Jess Cummings finished the season the way she started it — with a shutout — as Northern (Owings, Md.) defeated Eastern Tech to win its sixth straight Maryland 3A title.
In the process, Northern extended its state-record winning streak to 76 games and remains atop this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Softball Rankings.
Cummings, a junior who has committed to Penn State, finished the year with 21 shutouts and seven no-hitters (two perfect games). She was 22-0 and allowed just 18 hits in striking out 298 in 135 innings.
Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), which two weeks ago finished its second unbeaten season in three years, remained No. 2.
But with last week's No. 3 Mission Viejo (Calif.) losing, Greenwood (Bowling Green, Ky.) moved to No. 3 and unbeaten Hoover (North Canton, Ohio) jumped from No. 9 to No. 4.
Greenwood has won a state-record 37 straight games.
New to the Top 25 this week are Chino (Calif.), Aledo (Texas), Vintage (Napa, Calif.), East (Olathe, Kan.) and Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.). Vintage, Pacifica and East have been previously ranked this season.
East fell from the Top 25 the first week of April, but has won 21 games since and repeated as Kansas state 6A champions.
Vintage won its first 29 games before falling from the poll after a loss two weeks ago, but bounced back with five straight wins to earn a section championship.
And as hard as it is for a five-loss team to break into the Top 25, there is no ignoring Pacifica, winners of 19 straight. The Mariners have outscored their foes 159-13 since that last loss and have recorded 10 shutouts. Their five losses were against teams that totaled more than 100 wins this season. Pacifica has 11 players — including three pitchers — who have signed or verbally committed to D-I colleges.
Northern finished off a stellar season with a Maryland state championship. Now the Patriots will wait to see if they finish the year as national champions.
Photo by Israel Carunugan
Behind the pitching of junior
Jess Cummings, Northern won its sixth straight 3A state title and 76th game in a row. In the state title game, Cummings pitched a two-hitter and struck out 12 in a 3-0 win over Eastern Tech (Baltimore). Cummings also threw a two-hitter in a 1-0 semifinal win over River Hill. Northern scored in the bottom of the seventh on a
Kassidy Cross run-scoring single. Northern outscored its 2013 opponents 201-1. The lone run was unearned.
*2. (3) Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), 28-0The Timberwolves captured their second 5A State title in three years. The T'Wolves have won 77 of their last 79 games and two state titles (2011 and 2013).
3. (4) Greenwood (Bowling Green, Ky.), 37-0Prior to routing Glasgow 11-1 in Region 4 Tournament on Monday, the Gators defeated South Warren, 10-0, and Bowling Green, 2-1, as
Aeron Smith doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Elizabeth Moss picked up the win and was named District Tournament MVP. The Gators have outscored their foes 323-17 this season. With the win, the Gators stretch their Kentucky state record for consecutive wins to 37.
4. (9) Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 30-0The Vikings recorded a 10-0 win over Lake (Uniontown) and a 5-1 victory over Louisville (Ohio) as
Tara Thacker went to 18-0. The Vikings move on to the state tournament at Ohio State University on Wednesday.
*5. (5) Curtis (River Ridge, La.), 32-1Curtis won Louisiana 2A state title and 64 of its last 65 games.
*6. (8) Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.), 36-1
Taylor Nowlin, Sunrise Mountain
Photo by Mark Jones
The Mustangs won the 2013 Arizona D-II title and their fourth state title in seven years.
*7. (11) Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), 30-1The Knights won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I title.
8. (14) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 31-1Defeated Porter Ridge (Indian Trail) 10-2, and Southeast Guilford (Greensboro) twice, 10-0 and 4-1, to advance to state 4A finals against 20-3 Wake Forest-Rolesville on Friday. The Cougars have won 29 in a row.
9. (10) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 27-1The Eagles beat Mahwah 11-1 to run their win streak to 15 as
Ally Vergona hit three doubles and
Steph Thomas drove in two runs and struck out nine to run her record to 25-1. Thomas has pitched 14 shutouts in her last 15 games. She pitched a three hitter and struck out 10 in a 14-0 win over Newark Academy (Livingston) on Wednesday as Vergona and
Daniella Ibarra drove in three runs each. The Eagles, who have scored 202 runs while allowing just 11, play St. Dominic Academy (Jersey City) on Tuesday in the state sectional quarterfinals.
10. (11) Logan (Union City, Calif.), 24-1The Colts beat Monte Vista (Danville), 8-1, behind two RBI games from
Tayler Peters and winning pitcher
Raeann Garza. Logan plays 21-4 California (San Ramon) on Wednesday.
