursday and visit Palatka Friday.

5. (NR) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 7-0
The Patriots have outscored their opponents 70-0 and are hitting .516 as a team as all nine starters are above. 400. Their trio of pitchers have limited opposing batters to just six base hits and have recorded 45 strikeouts in 35 innings. The Patriots play at West Boca Raton on Thursday.

6. (NR) West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 8-0
West Orange most recently blanked Tavares 7-0 and Edgewater (Orlando) 15-0, last week. The Warriors travel to Lake Mary on March 7.

7. (5) Logan (Union City, Calif.), 0-0
The California North Coast Section Division I champions were the only team to defeat No. 1 Amador Valley last season. Logan opens its season March 13. by hosting Alameda.

8. (7) El Diamante (Visalia, Calif.), 0-0
El Diamante opens its season at Clovis North (Clovis) on Thursday.

9. (8) Woodinville (Wash.), 0-0
With Washington's Gatorade POY Madi Schreyer (Stanford) in the circle, the Falcons have lost just twice in the last three seasons. Their season begins in late March.

10. (9) Centennial (Las Vegas), 0-0
The defending 4A champs return every starter from a team that batted .426 and hit 46 homers. Their season opens March 7.

11. (NR) Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.), 6-0
The Silver Hawks are lead by Autumn Hanners (four shutouts) and freshmen Alyssa Oakes and Yurie Hampton, who have 8 RBIs each. The Silver Hawks visit Lyman (Longwood, Fla.) on Thursday.

12. (12) Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.), 0-0
A pair of young pitchers, Kaylee Carlson and Kaley Winegarner (who combined for 19 shutouts) lead the Mariners. They open their season on Saturday by hosting Moorpark.

13. (NR) Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), 14-1
Since losing to Klein Oak, 4-1, Cy Fair has won 12 straight, going 6-0 in the Pearland tournament. Mariah Gibson is 9-0 as Cy-Fair has plated 122 runs and allowed just 11. The Bobcats host Spring on Thursday.

14. (NR) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 7-0
The Huskies opened with six straight wins at the Dobson-Marcos Invite, then routed Arizona's No. 5 team, Pinnacle (Phoenix), 9-2. Through seven games, Margaret Stahm has three homers, five doubles and 11 RBIs and Kaila Jacobi has driven in 13. Tamara Statman is 5-0 in 31 innings with 50 strikeouts and an 0.45 ERA. The Huskies play Desert Mountain (Scottsdale) on Thursday.

15. (40) Pearland (Texas), 14-1
The Oilers won their first eight games before losing to Oak Ridge 4-1. Samantha Show (10-0) has allowed only 12 hits in 54 innings and has 102 strikeouts. She has three no-hitters and a pair of one hitters and has five home runs and 23 RBIs. Rylie Spell has seven home runs and 18 RBIs. The Oilers play at Sam Rayburn (Pasadena, Texas) on March 5.

16. (16) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 0-0
With Steph Thomas on the mound (27-0), Immaculate Heart was unbeaten in winning 2012 state title. The Eagles open their season April 1 hosting Paramus Catholic (Paramus, N.J.).

17. (17) Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), 0-0
Two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year Casey Stangel is back for her senior year. The Timberwolves open their season March 26 hosting Lakeland (Rathdrum, Idaho).

18. (18) North Medford (Ore.), 0-0
Louisville signee Maryssa Becker makes the Black Tornado a heavy favorite to repeat as Oregon 6A champs. The Black Tornado begin their season on March 19 at Foothill (Palo Cedro, Calif.).

19. (NR) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 4-0
The Sharks snapped No. 4 Chino Hills' 28-game winning streak, 5-2. Senior Erica Romero has yet to allow an earned run in the four victories. The Sharks host Poly (Riverside) on Friday.

20. (20) Curtis (River Ridge, La.), 1-0
With Katie Brignac (25-0, 0.37 ERA in 2012) on the mound and seven other returnees in the lineup, the Patriots routed Archbishop Chappelle (Metarie), 15-0 to open their season. They host Cabrini (New Orleans) on Friday.

21. (21) Orange Lutheran (Calif.), 0-0
Led by Jade Vecvanags (16 wins, 0.76 ERA, 11 home runs) and Olivia Sandusky (.463), Orange Lutheran was 27-5 in 2012. OLHS opens on Thursday by hosting Esperanza (Anaheim).

22. (NR) Wharton (Tampa, Fla.), 6-0
The Wildcats beat previously ranked No. 15 Chamberlain, 2-1, as Mak Dooley struck out 13. Dooley is 5-0 with 0.21 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 33 innings. The Wildcats host Bloomingdale (Valrico) on Friday. 

23. (23) Olathe East (Olathe, Kan.), 0-0
Led by state Gatorade winner Allison Stewart (13-0, 0.20 ERA and 52 RBIs), Olathe opens the season March 28 at North (Shawnee Mission, Kan.).

24. (46) Vestavia Hills (Ala.), 5-0
Senior Rebecca Hein has helped jump start the Rebels by hitting .462 and going 5-0 on the mound and limiting opponents to a .074 batting average. Hein has already thrown a no-hitter and a pair of one-hitters this season. The Rebels travel to Tuscaloosa on Thursday.

25. (NR) Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.), 6-0
Pitcher Valerie Kaff is unbeaten with five shutouts and 77 strikeouts in 39 innings. The Toros have given up just one earned run while scoring 28 in six games. They host Mesquite (Gilbert) on Thursday.