MaxPreps Top 25 national high school softball rankings

Mission Viejo (Calif.) played just once last week, but defeated Dana Hills (Dana Point, Calif.) 8-1 to remain unbeaten in 14 games and remain atop the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Softball Rankings for another week.

Taylor McQuillin struck out 15 and Alysha Everett and Alyssa Palomino had three hits each in the win over Dana Hills.

In winning the prestigious Michelle Carew Classic, Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.) moved into the No. 2 spot after spending most of the season at No. 3. The Dons allowed just one run in five victories against some of the top teams in the country.

Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.) did nothing wrong in routing four opponents, but dropped a spot due to Amador Valley's dominance at the Carew event.

Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) gave California three of the top four spots as it improved to 14-0 after winning the Stampede in Livermore (Calif.).

Ponte Vedra improved to 23-0 and moved to No. 5 as St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) dropped a pair of games and fell from the Top 25.

St. Thomas was one of five teams dropping out of the rankings last week.

New to the Top 25 this week are No. 13 Mauldin (S.C.), No. 18 Columbia (Lake City, Fla.), No. 20 Sherwood (Sandy Springs, Md.), No. 22 South Salem (Salem, Ore.) and No. 24 Vacaville (Calif.).


1. (No. 1 last week) Mission Viejo (Calif.), 14-0
The Diablos beat 11-4 Dana Hills (Dana Point, Calif.) and have allowed just 18 runs this season. They visit El Toro (Lakeforest, Calif.) on Thursday.

2. (3) Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.), 12-0
The Dons rode the pitching arm of Johanna Grauer to five wins in winning last weekend's prestigious Michelle Carew Classic that included eight teams ranked in the preseason Top 100. The only run allowed by the Dons was in a 2-1 win over Los Alamitos in the tournament finale. Grauer has 130 strikeouts in 88 innings and has allowed just 19 hits and no earned runs this season. The Dons host Monte Vista (Danville, Calif.) on Tuesday.

3. (2) Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.), 15-0
Central had a good week — defeating four opponents by a combined 40-6 margin. Central's win streak stands at 47. Next up is an away game at North Lincoln (Denver, N.C.).

4. (4) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 14-0
Mitty won five games by a combined 31-3 margin in winning the Livermore Stampede Tournament. Among the wins was a 12-1 rout of previously unbeaten Granada (Livermore, Calif.) and a 6-0 win over 13-4 Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.). Mitty hosts St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) on Tuesday.

5. (9) Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 23-0
The Sharks have won 31 of their last 32 games after wins over Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Clay (Green Cove Springs, Fla.). They host Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.) on Tuesday.

6. (7) Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 3-0
Hoover ran its win streak to 37 with three run-rule wins, outscoring its foes 35-0. Hoover meets Jackson (Massillon, Ohio) on Tuesday.

7. (8) Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas), 20-0
Barbers Hill beat Humble 14-0 and hosts Dayton (Texas) on Friday.

8. (13) Russellville (Ark.), 11-0
Andrea Kindrick pitched her fifth no-hitter of the season last week and has 122 strikeouts in 56 innings as Russellville routed Greenwood twice, 22-0 and 18-0. Up next is at unbeaten Greenwood (Ark.).

9. (11) Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas), 22-1
The Bobcats blanked Cypress Falls (Houston), 10-0, as Christina Biggerstaff struck out 16 and pitched a two-hitter. Cy-Fair, which last lost on March 1, 4-0 to No. 7 Barbers Hill, plays Jersey City (Houston) on Tuesday.

10. (18) Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.), 14-2
The Aztecs won four of five games in the Michelle Carew Classic, losing only to tournament winner and No. 3 ranked Amador Valley. They host Brea Olinda (Brea, Calif.) on Tuesday.

11. (12) Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas), 20-1
Cinco Ranch beat Mayde Creek (Katy, Texas) 9-0 on Friday and followed that with a 3-2 win over Bellaire as Jordin Wilkins drove in two runs. Cinco travels to Katy on Tuesday to play Taylor.