11. (20) Glencoe (Hillsboro, Ore.), 28-1Kylie Surratt homered twice and
Katie Sutherland-Finch struck out 11 as Glencoe beat Tualatin, 3-0. They move on to the Oregon 6A semifinals finals. Finch struck out 15 and allowed six hits in a 7-3 quarterfinal win over Forest Grove. Glencoe, winners of 24 straight games, will play Roseburg on Tuesday.
*12. (NR) Olathe East (Kan.), 24-1The Hawks beat previously-ranked (No. 12) Washburn Rural (Topeka) 5-3 to repeat as Kansas 6A State Champions. At state, the Hawks also beat Derby 2-1 (in 9 innings), and won 5-0 over Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kan.). Earlier this season, coach Jeff Hulse recorded his 300th career win.
13. (19) Barrington (Ill.), 32-1The Fillies recorded a 10-0 win over Prospect and 8-4 over Loyola Academy (Barrington) as sophomore
Keenan Dolezal (25-1) threw a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts. They have now won 30 games or more in 12 of the past 13 seasons. The Fillies will face Fremd (24-7) in Tuesday's 4:30 p.m. semifinal game of the Class 4A Rolling Meadows sectional.
*14. (15) Connell (Wash.), 27-0Ashley Thompson pitched Connell to its third straight Washington 1A title with wins over Riverside (Spokane), Eatonville, Montesano and Woodland. In the four games, she allowed one earned run, six base hits and struck out 54. She finished the year with 11 no-hitters, 20 shutouts and 345 strikeouts in 144 innings. She allowed only 22 base hits. In the four state wins, Connell outscored its opponents 33-2.
*15. (20) Las Cruces (N.M.), 30-1The Bulldawgs won the Class 5A State title and finished the season with 26 straight wins.
*16. (21) Boiling Springs (Spartanburg, S.C.), 33-1The Bulldogs won the State 4A championship and finished season with 30 straight wins.
*17. (20) Coral Reef (Miami), 26-2The Barracudas won the Florida 8A title.
18. (21) La Grange (Texas), 38-3Behind freshman
Briana Angel's six RBIs and
Breanna Homer's 18th home run, La Grange improved to 38-3 with an 11-1 win over Sealy to advance to state finals.
Ariel Svec improved to 19-3 on the season.
*19. (23) Estrella Foothills (Goodyear, Ariz.), 33-2Estrella won the Arizona D-III title.
20. (24) San Benito (Texas), 32-2Led by 4-foot-10 pitcher
Amber Jasso, the Lady Greyhounds defeated defending state champion Smithson Valley, 4-1, and move on to the Texas State 5A state tournament against No. 25 Kingwood.
21. (NR) Chino (Calif.), 24-2The Cowgirls, who have not lost since March 8, have won 20 straight and will play 25-7 Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) in the semifinals of the CIF D-II Southern Section tournament on Tuesday. Chino's only losses this season have been to 23-5 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and 26-2 Mission Viejo, a pair of D-I teams previously ranked in the Xcellent 25.
22. (25) Deer Park (Texas), 37-4Deer Park beat Chute (Brazoswood) twice, 5-2 and 4-1, to move on to state finals and extend its winning streak to 29. Freshman
Payton McBride ran her record to 22-1 as she picked up both wins. Junior
Alana Tinker homered and
Caitlin Plocheck had three hits in sweeping Chute. Deer Park plays Lewisville Friday in the State 5A semifinal.
23. (NR) Vintage (Napa, Calif.), 34-1
Vintage Crushers
Photo by Gregg Samelson
The Crushers had their winning streak stopped at 29, but bounced back with five straight playoff wins, including a sweep of Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), 14-2 and 14-7, to win their first CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I softball championship. Sophomore
Baylee Robben and
Kacie Burnett led Vintage at the plate.
24. (NR) Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.), 27-5Pacifica ran its win streak to 19 with a 13-1 win over Orange Lutheran as
Nicole DeWitt hit two home runs and
Brooke Marquez one to support
Kaylee Carlson's four-hitter. Pacifica also beat El Modena (7-2) and Murietta Valley (Murietta) 11-0 as
Rebecca Lee hit three homers and drove in 10 runs. Carlson is 19-0 with a 0.49 ERA. She has 10 shutouts this season. PHS takes on Norco (26-7) on Tuesday in the CIF D-I Southern Section semifinals.
25. (NR) Aledo (Texas), 40-3The Ladycats lost two of their first three games this season, but have won 24 straight and 39 of their last 40. They have swept all five of their playoff opponents, including Friendship (Wolfforth), 5-2 and 2-0, last weekend. They are led by sophomore pitcher
Lauren Craine (30-2). On Friday, the Ladycats face 30-10 Buda (Hays) in the State 4A semifinals.
Dropped Out: No. 3 Mission Viejo (Calif.), No. 11 Woodinville (Wash.), No. 12 Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.), No. 14 Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.) and No. 18 Massac County (Metropolis, Ill.)
*Season over
