The Michelle Carew Classic, featuring some of California's best softball talent over the weekend, caused some shakeup in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings, as the blue sky emerged just in time after rain wiped out the first two days.
Although
Norco (Calif.) was the highest-rated team heading into the tournament, they fell 2-0 to
Huntington Beach (Calif.) with
Zoe Prystajko leading the Oilers to victory with a 17-strikeout performance.
Los Alamitos (Calif.), on the other hand, rolled to 4-0 overall, beating
Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) 4-2 in the championship game. A
Taryn Clements fourth-inning solo home run broke a 2-2 tie leading the Griffins to victory. The team's only two losses this season have been to Norco, proving that the race for California's top squad is wide open, as predicted.
Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.) also has a case to be considered one of the best teams out west. Senior
Marissa McCann led the Wildcats to two-straight state championships and is back for her final season with a 38-1 career record, 0.71 ERA and 538 strikeouts.
Teams in the Midwest and East are starting to hit the dirt with
Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.) finishing last season with a 30-1 record and the talent to go farther.
Taryn Clements of Los Alamitos helped the No. 5 Griffins to a 4-2 win in the title game of the Michelle Carew Classic. (Photo: Darin Sicurello)
1. Roncalli (Indianapolis)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 1
Season begins April 4.
2. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 27-0 |
Last week: 2
Ava Brown struck out 14 and the team pounded out 14 hits Friday during the Lions' 11-0 win over College Station.
3. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 15-0 | Last week: 3
Florida State commit
Shelby McKenzie walked three times during Monday's 12-1 victory over Navarre but managed to hit her ninth home run of the season.
Record: 27-2 |
Last week: 5
Hailey Nutter struck out eight during the Eagles' 3-0 win Friday over Crosby, earning the team its 11th-straight win.
5. Los Alamitos (Calif.)
Record: 12-2 |
Last week: 17
Berkley Vance pitched a complete game during the Griffins' championship victory over Saint Francis.
6. Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas)
Record: 25-0 |
Last week: 7
Scarlett Poore hit a home run and drove in three runs as the Eagles routed Duncanville, scoring 17 runs.
7. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 16-2 | Last week: 4
The Cougars fell 2-0 in nine innings to Huntington Beach in the Michelle Carew Classic but bounced back to win three consecutive games.
8. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 8
Emmaleigh Theriot hit a home run and drove in six runs to lead the Gators to an 11-1 victory Monday over Lutcher.
9. Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.)
Record: 12-0-2 |
Last week: 9
Stephanie Basso had two hits and drove in four runs as the Panthers defeated Palm Beach Central 13-0 on Monday.
10. Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Record: 6-0 |
Last week: 10
Lillian Parrish tossed a no-hitter, striking out 13, as the Hawks beat Varina 16-0 on Thursday.
11. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 8-1 |
Last week: 6
The Lancers went 3-1 overall at the Michelle Carew Classic, proving they belong in the MaxPreps Top 25.
12. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 13-0-1 |
Last week: 11
The Broncos are 2-0 at the Clovis Easter Classic Tournament.
Zoey Thomas was clutch in a 3-2 walk-off win over Garces Memorial in Game 2.
13. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 7-0 |
Last week: 15
The Bruins have been dominant, outscoring their opponents 73-10 to begin the season.
14. Moorpark (Calif.)
Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 14
Junior
Shae Anderson hit her fifth home run of the season during the Musketeers' 8-3 victory Saturday over Kennedy.
15. Melbourne (Fla.)
Record: 14-2 |
Last week: 13
Alisha Thompson drove in both runs Monday for the Bulldogs in a 2-0 win over Eau Gallie.
16. Wetumpka (Ala.)
Record: 34-1 |
Last week: 16
The Indians are on a 10-game winning streak, scoring 10 or more runs in 17 games this season.
17. Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.)
Record: 16-0-1 |
Last week: 18
Rylee Turlington drove in seven runs during a 12-0 win over Centennial on Thursday.
18. Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
Record: 12-0 |
Last week: 19
Carson McCowan hit a home run and drove in three runs Wednesday as the Cavaliers beat Clover 7-2.
19. Rockridge (Taylor Ridge, Ill.)
Record: 7-0 |
Last week: 20
The Rockets extended their win streak to 72 games after winning a wild 29-23 game over Sherrard on Monday.
Taylor Dieterich and
Payton Brown hit two home runs each.
20. Southwestern Randolph (Asheboro, N.C.)
Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 21
The Cougars have scored 33 runs in their last two games and have not allowed a single run.
21. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 21-1 |
Last week: 22
Monique Bustamante hit a home run as the Lancers exploded to a 15-0 win Monday over Rincon University.
22. Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Record: 23-0 |
Last Week: 23
Lauryn Jones contributed three of the Wildcats' 13 hits during their 15-0 victory over Prosper on Friday.
23. Tri-West Hendricks (Lizton, Ind.)
Record: 1-0 |
Last Week: 24
The Bruins did not play last week.
24. Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)
Record: 1-0 |
Last Week: 26
Olivia Kurth and
Isabella Maria both homered to lead the Griffins to a 13-4 win over Colts Neck in their season opener.
25. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 4-0 |
Last Week: NR
Taylor Gerhardt has been a standout performer for the Warriors, amassing seven hits across their first four games.
On the bubble: Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.), 25-1;
Queen Creek (Ariz.); 17-1-1;
North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.), 6-0;
Santa Fe (Texas), 22-2-1;
Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) 12-2.
