Jupiter (Fla.) won the biggest game in the program's history two weeks ago when it defeated Palm Beach Gardens for the district championship. Last week, the Warriors did it again.
Jupiter topped Palm Beach Gardens 4-0 in the second round of the Florida Class 8A playoffs, ending the Gators' run at a possible fifth state championship in the past eight seasons. The Warriors have won eight games in a row and, despite six losses on the ledger, move into this week's Xcellent 25 at No. 16.
Palm Beach Gardens did not drop out of the Xcellent 25, but it did see its season come to an end. The Gators, who spent much of the season on top of the Xcellent 25, settle in at No. 17.
Only two teams fell out of the Xcellent 25 this week as both Winter Springs and Allen County lost. They were replaced by Jupiter and Basha (Chandler, Ariz.).
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings
1. (1 last week) Estrella Foothills (Goodyear, Ariz.), 31-0
The Wolves concluded the regular season with a pair of wins to finish unbeaten at 31-0.
Kasia Smith and
Dustie Durham combined for a no-hitter in a 14-0 win over Scottsdale Christian Academy. Smith also pitched a one-hitter in a 2-1 win over Desert Edge.
2. (2) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 22-1
Chelsea Wilkinson became the winningest pitcher in North Carolina high school history in pitching back-to-back perfect games in a 14-0 win over Hibriten and an 11-0 win over High Point. The win over High Point marked Wilkinson's 14th career perfect game. She also had 13 strikeouts and upped her season record to 18-0. Coach Monte Sherrill won his 23rd-straight conference championship.
3. (4) Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.), 23-1
The Mariners won three times last week, including a pair of shutout wins. In a 7-0 win over Kennedy (La Palma), freshman pitcher
Kaley Winegarner had a one-hitter while
Erika Campbell was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. In a 7-0 victory over Yorba Linda,
Kaylee Carlson had a two-hit shutout. Pacifica also topped Cypress 6-1.
4. (6) Niceville (Fla.), 27-2
The Eagles advanced to the second round of the Florida Class 6A state playoffs with a 6-2 win over Escambia and a 12-1 win over Tate. Niceville played Orange Park in the regional final on Tuesday.
5. (7) Topsail (Hampstead, N.C.), 21-0
Topsail heads into the final two weeks of play undefeated after beating Croatan (Newport) 11-1 and Richlands 8-1. Topsail broke open the game against Richlands with five runs in the final inning.
6. (8) Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.), 18-0
The Dons blanked Foothill (Pleasanton) 7-0 on
Johanna Grauer's 16 strikeouts and also shut out Carondelet (Concord) 4-0 with 14 Grauer strikeouts.
7. (9) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 20-0
The Wildcats won five games, including a 19-5 triumph over Wellington, 11-0 over Columbia (Columbia Station), 11-1 over Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls), 6-0 against St. Francis de Sales (Columbus) and 12-0 against Fairview (Fairview Park).
Bee Shaw and
Bri Buckley each had a home run against Fairview.
Kenzie Conrad and
Erin Pond each homered against Walsh Jesuit.
8. (11) Beech (Hendersonville, Tenn.), 42-1
Beech made it 36 games in a row by beating Station Camp 12-6 on home runs by
Peyton Kurgan,
Jule Kranz and
C.J. McClain, and beat Mt. Juliet 6-5 in eight innings behind McClain's walkoff home run. Kranz and
Heather Montgomery each had home runs in the win over Mt. Juliet. Beech has hit 35 home runs on the season.
9. (3) Norco (Calif.), 22-2
The Cougars dropped a league contest to defending Southern Section Division I champion Santiago (Corona), falling 3-2. Norco also defeated King (Riverside) 4-0.
10. (12) Walla Walla (Wash.), 13-1
Walla Walla had little trouble with Davis, winning 21-0 and 18-0. It then resumed a darkness-delayed game against Moses Lake and got a two-run home run by
Alyson Ambler en route to an 11-1 victory.
