It's the calm before the storm as many of the programs in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings are wrapping up regular season play with the postseason looming.
In Texas, most teams conclude district play this week with playoffs set to begin April 26.
The Lone Star State features seven teams ranked in the national top 50, including No. 25
Kingwood. The Mustangs have shown all season that they have the talent to make another title run. In a thrilling 3-2 extra-inning win over
Atascocita (Humble) last week,
Samantha Trzecki hit a solo shot to tie the game. In the 10th inning, Virginia Tech commit
Mia Gagliardi launched a missile over the left-field fence for the win.
In Northern California, the regular season runs through the first week of May with plenty left to be decided. But one thing is clear:
Del Oro (Loomis) is on fire. The Golden Eagles have blasted 31 home runs through 20 games, led by senior and Utah Tech commit
Abby Davidson with 11. Next up is LSU commit
Ayla Tuua and
Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento) on April 21, then No. 19
Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) two days later — the only team to beat them this season.
Sophomore Hunter Quentel has helped No. 25 Kingwood win nine of its last 10 outings, including a 3-2 win over Atascocita in extra innings last week. (PHOTO: Andrew Taylor)
27-0
| Last week: 1
Gabby Kuerhler,
Amariee Bradford,
Rihanna Wheeler and
Kennedy Bradley all went deep as the Cardinals won 16-0 on Monday night.
2. Summerville (S.C.)Record: 19-0
| Last week: 2
Melanie Edwards hit a big home run and
Ansley Bennett struck out 14 as the Green Wave beat South Florence 3-0 on Monday.
3. Orange Beach (Ala.)Record: 28-2
| Last week: 3
The Makos went 5-1 at the Chelsea Tournament. A loss to Thompson snapped a 28-game winning streak.
4. Katy (Texas)Record: 29-1
| Last week: 4
Lauryn Soeken struck out 13, allowed just two hits and went the distance during a 14-0 win over Paetow on Friday.
5. Norco (Calif.)Record: 19-2
| Last week: 5
Coral Williams mowed down 10 and
Leighton Gray went yard as the Cougars beat King 5-0 on Thursday.
6. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)Record: 25-0
| Last week: 6
Maggie Hayward smashed a home run and drove in four runs during a 17-0 win Thursday.
7. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)Record: 21-1
| Last week: 10
Leyani Viruet hit a big home run helping lift the Firebirds to a 2-1 victory over Wellington on Thursday.
8. Coahoma (Texas)Record: 24-0
| Last week: 8
Hannah Wells (twice),
Bree Lewis,
Kaedyn Lee and
Mia Clemmer all hit home runs during a 16-1 win Saturday.
9. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)Record: 17-3
| Last week: 9
After an 8-7 loss to Santa Margarita on Friday, the Lancers bounced back with two wins Saturday.
10. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)Record: 26-2
| Last week: 11
Aybrie Corona had a double and a triple as the Eagles beat Port Neches-Groves 11-1 on Friday.
11. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)Record: 20-2
| Last week: 16
Addison Poe hit a lead-off home run in the fourth inning to help the Eagles to a 5-3 victory over Inspiration Academy on Monday.
12. Rosary Academy (Fullerton, Calif.)Record: 18-2-1
| Last week: 12
Hailey Huerta had a pair of hits and
Audrinah Barajas drove in two as the Royals beat Irvine 7-2 on Friday.
13. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)Record: 31-3
| Last week: 19
Kadyn Bush and
Aubrey Hooks combined to hold Orange Beach to just five hits and no runs as the Warriors picked up a big 4-0 win Saturday.
14. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)Record: 32-1
| Last week: 15
Mallory Carver hit two jacks and
Loren Sivils added another as the Cavaliers blanked Many 17-0 on Tuesday.
15. Catawba Ridge (Fort Mill, S.C.)Record: 18-0
| Last week: 18
Jaidyn Harris hit a bomb and
Sarah Rocheleau added three hits during a 16-0 win over Northwestern on Wednesday.
16. Neshannock (New Castle, Pa.)Record: 11-0
| Last week: 17
Gabby Quinn hit a bomb as the Lancers rolled to a 18-0 win over New Brighton on Monday.
17. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)Record: 19-1
| Last week: 12
The Warriors bounced back from their first loss of the season by beating Land O' Lakes 12-2.
Morgen Talley hit a bomb and drove in three in the win.
18. Curry (Jasper, Ala.)Record: 37-1
| Last week: 23
Shileigh Williams (twice),
Alyssa Teel and
Ambrey Taylor all hit homers as the Yellowjackets rolled to an 18-1 win over Cordova on Saturday.
19. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills, Calif.)Record: 15-1
| Last week: 20
Emery Glaser,
Carly Short and
Molly Railey each had two hits during a 3-1 win over Granite Bay on Wednesday.
20. Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.)Record: 10-0
| Last week: 22
Emma Prykanowski and
Callie Lissenden each had three hits in an 11-2 victory over Bishop Ireton on Thursday.
21. Lincoln-Way Central (New Lenox, Ill.)Record: 9-0
| Last week: 24
Lisabella Dimitrijevic struck out 13 and
Ellie McLaughlin drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to help the Knights to a 3-2 win over Marist on Monday.
22. Pace (Fla.)Record: 15-2
| Last week: 13
Britten Kettler went yard twice helping the Patriots beat Crestview 10-0 on Friday.
23. Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) Record: 19-1
| Last week: 29
Sophomore
Mikayla Finn is 11-1 in the circle with 131 punch outs and 1.01 ERA in 83 innings of work.
24. Kenosha Bradford (Kenosha, Wis.)Record: 6-0
| Last week: 25
Aubrey Strelow mowed down 12 and allowed just one hit as the Red Devils shut out Union Grove 4-0 on Saturday.
25. Kingwood (Texas)Record: 23-3-1
| Last week: NR
Sophomore ace
Hunter Quentel struck out 12 and pitched all 10 innings during the 3-2 extra-inning win over Atascocita.
Next 2526.
Hernando (Miss.)27.
Central (Phenix City, Ala.)28.
La Salle Academy (Providence, R.I.)29.
Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.)30.
Gaylord (Mich.)31.
Marist (Chicago, Ill.)32.
Forney (Texas)33.
Empire (Tucson, Ariz.)34.
Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, S.C.)35.
St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)36.
La Mirada (Calif.)37.
Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.)38.
Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)39.
Sam Houston (Lake Charles, La.)40.
West Vigo (West Terre Haute, Ind.)41.
North DeSoto (Stonewall, La.)42.
Rocklin (Calif.)43.
George County (Lucedale, Miss.)44.
Centennial (Las Cruces, N.M.)45.
Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)46.
Springville (Ala.)47.
Gibbs (Corryton, Tenn.)48.
Palo Verde (Las Vegas, Nev.)49.
Weddington (Matthews, N.C.)50.
Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.)
