Several surprise finishes in the Florida state playoffs created a jostling of this week's Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings, including the first appearance of both Niceville and Eau Gallie.
Niceville got past Bartow, which had stunned previously unbeaten East Lake, to capture the Class 5A state championship in the Sunshine State. Meanwhile Eau Gallie stopped Harmony to claim the Class 4A state crown.
Palm Beach Gardens also knocked a fellow Florida team out of the rankings with a 6-3 win over Winter Springs in the 6A state playoffs. Palm Beach Gardens repeats as the state champs.
Another Florida team, Gulliver Prep, defeated Satellite for its 30th win of the season and then moved into the No. 2 spot in the rankings after previously undefeated Alexander Central fell in its conference championship game.
The Woodlands remains the top team in the national rankings after sweeping Klein Collins in the Texas 5A state playoffs.
The Xcellent 25 expands to 50 teams this week and will remain that way until the state playoffs are complete.
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS
1. (last week 1) The Woodlands (Texas), 38-0
The Highlanders advanced to the next round with a sweep of Klein Collins.
Alyssa Jorgensen was 4-for-4 in a 4-3 win while
Paige McDuffee threw a one-hitter in a 2-0 win.
2. (6) Gulliver Prep (Miami), 30-2
The Raiders won their fourth state title with a 4-2 win over Satellite in the Class 3A championship game.
Christina Gabriele picked up the win and went 3-for-4 at the plate.
Dominique Grossman also added a home run, her seventh of the year. Gulliver Prep also defeated Florida (Tallahassee) in the semifinals 4-2.
3. (4) Plano (Texas), 35-4
The Wildcats dropped their opener with Hebron in the Texas Class 5A state playoffs, falling 2-0. However Plano bounced back to win 2-1 and 3-2 in the next two games and advance.
Jill Holub and
Katherine Batey each homered in the 3-2 win.
4. (2) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 25-1
The Cougars defeated Watauga 18-0 with
Chelsea Wilkinson throwing a perfect game with six strikeouts. However, Alexander Central suffered its first loss of the season, and its first shutout in three years, with a 4-0 loss to Fred Foard in the Northwestern 3A-4A Conference championship. The Cougars opened the first round of the playoffs with a 16-0 win over Mooresville with Wilkinson throwing a one-hitter with seven strikeouts.
5. (8) Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 43-2
Defeated Siegel twice, 6-0 and 11-1.
Rachel Albritton had 16 strikeouts in the shutout while
Dene Souviney had a walk-off three-run home run to bring an early end to the 11-1 victory via the mercy rule. Got past Lawrence County 3-0 in a Region 4-AAA semifinal on Monday with a home run by
Brenna Wolfram.
6. (9) Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.), 34-1
The Dorados had no trouble in the championship game of the Class 4A Division I state finals, defeating Cienega 11-1 for the crown. Canyon del Oro also defeated Saguaro 6-1 and Sahuaro 13-1 earlier in the tournament. The Dorados hit six home runs in the final including two by
Marissa Spangler.
7. (10) Northern (Owings, Md.), 18-0
Did not play last week. Defeated Lackey (Indian Head) on Monday, 10-0.
Bethany Gibson,
Unicoi County, Tenn.
Photo by Dan Browning
The Eagles won the first state championship in school history with a 2-1 victory over Bartow. The two teams endured a four and a half-hour rain delay. The Eagles got the winning run in the third when
Stephanie Hartness scored on a bases-loaded walk to
Shannon Brinkley.
9. (5) Bartow (Fla.), 28-2
Bartow knocked off unbeaten East Lake 4-0 in the semifinals, but fell to Niceville 2-1 in the 5A state championship game. Against East Lake,
Lauren West pitched the shutout and Bartow took advantage of two errors to defeat East Lake ace
Alyssa Bache.
10. (3) East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 28-1
Had its undefeated season come to an end with a 4-0 loss to Bartow in the Florida 5A state semifinals. An error led to two runs for Bartow.
11. (7) American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 23-1
Season over.
12. (12) Chesapeake (Pasadena, Md.), 19-0
Topped Meade 14-2 and Howard 3-0 last week. Topped Arundel 11-1 on Monday.
13. (14) Bonita Vista (Chula Vista, Calif.), 31-1
Won twice against Eastlake by scores of 9-1 and 10-4. Natalie Cox hit a home run in the 9-1 victory. Also defeted Otay Ranch on Monday, 11-6.
14. (15) North Davidson (Lexington, N.C.), 23-1
Defeated Davie County 7-2 to capture the Central Piedmont Tournament.
Mackenzie Hauser was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and also picked up the win.
15. (19) Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.), 29-5
Palm Beach Gardens repeated as the Florida 6A state champions with a 6-3 win over Winter Springs.
Taylor Schwarz had a home run in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie and lift the defending champs to victory.
16. (20) Lakota East (Liberty Township, Ohio), 23-2
The Thunderhawks won three times last week, including a 28-0 over Meadowdale in which
Lea Buckenmeyer threw a perfect game with nine strikeouts. Also defeated Sycamore 12-1, Stebbins 12-1 and Oak Hills 5-1.