11. (13) Tomball (Texas), 23-2
The Cougars opened up bi-district play with a 10-0, 7-2 sweep of Kingwood.
Kiana Workman and
Lexie Comeaux each homered in the shutout.
Kandace Patek,
Katie Doerre and
Allie Piro each homered in the second game.
12. (14) Alvin (Texas), 32-3
Alvin played a single game against Kempner in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs, winning 8-3.
13. (15) The Woodlands (Texas), 26-3
The Highlanders won their playoff opener against Klein 11-0 with
Aubrey Leach going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a double and a triple.
14. (16) Porter Ridge (Indian Trail, N.C.), 23-0
Porter Ridge finished the regular season with three wins last week, defeating Providence (Charlotte) 5-3, Parkwood (Monroe) 10-0 and Sun Valley (Monroe) 11-1.
15. (17) Northern (Owings, Md.), 15-0
The Patriots won twice last week, defeating Mount de Sales 9-2 and Great Mills 16-0.
Jess Cummings struck out 29 in the two games, including 17 against Mount de Sales.
16. (NR) Jupiter (Fla.), 22-6
Jupiter is getting hot at the right time. It knocked off No. 1 Palm Beach Gardens in the district championship two weeks ago and then showed it wasn't a fluke by knocking off the Gators again in the second round of the Florida 8A state playoffs.
17. (5) Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.), 27-3
Lightning struck twice for the Gators, who will not be defending their state championship after falling to Jupiter for the second time in two weeks. Jupiter collected a 4-0 win in the second round of the Florida 8A playoffs, ending the season for Palm Beach Gardens, which had been ranked No. 1 in the Xcellent 25 for much of the season.
18. (10) Poland Seminary (Ohio), 14-2
Poland Seminary dropped its first game against Ohio competition as Elyria won 3-2 at the Prebis Memorial Tournament. Poland bounced back to beat Tippecanoe 8-2, but the final day of the tournament was rained out.
19. (18) Eau Gallie (Melbourne, Fla.), 27-2
Eau Gallie won its first two games in the Florida Class 6A state playoffs, defeating Seabreeze (Daytona Beach) 10-0 and Deltona 5-0. Eau Gallie met Springstead in the regional finals on Tuesday.
20. (19) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 21-2
The Monarchs picked up four wins last week, defeating Presentation 10-0, Sacred Heart Cathedral 11-1 and Notre Dame (Belmont) 10-3 in league play and Gilroy 4-0 in nonleague action. The Monarchs conclude West Catholic Athletic League play this week.
21. (20) El Diamante (Visalia, Calif.), 25-1
El Diamante captured three wins in league play, topping Hanford West 8-3, Mt. Whitney 17-1 and Hanford 16-0.
Stevi Johnson and
Katy McJunkin each homered against Hanford West while
Sierra Hyland added a homer against Mt. Whitney. Hyland also threw a one-hitter against Hanford with 14 strikeouts.
Morgan Leonard, Sunrise Mountain
Photo by Randy Jackson
Sunrise Mountain had two of its biggest offensive outbursts of the season in beating Copper Canyon (Glendale) 30-0 and Greenway (Phoenix) 18-2.
23. (23) Plano East (Texas), 30-3
Plano East won its bi-district matchup with Carroll (Southlake) in straight games, winning 9-6 and 4-0. Plano East will play Haltom this week in the area playoffs.
24. (24) Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.), 30-3
The Mountain Lions won their only game last week, defeating Dobson 17-0 on a one-hitter by
Siera Phillips, who struck out 10 and walked none.
25. (NR) Basha (Chandler, Ariz.), 28-4
Since losing three in a row in late March, the Bears have been almost untouchable in winning 12 in a row, including victories over Gilbert and Xavier College Prep.
Dropped Out: No. 21 Winter Springs, No. 25 Allen County.
