Texas is about to embark on its softball postseason this week, and the journey to the championship is expected to be the toughest of any, with major implications for the MaxPreps Top 25 national high school softball rankings.
Four of the top 15 teams in the country come from the Lone Star State:
Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas),
Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas), and
Guyer (Denton, Texas) rank first, fifth and 13th, respectively and all boast perfect records. Despite having two losses, second-ranked
Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas) is a team which knows how to win state titles, having finished as the top-ranked team in the country in 2021.
Meanwhile, Louisiana's state semifinals are set to take place on Friday with No. 9
St. Amant (La.) looking to secure a second consecutive title as they face West Monroe, whom they beat in the championship last spring.
Arizona is also gearing up for its playoffs, with Round 1 beginning on April 29. Three teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 hail from the Grand Canyon State.
This week,
Jackson (Mill Creek) of Washington makes its rankings debut. The Timberwolves have had an impressive start with UNLV commit
Yanina Sherwood holding a 13-0 record on the mound, boasting a 0.35 ERA, and 152 strikeouts.
Avery Jefferson has helped Denton Guyer to a No. 13 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings as postseason is set to begin. (Photo: Michael Horbovetz)
1. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 33-0 |
Last week: 1
Shelby Winn drove in four as the Lions rolled Rudder 13-0 on Friday.
2. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
Record: 32-2 |
Last week: 4
Hailey Nutter and
Reagan Duty combined to fan 14 during the Eagles' 9-0 win over Nederalnd on Friday.
3. Roncalli (Indianapolis)
Record: 10-2-1|
Last week: 3
When the Royals turn it on, they can beat anyone as shown by a 17-0 win over Center Grove on Monday.
Abbey Hofmann and
Lauren Marsicek went yard and
Keagan Rothrock tossed a one-hitter.
4. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 13
Imari Golden hit a bomb and drove in six runs as the Bruins smashed Holy Cross 20-0 on Monday.
5. Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: 6
Tia Warsop and
Jordan Householder combined for seven of the Eagles 16 hits capping off an undefeated season with a 14-0 win over Cedar Hill on Friday.
6. Los Alamitos (Calif.)
Record: 22-3 |
Last week: 5
The Griffins fell to
Huntington Beach (Calif.) 3-2 last Tuesday. On Monday, the two played again. This time
Taryn Clements dropped a squeeze bunt that scored
Julie Holcomb to give them a 5-4 win in the bottom of the eighth.
7. Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 9
Kaileigh Byars and
Julia Cuozzo went yard during the Hawks 11-1 win over Mechanicsville on Friday.
8. Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.)
Record: 17-0-2 |
Last week: 8
Sophomore ace
Sophia Bertorelli mowed down 13 hitters as the Panthers blanked Monarch 6-0 on Thursday.
9. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 32-2 |
Last week: 8
Addison Jackson added two more home runs to her nation-leading 27 jacks this season.
Alix Franklin also hit her 21st bomb.
10. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 21-1 |
Last week: 2
The Patriots fell for the first time on Monday. Orange Beach of Alabama pulled off the 4-2 win.
11. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 17-2 |
Last week: 10
The Lancers were beaten by rivals Archbishop Mitty 3-2 on Wednesday. They bounced back with a 13-1 win over Valley Christian on Friday.
12. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 17-0-1 |
Last week: 12
Ryan Maddox struck out 14 and did not allow a run during Friday's 3-0 win over Central.
13. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record: 29-0 |
Last week: 14
Tehya Pitts drove in three runs which helped the Wildcats hold on to a 7-5 win over Rock Hill on Friday, finishing off a perfect regular season.
14. Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.)
Record: 22-0-1 |
Last week: 17
The Wildcats finished off the regular season with a 10-0 win as
Rylee Turlington went yard.
15. Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 18
Kasey Wolfe allowed two hits and struck out 10 as the Cavaliers topped Boiling Springs 9-2 on Wednesday.
16. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 24-1 | Last week: 18
Taiya Teixeira had four of the Lancers 18 hits during a 23-1 rout over Nogales on Friday.
17. Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 19
Julia Apostolakos hit a home run and struck out 12 in the circle as the Griffins beat Gloucester City on Saturday.
18. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 15-0 |
Last week: 20
McKayla Jellison homered twice and drove in five runs during the Warriors 20-6 rout of Licking Valley on Monday.
19. North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.)
Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 21
The Knights have outscored their opponents 35-0 over the past three games.
20. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 22-3 |
Last week: 7
The Cougars lost 2-1 against La Mirada on Saturday. They close out the regular season on Thursday.
21. Queen Creek (Ariz.)
Record: 26-1-1 |
Last week: 23
Jaclyn Oster had a pair of hits as the Bulldogs closed out the regular season with a 6-2 win over Gilbert.
22. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 24
Sydnie Watts tossed a no-hitter and
Abby Toth homered and triple as the Falcons blanked Harding 19-0 on Monday.
23. Melbourne (Fla.)
Record: 16-2 |
Last week: NR
After falling to Lake Brantley the week prior, the Bulldogs got revenge with a 2-0 win on Tuesday.
Baylea Holland and
Ashley Berkemeier each had a RBI.
24. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.)
Record: 14-0 |
Last week: NR
Fresno State commit
Rachel Sysum has nine home runs this season and is batting .423. The team has already hit 25 combined bombs.
25. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Record: 20-5 |
Last week: 25
Tessa Jerue and
Cate Medvitz each had a pair of RBI in a 4-1 win over Mater Dei on Monday.