12. (15) La Grange (Texas), 27-1
Since losing their opener, the Leopards have won 27 straight and most recently, 19-0 over Cuero as Missy Zoch pitched a no-hitter. Up next is an away game at Gonzales (Texas) on Tuesday.

13. (NR) Mauldin (S.C.), 13-0
Behind the play of Amanda Storch (8-0, 0.52 ERA and .414 batting average) and Dee Dee Sullivan (.760 batting average and 1.680 slugging pct.), the Mavericks are unbeaten after beating Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) last Friday. The Mavericks travel to Greer (S.C.) on Tuesday to play Riverside.

14. (17) Clovis (Calif.), 11-0
The Cougars have had just one close game this season and have allowed just 10 runs, with their most recent wins being 7-0 and 16-0. They host 15-4 Central (Fresno, Calif.) on Tuesday.

15. (19) Bloom-Carroll (Carroll, Ohio), 2-0
Taran Alvelo and McKenna Coffman combined for a no-hitter and struck out 15 in a 5-0 win over Bishop Ready.

16. (16) The Woodlands (Texas), 25-2
The Highlanders beat Lufkin (Texas) 2-0 as Abby Langkamp pitched a two-hitter and Kaitlyn Stavinoha had three hits and drove in both runs. The Highlands plays host to Bryan (Texas) on Friday.

17. (23) Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 21-1
Westfield (Houston) and Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas) were no match for the Eagles in 26-4 and 10-0 losses. Over the last four games, the Eagles have scored 70 runs and allowed seven. They host Spring (Texas) on Tuesday.

18. (NR) Columbia (Lake City, Fla.), 16-1
The Tigers scored a pair of impressive wins last week — 9-0 over 20-2 Harmony (Fla.) and 1-0 over previously-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The Tigers host Trinity Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) on Tuesday.

19. (22) Olathe East (Kan.), 2-0
The Hawks, who were 24-1 a year ago, opened the season with a pair of lopsided (16-0, 15-0) wins over North (Shawnee Mission, Kan.). On Tuesday, East hosts Olathe rival North.

20. (NR) Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.), 4-0
Sherwood has outscored its first four opponents, 45-0. The Warriors play Paint Brach (Burtonsville, Md.) on Wednesday.

21. (21) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 4-0
The 2013 state runners-up got three sterling efforts from senior Stephanie Thomas in opening the season with three victories. Thomas allowed nine hits and struck out 25 in the three shutout games. She fanned eight and allowed one earned run in a 15-3 win. IHA visits unbeaten DePaul (Wayne, N.J.) on Tuesday.

22. (NR) South Salem (Ore.), 6-0
The Saxons continue to ride the arm of Katie Donovan to victory — four by shutout this season, including 3-0 over North Medford. They visit Westview (Portland) on Tuesday.

23. (25) Sparkman (Harvest, Ala.), 36-2
The Senators won three times last week by a combined 36-6 margin, then recorded three wins in the Bob Jones tournament, including beating Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) twice, 7-0 and 6-1. They host rival Buckhorn (Harvest, Ala.) on Tuesday.

24. (NR) Vacaville (Calif.), 10-0-1
Sophomore Katie Kibby is 10-0 with a 0.95 ERA and freshman Alyse Rojas is hitting .526 to lead Vacaville to its best start ever. The Lady Bulldogs travel to Napa (Calif.) on Wednesday.

25. (21) Reed (Sparks, Nev.), 15-1
After four straight shutouts, Reed managed just one hit in a 1-0 loss to North Valley (Reno, Nev.). Reed meets Reno on Tuesday.

Dropped Out This Week:
No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
No. 6 P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.)
No. 10 Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)
No. 13 Marina (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
No. 20 Gibbs (Corryton, Tenn.).