High school softball rankings: Orange Beach of Alabama finishes No. 1 in Small Town Top 25

Makos top list of softball powers with less than 1,000 students.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Thomas Frey
By
Jul 1, 2026, 10:00am
Not only did Orange Beach (Ala.) finish No. 1 in the Small Town Top 25 high school softball rankings, but it was No. 4 overall nationally in the final MaxPreps Top 25 released last week.

The Small Town Top 25 – determined by the MaxPreps computer ratings – includes schools with an enrollment of under 1,000 students in towns with a population of under 10,000.

Orange Beach (46-1) won its sixth consecutive state title in Alabama. Florida Rural state champion Trenton finished No. 2, closing the season with 10 straight wins en route to its third consecutive title.

Liberty (Texas) comes in at No. 3 with a 40-6 mark. The Panthers won the Conference 4A Division 2 state championship, securing the school's first crown since 2022 and fourth overall.
(Graphic: Ryan Escobar)
(Graphic: Ryan Escobar)
1. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record/rating: 46-1, 43.6
Class 4A state champion

2. Trenton (Fla.)
Record/rating: 25-3, 40.3
Rural state champion

3. Liberty (Texas)
Record/rating: 40-6, 36.2
Conference 4A Division 2 state champion

4. Carterville (Ill.)
Record/rating: 39-1, 36.0
Class 2A state champion

5. Montesano (Wash.)
Record/rating: 27-0, 34.7
Class 1A state champion

6. Abingdon (Va.)
Record/rating: 30-0, 34.5
Class 3 state champion

7. Mardela (Mardela Springs, Md.)
Record/rating: 29-0, 33.9
Class 1A state champion

8. Averill Park (N.Y.)
Record/rating: 22-4, 33.9
Class A state champion

9. East Union (Blue Springs, Miss.)
Record/rating: 36-3, 33.9
Class 2A state champion

10. Ganado (Texas)
Record/rating: 34-2-1, 33.8
Conference 2A Division 1 state champion

11. Shiner (Texas)
Record/rating: 22-7, 33.3
Conference 2A Division 2 state champion

12. Wheelersburg (Ohio)
Record/rating: 23-5, 33.2
Division 5 state champion

13. Tecumseh (Lynnville, Ind.)
Record/rating: 29-4, 33.1
Class 2A state champion

14. Shepherd (Mont.)
Record/rating: 25-0, 32.3
Class B state champion

15. Crescent (S.C.)
Record/rating: 30-4, 32.2
Class 3A state champion

16. Chatham (N.Y.)
Record/rating: 24-2, 31.7
Class B state champion

17. West Lauderdale (Collinsville, Miss.)
Record/rating: 37-5, 31.5
Class 4A state champion

18. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (Lake Crystal, Minn.)
Record/rating: 23-0, 31.4
Class AA state champion

19. Pine Grove (Pa.)
Record/rating: 27-2, 31.1
Class 3A state champion

20. Loving (N.M.)
Record/rating: 22-3, 30.8
2A/1A state champion

21. Robbinsville (N.C.)
Record/rating: 27-2, 30.8
Class 1A state champion

22. Grandview (Texas)
Record/rating: 36-3-1, 30.6
Conference 3A Division 1 state champion

23. Jackson County Central (Jackson, Minn.)
Record/rating: 26-2, 30.4
Class AA state champion

24. Vale (Ore.)
Record/rating: 24-0, 29.9
Class 3A state champion

25. Saluda (S.C.)
Record/rating: 29-3, 29.9
Class 2A state champion

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