High school softball rankings: Orange Beach, Calvary Baptist Academy and Norco headline way-too-early MaxPreps Top 25 for 2026-27

Orange Beach is led by returning starters in MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year, M.K. McMullan and standouts Jayde Palmer and Taylor Poland. The Makos won the state championship for the sixth time in a row last season.

Calvary Baptist Academy is the defending national champion and the winners of six consecutive state championships. The Cavaliers return nearly their entire lineup, including All-American Baylor Bockhaus. The Class of 2028 standout shortstop has 61 home run in her high school career, including 21 in 2026.

In total, teams from 14 states are represented. Texas leads the way with five selections, including No. 4 Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas).

2025-26: 46-1, No. 4 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Ava Hodo, Katie King, Teagan Revette
Notable returners: M.K. McMullan, Jayde Palmer, Taylor Poland
The Makos lose several All-American selections but return their ace along with key lineup pieces.

2. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
2025-26: 37-1, No. 1 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Kynzee Anderson
Notable returners: Baylor Bockhaus, Mallory Carver, Carlie Guile
The Cavaliers return every hitter from a lineup that hit 66 home runs and won a national championship but will have to replace National Player of the Year Anderson in the circle.

3. Norco (Calif.)
2025-26: 28-3, No. 12 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Peyton May, Sasha Pham
Notable returners: Savannah Gonzalez, Leighton Gray, Coral Williams
The Cougars lost three games by a combined five runs in 2026 and return All-American pitcher Williams.

4. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
2025-26: 41-5, No. 3 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: AshLynn Cooper
Notable returners: Macie Bryant, Zoey Hood, Izzy Lawrence
State champions return eight starters in their lineup along with All-American pitcher Bryant.

5. Kenton Ridge (Springfield, Ohio)
2025-26: 32-0, No. 7 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Annie Fincham, Brenna Fyffe, Kendall Massie
Notable returners: J.J. Davis, Kendall Glass, Ivee Rastatter
Cougars lose star catcher, but return several All-American selections from undefeated team.

6. Melissa (Texas)
2025-26: 33-4, No. 11 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Kennedy Bradley, Hattie Winter
Notable returners: Hutton Adrian, Eloisa Maes, Finlee Williams
Despite losing several great players, the Cardinals bring back a lineup full of Division I commits with state championship experience.

7. South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.)
2025-26: 45-0. No. 5 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: McLaine Hudson, Layla Ogden, Parker Willoughby
Notable returners: Kalie Kuzma, Courtney Norwood, Keagan Pruitt
The Spartans haven't lost since 2025 and are loaded with young talent that contributed to an unbeaten state championship campaign.

8. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs, Calif.)
2025-26: 27-1, No. 24 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Haley Warney
Notable returners: Trinidey Fuss, Lauren Klomp, Kate McCartney
Bruins return three of the best underclassman in the nation along with nearly the rest of their lineup and pitching staff.

9. Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, S.C.)
2025-26: 33-0, No. 6 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Mackenzi Bradley, Aspen Boulware
Notable returners: Georgia Gilliam, Peyton Hendrix, Mackenzie Sease
The War Eagles graduate one of the best players in the nation in Boulware but return almost every starter, including Sease.

10. Katy (Texas)
2025-26: 40-5, No. 8 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: E.K. Smith, Maddie Smith, Lexie Waugh
Notable returners: Nevaeh Phillips, Haley Schmitt, Evie Willemssen
Auburn pledge Willemssen enters her senior season after hitting 26 bombs last year and Schmitt is back after recording a 0.59 ERA as a freshman.

11. Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista, Calif.)
2025-26: 31-3, No. 16 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Gigi Flores, Bella Harris, Liana Quinones
Notable returners: Maya Matthies, Arri Romero, Sunny Sosa
Ended season with a title and 10-game winning streak with Arizona commit Romero leading the way in the circle.

12. Pace (Fla.)
2025-26: 27-4, No. 13 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Britten Kettler, Ashley Pickard, Kamryn Pierce
Notable returners: Hannah DeMarcus, Kennedy Franz, Gracie Ueberroth
Patriots are led by Auburn pledge DeMarcus, who struck out 315 batters as a junior.

13. Taunton (Mass.)
2025-26: 26-1, No. 15 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Mia Torres
Notable returners: Aniyah Bailey, Bella Bourque, Kaylee Lopes
The Tigers bring back star Bourque on quest for another state title.

14. Midway (Waco, Texas)
2025-26: 35-6-1, No. 17 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Camryn Carter, Amaya Locke, Tierra Ramos
Notable returners: Lilly Davis, Taylor Kasten, Peyton Philipp
Baylor commit Philipp is a senior after winning 27 games and smashing 12 home runs in 2025.

15. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
2025-26: 40-1, No. 2 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Madalyn Davis, Abby Estay, Sara Wiggins
Notable returners: Maci Nowak, Annelise Torres

17. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)
2025-26: 46-3-2, No. 19 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Morgan Adolphus, Kadyn Bush, Blakely Davis
Notable returners: Kelsey Burden, Krimson Calhoun, Autumn Ingle
Warriors won 46 games and reached state title series as youth flourished.

18. Marist (Chicago, Ill.)
2025-26: 37-2, No. 20 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Ellie Holmstrom, Rylee O'Connor, Jacklyn Pigatto
Notable returners: Layla Peters, Soleil Tate, Layla Termunde
Veterans return as RedHawks look for redemption after losing 2-1 in state semifinal.

19. Summerville (S.C.)
2025-26: 30-1, No. 14 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Daphne Frady, Katie Gulliam, Delaney Hayes
Notable returners: Natalie Farlow, Summer Knight, Maeven Moreno
South Carolina power has returners ready to star as Green Wave aim to defend state title.

20. Weddington (Matthews, N.C.)
2025-26: 27-0, No. 10 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Ciara Blakney, Reece Lindsay, Joella Thomas
Notable returners: Grayson Bopp, Maddie Diaz, Samantha Shipley
Weddington brings back several starters but will have to replace star pitcher Thomas from an undefeated team.

21. Hernando (Miss.)
2025-26: 32-5, No. 22 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Molly Anderson, Callie Desmond, Katelyn Kirkpatrick
Notable returners: Kaitlyn Gentry, Graycin Higginbotham, Olivia Skinner
Tigers bring back a strong core from squad that won thrilling 9-7 state title game.

22. High Point Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)
2025-26: 23-3, No. 23 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Hailey Allred, Lila Allread
Notable returners: Blakely Bowman, Paisley Dixon, Kerri Langfitt
Cougars bring back heavy hitters and ace in the circle from state title team.

23. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
2025-26: 31-5, No. 25 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: None
Notable returners: Mackenzie Latvaaho, Sariah McNabb, Sydney Root
Root dominated as both a pitcher and hitter as a sophomore for a state title team.

24. La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.)
2025-26: 24-2
Notable losses: Elle Kershaw, Samantha Sell, Hailey Vigneau
Notable returners: Erin Moran, Sophia Morgan, Nikki Pallotta
Top hitters return for state championship unit that averaged nearly 10 runs per game.

25. D.H. Conley (Greenville, N.C.)
2025-26: 25-4, No. 21 in the final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: Ava Gaddis, Lena Zurface
Notable returners: Sarah Booth, Harper Bradley, Kendall Howard
Workhorse Howard is back after winning 20 games for the Vikings as a junior.