High school softball postseason play is here or near in several states, and playoffs make it easier to select national rankings, as it becomes win-or-go-home time, and the best-of-the-best continues.
In Ohio, the season is off and running, as ball clubs have just hit the double-digit mark in games played, and
Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio) leads the Buckeye State with a 13-0 record.
Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio) with
Sydnie Watts is one to watch, as the sophomore has an impressive 0.12 ERA and has struck out 127 batters. The team makes their debut at No. 24 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings.
also joins this week. Although they have five losses, the Lancers have played one of the toughest schedules in the state and the nation, with four of those losses to either No. 5
Los Alamitos (Calif.) or No. 7
Norco (Calif.), and those losses have only been by a total of nine runs.
Brianne Weiss of Orange Lutheran has helped the Lancers to a No. 25 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings. (Photo: Mark Jones)
Record: 31-0 |
Last week: 1
Carmen Uribe and
Piper White each had three hits while
Ava Brown and
Madison Johnson struck out 17 in the circle during the Lions' 9-0 win over Magnolia on Friday.
2. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 2
The Patriots were idle last week.
3. Roncalli (Indianapolis)
Record: 5-1-1 |
Last week: 3
The Royals bounced back, winning three-straight games and outscoring their opponents 36-1.
4. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 4
KateLynn Cooper blasted two home runs during the Eagles' 11-4 win over Sterling on Friday.
5. Los Alamitos (Calif.)
Record: 18-2 |
Last week: 5
Callie Fitzpatrick,
Allyssa Ramos and
Gabby Terrones all went yard Monday as the Griffins beat Newport Harbor 9-0.
6. Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: 6
Scarlett Poore,
Raigan Brannon and
Tia Warsop all hit long balls as the Eagles held off Mansfield Legacy 9-7 on Friday.
7. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 7
Cougars exploded for 17 runs on Thursday against Corona.
Rachel Cook and
Maddy Aguilera each hit home runs.
8. Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Record: 9-0 |
Last week: 10
Julia Cuozzo mowed down 14 batters in a complete game shutout win over New Kent on Monday.
9. Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.)
Record: 14-0-2 |
Last week: 9
The Panthers were unable to get on the field last week.
10. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 16-1 |
Last week: 11
The Lancers have not allowed a run over their past five games.
Kate Munnerlyn and
Shannon Keighran have a combined 0.61 ERA.
11. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 28-2 |
Last week: 8
Kami Gautreau hit a grand slam and
Addison Jackson pitched a gem as the Gators closed out the regular season with a 6-1 win over Live Oak.
12. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 17-0-1 |
Last week: 12
Ryan Maddox had three hits and tossed a 12-strikeout, complete game as the Broncos downed crosstown rival Clovis East 7-1 on Friday.
13. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 10-0 |
Last week: 14
Brooke Gray pitched an 11-inning no-hitter, striking out 22, as the Bruins outlasted Greenwood 1-0 on Friday.
14. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record: 27-0 |
Last week: 16
Finley Montgomery struck out 12 and allowed two hits Friday as the Wildcats blanked Allen 9-0.
15. Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.)
Record: 22-0-1 |
Last week: 17
Trinity Kennemer and
Abbi Markus both homered as the Wildcats erupted for 18 runs in a win over Ironwood on Friday.
16. Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
Record: 19-0 |
Last week: 18
The Lady Cavaliers won the 2023 Palmetto Invitational championship, capped Saturday by beating Byrnes 3-2 in the finals.
17. Southwestern Randolph (Asheboro, N.C.)
Record: 14-0 |
Last week: 20
The Cougars have now scored 130 runs in 14 games, including 36 in three games this past week.
18. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 21
Alma Garcia hit a home run and
Anyssa Wild drove in three runs as the Lancers beat Canyon del Oro 9-4 on Friday.
19. Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)
Record: 8-0 |
Last week: 22
Sophomore
Megan Miller and
Christina Ginex both homered and were part of an explosive 16-0 win over Lacey Township on Friday.
20. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 23
Jordyn Wycuff had four hits, including a home run, as the Warriors topped Granville 10-6 on Friday.
21. North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.)
Record: 9-0 |
Last week: 24
Sarah Sabocsik drove in five runs on Monday during the Knights' 10-0 win over Central Bucks East.
22. Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.)
Record: 16-2 |
Last week: 28
Freshman
Auriana Turner drove in two runs, and junior
Gabriella Mike struck out 10 during a big win over Melbourne this past Tuesday.
23. Queen Creek (Ariz.)
Record: 22-1-1 |
Last week: 26
The Bulldogs have won 18 straight games. Junior
Jenae Berry has struck out 140 batters and has a 0.91 ERA.
24. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 10-0 |
Last week: NR
Freshman
Abby Toth has begun her prep career with a bang, hitting .481 with four home runs.
25. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 15-5 |
Last week: NR
The Lancers have lost to No. 5 Los Alamitos three times by a total of five runs. Notre Dame commit
Brianne Weiss has a 0.65 ERA and has struck out 139.
