Carterville (Ill.) has rattled off 23 consecutive wins since a season-opening loss, earning a spot in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings. Sophomores
Taryn Ford and
Caidence Phillips are 22-1 overall in the circle with a combined 269 strikeouts. The Lions have allowed just 11 runs in 24 games.
Elsewhere, nationally-ranked teams in Texas begin postseason play this week. Winning a title in the Lone Star State is as tough as anywhere in the country with 132 teams competing for the crown in Class 6A. Top-ranked
Katy and the rest of the state will begin bi-district play Friday.
Florida and Southern California, home to seven nationally-ranked teams, end regular season play this week.
Arkansas commit Ashtyn Reichardt has helped Katy put together a 24-game unbeaten streak heading into the Class 6A state playoffs in Texas. (Photo: Patricia Okelberry)
1. Katy (Texas)Record: 32-1-1 |
Last week: 1
Cameryn Harrison hit a home run and combined to toss a no-hitter with
Lauryn Soeken as the Tigers closed out the regular season with a 7-0 win over Liberty.
Ella-Kate Smith also hit her ninth bomb of the season.
2. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) Record: 17-0 |
Last week: 2
The Lancers racked up 15 hits and scored 17 runs Friday in a win over Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.
3. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)Record: 26-0 |
Last week: 3
Reese Collier smashed two home runs and drove in six as the Cougars beat Brandon 15-4 on Thursday.
4. Orange Beach (Ala.)Record: 34-1 |
Last week: 4
The Makos fell for the first time this season at the Hoover Tournament over the weekend. A big week is ahead beginning Thursday against Fairhope and a Friday rematch with No. 7 Pace.
5. Melbourne (Fla.)Record: 24-0 |
Last week: 5
Alisha Thompson went deep and
Jasmine Francik mowed down 14 in a 9-0 win over Astronaut (Titusville) on Wednesday.
6. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 6
The Lancers closed out the regular season Monday with a 6-1 win over Mater Dei (Santa Ana).
Kai Minor and
Madelyn Armendariz both went deep in the victory.
7. Pace (Fla.)Record: 20-1 |
Last week: 7
Lana Gonzales had a pair of doubles and four RBI as the Patriots beat Gulf Breeze 11-4 on Friday.
8. Kaukauna (Wis.)Record: 9-0 |
Last week: 8
Taryn Christopherr went yard as the Ghosts smoked Kimberly 11-1 on Friday.
9. Bartow (Fla.)Record: 22-1 |
Last week: 9
Katelynn Oxley struck out 16 and
Kyndal Cornelius had three hits during the Yellow Jackets' 5-1 win over Lake Region (Eagle Lake) on Thursday.
10. Summerville (S.C.)Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 10
Ansley Bennett hit a pair of home runs and struck out 16 during a 3-0 win over West Ashley (Charleston) on Friday.
11. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.)Record: 20-2 |
Last week: 11
The Mariners pounded out 17 hits during a 16-1 win over Crean Lutheran (Irvine) on Thursday.
12. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)Record: 20-1 |
Last week: 12
Yessenia Lopez sat down 15 batters and
Meagan Villazon provided the firepower at the plate as the Firebirds beat Westminster Christian (Miami) 8-0 on Friday.
13. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)Record: 17-0 |
Last week: 13
Carsyn Cassady showed her dominance with a 13-strikeout performance during a 10-0 win over Licking Valley (Newark) on Monday.
Jordyn Wycuff hit a home and drove in four.
14. Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas)Record: 25-1 |
Last week: 16
The Raiders are averaging over eight runs per game, outscoring opponents 125-8 over the past 10 games.
15. Bloomingdale (Valrico, Fla.)Record: 22-0 |
Last week: 17
Natalie Cable hit a bomb and struck out 15 in the circle, lifting the Bulls to a 4-0 win over Plant on Friday.
16. Norco (Calif.)Record: 18-3 |
Last week: 20
Tamryn Shorter hit a walk-off single to drive home
Sasha Pham in the bottom of the eighth to beat Roosevelt (Eastvale) 7-6 on Monday.
17. Guyer (Denton, Texas)Record: 28-2 |
Last week: 19
Jenna Osborne drove in three runs and
Jenny Robledo went the distance on the rubber as the Wildcats closed out the regular season with a 5-2 win over Rock Hill (Frisco) on Friday.
18. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)Record: 28-6 |
Last week: 16
Zaylen Tucker allowed just one hit and struck out nine as the Huskies shut down Hartselle 4-0 on Monday.
19. Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.)Record: 13-0-1 |
Last week: 20
Maddie Milhorn drove in three Monday as the Storm beat Heritage (Vancouver) 10-4.
20. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)Record: 33-2 |
Last week: 221
Ramsey Walker hit a pair of home runs to help the Cavs reach the Division III Select state quarterfinals.
21. Marist (Chicago)Record: 17-1 |
Last week: 22
Cameryn Lyons,
Caroline O'Brien and the rest of the RedHawks came out swinging Monday, beating Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park) 16-0.
22. Lake Central (St. John, Ind.)Record: 12-0 |
Last week: 23
Kate Renschen had three hits including a home run as the Indians topped Brownsburg 10-7 on Saturday.
23. Melissa (Texas)Record: 28-2-1 |
Last week: 24
The Cardinals outscored opponents 67-2 over the final five games of the regular season.
24. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)Record: 10-1 |
Last week: 25
Ayla Ray hit her 10th home run of the season as the Falcons smoked Boardman (Youngstown) 12-0 on Monday.
25. Carterville (Ill.)Record: 23-1 |
Last week: 26
Tennessee commit
Amayah Doyle is batting .491 with eight home runs.
On the bubble: Woodgrove (Purcellville, Va.), 11-0;
Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 14-1;
St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.), 31-3-1;
Queen Creek (Ariz.), 22-4;
Canfield (Ohio), 14-1
