When the Pearland football team won the Texas 5A state championship, it came as a bit of surprise since it was the Oilers' first-ever 5A title.
There won't be any similar surprises for the Pearland softball team.
The Oilers won the Texas 5A softball state championship last year and begin the season ranked No. 1 by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. As a result, Pearland is ranked No. 1 to begin the year in the first-ever MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings.
Pearland edges out California power Elk Grove and defending Florida 6A state champion Palm Beach Gardens for the top spot. The Oilers return one of the top pitchers in Texas in all-state pick Jessica Bowden and also have several other all-state players returning.
Elk Grove has one of the top players in California in pitcher Shelby Wisdom. She led the Thundering Herd to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship last year and was named the area player of the year.
Meanwhile Palm Beach Gardens returns one of the top pitchers in Florida in all-state pick Kaylie Wallace.
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS 
Jessica Bowden, Pearland
Photo by John Godwin
The Oilers won the Texas 5A state championship last year over Arlington Bowie and return all-state pitcher
Jessica Bowden along with all-state second baseman
Lauren Langner and honorable mention all-state pick
Leandra Maly in the outfield. Pearland will have to replace standout shortstop Jaclyn Bechtle, who earned state MVP honors last season.
2. Elk Grove (Calif.), 25-4-1
The Thundering Herd got through a brutal Sac-Joaquin Section playoff schedule, knocking off Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) and Johansen (Modesto) to win the title. Elk Grove returns Sacramento Bee All-Metro player of the year Shelby Wisdom at pitcher along with All-Metro pick Jordan Brenner in the outfield. Wisdom was 16-2 with a 0.54 ERA last year with 269 strikeouts in 143 innings pitched. Brenner led the team at the plate with a .449 average and 31 hits.
3. Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.), 27-6
The Gators captured the Florida 6A state championship last year with a 12-2 win over Sarasota in the finals. All-state pitcher Kaylie Wallace returns for her senior season. She was named the All-Area Player of the Year by the Palm Beach Post after going 11-2 in the circle with a 0.56 ERA and 120 strikeouts. She also won all five playoff games for the Gators. Coach Randy Jackson also returns sophomore outfielder Ta'Coia Williams and all-state third team utility player Shelby Turnier.
4. Soddy Daisy (Tenn.), 52-2
The Trojans won their seventh state title last season with an 8-5 win over Beech in the AAA state championship game. The top two pitchers for Soddy Daisy return in Kelsey Nunley, a junior, and Tori Denayer, a sophomore. The Trojans also return senior all-state shortstop Alex Everett, all-state pick Kali Henderson and sophomore Cassidy Hackney.
5. Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.), 40-2
The Eagles defeated Fremd for the Illinois Class 4A championship and return the team's top hitter and one of the top pitchers from a squad that went 38-2. All-state catcher Lexi Bryant returns after batting .504 with 16 doubles and 15 home runs while all-state pitcher Brittany Gardner will return to the circle after going 17-2 with 200 strikeouts and a 0.71 ERA in 2010. Gardner will share time there with Lora Olson, who is headed to Indiana after going 18-0 with a 1.33 ERA and 116 strikeouts last season. Others to watch include pitcher/first baseman Jori Boren (.371), third baseman Jess Perkins (.380, 5 home runs) and junior catcher Karissa Kouchis (.321).
6. Gulliver Prep (Miami), 27-3-1
The Raiders lose Florida 3A state player of the year Sara Buccholz, but nearly everyone else returns from last year's 3A state championship team. Aly Quitana was a first team all-state catcher while junior Dominique Grossman was also a first-teamer in the outfield. Sophomore infielder Ashley Leon and junior infielder Christian Gabriel were second team all-state picks while senior outfielder Rosemary Salguiero and sophomore utility Stephanie Texeira made third team all-state.
7. Hudsonville (Mich.), 43-1
Led by two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year Sara Driesenga, Hudsonville will look to threepeat as the Division 1 state champions in Michigan. Driesenga, who committed to the University of Michigan following her sophomore season, picked up the win over Lakeland and also hit a home run in the title game. Driesenga posted a 29-1 record with a 0.15 ERA and 337 strikeouts in 183 innings pitched and was 21-2 as a sophomore with a 0.23 ERA and 224 strikeouts. She also batted .541 with 14 home runs last season.
8. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 24-3
The Monarchs overcame the tragic death of pitcher Bri Matthews last year to post a 24-3 record and a first-place finish in the Trinity League. Mater Dei returns one of the nation's top catchers in Amber Freeman, who batted .425 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. Freeman was a member of the Junior National Team over the summer. The Monarchs also return All-Orange County third team pitcher Miranda Tamayo. Other All-Trinity League returning players include Nicolette Udria (sophomore), Calia Chirichigno (senior), Micaela Arizmendi (junior), and Brittany Call (sophomore).
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