MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings

Junior Sarah Willis (Washington commit) and sophomore Stevie Hansen have combined to strike out 50 batters and allowed just 14 base hits as top-ranked Norco has jumped out to a 6-0 start.

The quick start keeps Norco atop this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings.

In three starts, Hansen twirled a pair of perfect games and allowed one base runner in her other appearance. She's struck out 24 and faced one batter over the minimum in 13 innings.

Marist (Chicago) remained No. 2 thought it doesn't open the season for two weeks. And Oakleaf (Plantation, Fla.) has won its first five to hold at No. 3.

After that, the Top 25 looks very different this week with nine teams dropping out.


1. (Last week 1 ) Norco (Calif.), 6-0
The Cougars defeated previously ranked Orange Lutheran (Orange) 6-2, the only two runs scored against Norco in six games.

2. (2) Marist (Chicago)
Season begins March 20.

3. (3) Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.), 5-0
Oakleaf has outscored its opponents 49-5.

4. (11) Forney (Texas), 4-0
All four Jackrabbit wins have come against 6A opponents, including an 8-5 victory over previously ranked No. 5 Keller. Forney is defending state 5A champion.

5. (NR) Grand Terrace (Calif.), 4-0-1
Shared the Redlands Invitational title with Etiwanda.


7. (7) Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.), 2-0
Oklahoma pledge Nicole May opened the season with a pair of shutouts.

8. (9) Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.), 3-0
Four pitchers have combined to allow six hits, one walk and no runs in three games.

9. (NR) Pinnacle (Phoenix), 3-0
The Pioneers beat No. 15 Hamilton 3-2. Reis Beuerlein has 28 strikeouts in 16 innings and senior Taylor Fawcett has three homers.

10. (8) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 3-1
Won a pair of one run games (5-4, 4-3) to open season, then lost to 5-1 Santiago (Corona).

11. (NR) Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas), 6-0
Texas State signee Tori McCann has the Raiders off to a 6-0 start. One of the wins is over previous No. 15 The Woodlands.

12. (12) Chino Hills (Calif.), 9-1
The Huskies lost to No. 5 Grand Terrace 1-0, but have won four-straight since by a 38-6 margin.

13. (NR) Winter Springs (Fla.), 6-0
The Bears have 38 stolen bases and have outscored their opponents 72-7.

14. (14) Gahr (Cerritos, Calif.), 2-0
Pitchers Daisy Torres and Ashley Benavides give the Gladiators a dominating one-two punch.

15. (3) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 2-1
MaxPreps All-American Macy Simmons homered and sophomore Loganne Stepp pitched a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts to open the season, but the Huskies fell to No. 9 Pinnacle.

16. (NR) Estero (Fla.), 5-0
Alex Salter has everyone's attention with 34 strikeouts in 11.2 innings.

17. (17) Cienega (Vail, Ariz.), 2-0
The Bobcats have four homers in their first two wins.

18. (NR) Fairhope (Ala.), 8-0
Six batters are hitting over .400 and freshman Alea Johnson has 44 strikeouts in 22 innings.

19. (19) Bonney Lake (Wash.), 0-0
The Panthers open the season on Saturday after going 26-2 last season.

20. (20) Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 0-0
The T-Wolves open the season March 12 after a 25-1 season in 2018.

21. (NR) La Porte (Texas), 13-1
The Bulldogs have won 10 in a row since losing by one run.

22. (NR) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 5-1-1
The Sharks has wins over Southern California powers Los Alamitos and Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and tied Orange Lutheran (Orange).

23. (23) Bentonville (Ark.), 1-0
The Tigers opened the season with a 16-0 win.

24. (NR) Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas), 13-2
Both losses were by one run and the Eagles have won eight times via shutout.

25. (13) O'Connor (Phoenix), 2-1
The Eagles lost 5-3 to No. 15 Hamilton but have a pair of run-rule wins. Sophomore Rylee Holtorf has three homers in three games.

Dropped out: Atascocita (Humble, Texas), Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.), Fort Meyers (Fla.), Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), Keller (Texas), The Woodlands (Texas), Champion (Warren, Ohio), Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), Keystone (La Grange, Ohio).