With state championships being decided across the country, this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings feature big-time performances, unforgettable moments and new teams breaking through. From walk-off winners in South Carolina to dominant pitching performances in Texas and California, the chase for the final No. 1 ranking is heating up.
Top-ranked
Melissa held off a late rally by
Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu) to secure a 4-2 win and claim its second straight Texas Conference 5A Division 1 state title. The Cardinals plated three runs in the top of the sixth and added an insurance run in the seventh. Sophomore
Eloisa Maes struck out seven, including the final batter, to seal the win and strengthen their national championship resume.
Elsewhere in Texas, No. 4
Lake Creek (Montgomery) capped a perfect season with a dominant 12-1 win over
Hallsville to take home the 5A Division 2 title. Star pitcher
Sara Wiggins was lights-out once again, striking out 11 and surrendering just one hit in the victory.
No. 8
Coahoma made history by becoming the first Texas program to win three consecutive state championships. Texas commits
Mia Clemmer and
Hannah Wells both homered in a 6-1 win over Lexington.
No. 14
Kingwood earned its first state championship and a spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 after a 4-1 victory over
Forney.
Hunter Quentel, who has been outstanding all year went the distance in the circle while striking out seven and launching a two-run home run to help deliver the title.
In California, No. 5
Norco claimed the Southern Section Division 1 championship with a 3-0 win over
El Modena (Orange) in a pitcher's duel.
Coral Williams of Norco and
Sara Pinedo of El Modena kept things scoreless until
Savannah Gonzalez broke through with a RBI.
Dillyn Eckenrod and
Leighton Gray added insurance runs and that was all the Cougars needed to take home the crown.
No. 20
Catawba Ridge (Fort Mill) completed a three-peat in South Carolina with a two-game sweep of St. James. Clemson commit
Sarah Rocheleau delivered the knockout punch with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to clinch the title.
Staying in South Carolina, In one of the most thrilling finishes of the week, No. 22
Byrnes (Florence) staged a stunning comeback in a best-of-three series against previous No. 2
Summerville in one of the most thrilling finishes of the week. After dropping the opener 3-0, the Rebels bounced back with two one-run victories. In the decisive third game, Addy Waters delivered a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth to drive in Kara Davis and Addie Durrah for a 5-4 win and the Class 5A Division 1 state championship.
Coahoma celebrates its 6-1 win over Lexington in the Texas Conference 3A Division 2 state championship game. The Bulldogs, who are 103-4 over the past three seasons, became the first softball program to three-peat in the Lone Star State. (PHOTO: Jason Harrison)
38-1
| Last week: 1
Caigan Crabtree hit a bomb and
Finlee Williams and
Kennedy Bradley each drove in runs during their 5A Division 1 state title victory.
Record: 47-2
| Last week: 3
Season complete. Class 4A state champions.
3. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)Record: 31-1
| Last week: 4
Season complete. Class 6A state champions
4. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)Record: 37-0
| Last week: 5
Gracee Brewer,
Madalyn Davis and
Miranda Orso combined for 10 of the team's 16 hits during their state championship win.
5. Norco (Calif.)Record: 29-3
| Last week: 6
Coral Williams struck out nine and allowed just one hit lifting the Cougars to the Southern Section Division 1 crown.
6. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)Record: 37-1
| Last week: 7
Season complete. Division III Select state champions.
7. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)Record: 47-6
| Last week: 9
Season complete. Class 7A state champions.
8. Coahoma (Texas)Record: 35-1
| Last week: 10
Freshman
Blakeley Rodgers and senior
Nevaeh Kerby made things happen in the fourth inning, using small ball to drive in a run during the state title win.
9. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)Record: 30-1
| Last week: 11
Season complete. Class 2A state champions.
10. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.)Record: 22-4
| Last week: 15
The Trojans begin NorCal Regionals at home against Capuchino on Tuesday.
11. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)Record: 32-4
| Last week: 12
Season complete. Class 7A state champions.
12. Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.)Record: 18-0
| Last week: 13
Season complete. Division 1 state champions.
13. Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.)Record: 28-1-1
| Last week: 14
Season complete. Class 5A state champions.
14. Kingwood (Texas)Record: 34-4-1
| Last week: 21
Leilani Garcia and
Mia Gagliardi each had a pair of doubles in the 6A Division 2 state title game.
15. Neshannock (New Castle, Pa.)Record: 23-0
| Last week: 17
The Lancers rolled through round one of 2A state tournament play with a 10-0 win over Sharpsville on Monday.
16. Lincoln-Way Central (New Lenox, Ill.)Record: 33-1
| Last week: 19
Sophomore
Mia Degliomini had three of the Knights' 11 hits during a 10-0 win to close out regular season play.
17. Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.)Record: 32-2
| Last week: 20
Season complete. Division 1 Non-Select state champions.
18. Centennial (Las Cruces, N.M.)Record: 30-0
| Last week: 24
Season complete. Class 5A state champions.
19. Palo Verde (Las Vegas, Nev.)Record: 25-0
| Last week: 25
Season complete. Class 5A state champions.
20. Catawba Ridge (Fort Mill, S.C.)Record: 31-2
| Last week: NR
Keira O'Brien finished off the state title run in the circle, pitching a complete game three-hit shutout.
21. Kenosha Bradford (Kenosha, Wis.)Record: 24-1
| Last week: 25
Kyli Lanhardt had three hits and drove in five as the Red Devils advanced in Division 1 state play.
22. Byrnes (Florence, S.C.)Record: 30-4
| Last week: NR
The Rebels pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season, beating Summerville in back-to-back games to win Class 5A Division 1 state title.
23. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)Record: 35-4
| Last week: 8
Season complete: Conference 5A Division 1 state runner-up.
24. Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.)Record: 28-2
| Last week: 12
The Golden Eagles will wait for NorCal state play to begin June 3.
25. Summerville (S.C.)Record: 33-2
| Last week: 2
Season complete. Class 5A Division 1 state-runner up.
Next 2526.
Moody (Ala.)27.
Pace (Fla.)28.
South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.)29.
North DeSoto (Stonewall, La.)30.
Curry (Jasper, Ala.)31.
Taunton (Mass.)32.
La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.)33.
Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento, Calif.)34.
Wellington (Fla.)35.
Hernando (Miss.)36.
George County (Lucedale, Miss.)37.
Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.)38.
Kenton Ridge (Springfield, Ohio)39.
Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)40.
Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)41.
Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)42.
Somerset Academy (Silver Palms) (Miami, Fla.)43.
Bentonville (Ark.)44.
Forney (Texas)45.
South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.)46.
Liberty Creek (Gallatin, Tenn.)47.
Canyon del Oro (Tucson, Ariz.)48.
Marist (Chicago, Ill.)49.
El Modena (Orange, Calif.)50.
Bear River (Garland, Utah)
