In places like Texas, some high school softball teams are already 10 games deep or more in their season while states like Indiana remain several weeks away from first pitch.
Results and games played are key factors for determining the MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings. No team who has yet to play a game will move down or up from their preseason ranking until they hit the dirt.
We also don't put too much emphasis on early season losses as coaches work out lineups, get everyone play time and work on prepping their teams for a long postseason run. We are projecting who will be there at the end of the season.
Teams that do not enter results and statistical information into MaxPreps make forming the rankings and highlighting players much more difficult.
Corine Poncho, Notre Dame
File photo by Parker Waters
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 1
Season begins April 5.
2. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 2
Season begins March 11.
3. Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 3-0 |
Preseason: 3
The Mustangs are hitting nearly .500 as a team. Senior
Sydney Mccray has six hits in eight at-bats.
4. Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.)
Record: 3-0 |
Preseason: 4
The Lady Rockets have won 41 games in a row.
Maurhree Jones is off to a hot start with seven hits in nine at-bats, including two home runs.
5. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 9-0 |
Preseason: 6
Ava Brown has been a beast in the circle to start her junior year. She is 8-0 and has struck out 103 in 46 innings of work.
6. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix)
Record: 5-1 |
Preseason: 7
Lone loss was to 12th-ranked Willow Canyon. A day later the Lady Gators got revenge with a 7-5 victory. Northwestern commit
Bridget Donahey had three hits including a two-run bomb.
7. Villa Park (Calif.)
Record: 4-0 |
Preseason: 9
Arizona commit
Sydney Somnerdike is off to a hot start in the circle. She is 3-0, striking out 38 in 17 innings.
8. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 8
Season begins March 17.
9. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record: 2-0 |
Preseason: 12
Freshman
Meagan Villazon has collected four hits in two games to lead the Firebirds early in the season.
10. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Record: 2-0 |
Preseason: 14
Arkansas commit
Nyjah Fontenot picked up right where she left off last season, as she already has two triples, a double, and a long ball.
11. Fairhope (Ala.)
Record: 2-0 |
Preseason: 16
Ryley Harrison and
Alea Johnson have combined to strike out 31 batters in 13 innings to begin 2022.
12. Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.)
Record: 5-1 |
Preseason: 13
Louisiana Tech commit
Alannah Rogers has come out on fire. The senior has a .833 on-base percentage after 24 plate appearances.
13. Notre Dame (Crowley, La.)
Record: 5-0 |
Preseason: 29
Corine Poncho,
Abigail Savoy and the Pioneers have already hit 17 team home runs in five games.
14. Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 9-0 |
Preseason: NR
Senior
Naya Campos and the Dorados have jumped out to a great start, outscoring their opponents 93-15.
15. Marist (Chicago)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 15
Season begins March 17.
16. Mission Viejo (Calif.)
Record: 8-0 |
Preseason: NR
Class of 2024 pitcher and utility
Sofia Elliott is doing it all for the Diablos, batting .500 while going 4-0 in the circle.
17. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 17
Season begins March 2.
18. Deer Park (Texas)
Record: 12-1 |
Preseason: 40
Bryanna Fuentes has six hits over the past three games and has her average at .515 to start the season. Lady Deer got revenge after their lone loss to Bridgeland.
19. Patterson Mill (Bel Air, Md.)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 19
Season begins in April.
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 20
Season begins March 17.
21. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 21
Season begins March 10.
22. Apopka (Fla.)
Record: 2-0 |
Preseason: 46
Aubrey Evans knocked in the lone run as the Blue Darters beat Eustis, the 2021 4A champions, 1-0.
23. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Record: 1-0 |
Preseason: 34
The Rebels jumped out to a 1-0 start with a 14-1 win. They haven't lost a game since early March 2021.
24. Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 24
Season begins March 1.
25. South Lyon (Mich.)
Record: 0-0 |
Preseason: 25
Season begins in April.
On the bubble