17. (NR) Eau Gallie (Melbourne, Fla.), 27-5
Defeated Harmony 7-2 to claim the Florida 4A state championship.
Megan Lafon struck out nine batters and gave up five hits in the win.
Sid Masso had a two-run double to break open a close game.
18. (NR) Deer Valley (Glendale, Ariz.), 30-6
Lauren Haeger struck out 15 batters and had a home run to lift Deer Valley to a 4-3 win over Ironwood Ridge (Oro Valley) in the Arizona Class 5A Division II state championship game.
19. (13) Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.), 23-2
Lost to North Mecklenburg in the I-Meck Conference Tournament championship game. The loss was the first in five meetings with North Meck the past two seasons.
20. (NR) Bellaire (Texas), 37-4
The Cardinals advanced to the next round of the Texas 5A state championships with a sweep of Katy. Bellaire won a pair of shutouts, 7-0 and 5-0.
21. (21) Tomball (Texas), 31-4
Tomball rebounded from an opening game 12-9 loss to Austin to win 15-3 and 7-3 and advance to the regional semifinals against Bryan.
22. (NR) San Benito (Hollister, Calif.), 26-1
The Haybalers enter the Xcellent 25 for the first time after taking four wins last week, including a doubleheader sweep of Alvarez, 10-1 and 13-0.
23. (22) Sparkman (Harvest, Ala.), 49-4
Sparkman won the regional tournament, overcoming a 6-4 loss to Bob Jones to then knock off Bob Jones twice, 24-5 and 15-4, in the championship games and advance to the Alabama Class 6A state championship tournament.
24. (11) Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.), 22-2
The Aztecs lost to Canyon (Anaheim) 3-1 last week but are still ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section coaches poll.
25. (18) Etiwanda (Calif.), 22-3
Lost to Los Osos 1-0 and beat Alta Loma 9-1.
Kelsey Barak had a home run and
Crystal Tarango had three RBIs against Alta Loma.
The Next 25
26. (23) Sarasota (Fla.), 27-3
Season over.
27. Hudsonville (Mich.), 20-2
Ranked No. 1 in the state of Michigan.
28. Piedra Vista (Farmington, N.M.), 26-5
Captured New Mexico 4A state championship with a 5-0 win over Farmington. The state title is the sixth in a row for Piedra Vista, which got 16 strikeouts from pitcher
Karysta Donisthorpe.
29. Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 26-1
Ranked No. 1 in the state of Ohio in the Division II coaches poll.
30. Elk Grove (Elk Grove Village, Ill.), 21-3
Ranked No. 1 in the state of Illinois.
31. Hahnville (Boutte, La.), 31-3
Defeated Denham Springs for the Louisiana 5A state championship.
32. Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 23-5
Ranked No. 3 in the California Southern Section Division I coaches poll.
33. Carmel (Ind.), 21-2
Ranked No. 1 in the Class 4A rankings in Indiana.
34. Maize (Kan.), 19-1
Ranked No. 1 in the Kansas Class 6A state rankings.
35. Archmere Academy (Claymont, Del.), 14-0
Ranked No. 1 in the state of Delaware and led by one of the nation's top pitchers,
Rachel Gillen.
36. Mann (Greenville, S.C.), 28-5
Plays today for the state championship in South Carolina. Led by one of the nation's top pitchers in
Leslie Jury.
37. Richards (Oak Lawn, Ill.), 21-0
Falls in just behind Elk Grove in the Illinois state rankings by the Chicago Tribune.
38. (17) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 24-3-1
Lost to Fountain Valley last week, but defeated powerful Edison (Huntington Beach). Ranked No. 4 in the Southern Section Division I coaches poll.
39. Simi Valley (Calif.), 22-2
Ranked No. 5 in the Southern Section Division I coaches poll.
40. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.), 23-2
Ranked No. 6 in the Southern Section Division I coaches poll.
41. Glencoe (Hillsboro, Ore.), 23-2
The top-ranked Class 6A team in the state of Oregon.
42. Dripping Springs (Texas), 29-2
Moved into the top spot in the Texas Class 4A state rankings after season-long No. 1 Elgin was eliminated from the postseason.
43. Christian County (Hopkinsville, Ky.), 26-2
A recent win over Allen County moved Christian County to the top of the Kentucky state rankings.
44. Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.), 31-8
Won its second straight Class 5A Division I state championship in Arizona.
45. Unicoi County (Erwin, Tenn.), 45-4
Comes in just behind Riverdale (Murfreesboro) in the Tennessee state rankings.
46. Stockdale (Bakersfield, Calif.), 24-4-1
Leads a strong group of teams from the California Central Section.
47. Frontier (Bakersfield, Calif.), 32-3
Two of Frontier's losses are against Stockdale.
48. (25) East Ridge (Clermont, Fla.), 28-3
Season over.
49. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 25-3
Top team in the West Catholic Athletic League despite recent loss to Valley Christian (San Jose).
50. Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.), 33-5-1
Has wins over two Arizona state champions, Deer Valley and Red Mountain.
