While some regions are just getting their seasons started, Louisiana begins postseason play this week and two of the nation's top-ranked high school softball teams begin on opposite sides of the Class 5A bracket.
No. 14
Pineville (La.) was rewarded with the top seed after finishing the regular season 32-2 and scoring over 10 runs per game. The Lady Rebels open the postseason on Tuesday against Parkway. On the other side of the bracket is two-seed and No. 20
St. Amant (La.). The Gators have won 22 straight and host Captain Shreve.
Pennsylvania and Indiana are two states that havejust begun and both have teams making some early season noise.
Lake Central (St. John, Ind.) has started the season 10-0 and is building off an impressive 2021 season where the Indians fell in the Class 4A state championship to current No. 1 Roncalli. The Indians land at No. 23.
Right behind them is
Mid Valley (Throop, Pa.). The Spartans return Villanova commit
Maranda Runco. She sports a 0.60 ERA in 35 innings and is also batting .762 with four home runs.
Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) is the other newcomer to the MaxPreps Top 25 this week after winning 14 straight. The Golden Eagles have hit 28 home runs in 17 games.
Teams that do not enter results and statistical information to MaxPreps make forming the rankings and highlighting players much more difficult.
Maranda Runco, Mid Valley
Photo by Paul Weaver
Record: 5-0 |
Last week: 1
Junior
Keagan Rothrock threw her eighth career no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. The Royals have scored 10 or more runs in every game so far this season.
2. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 27-0 |
Last week: 2
Madelyn Lopez hit a home run and
Ava Brown threw a no hitter as the Lions beat Kingwood Park 8-0 on Thursday.
3. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 15-0 |
Last week: 3
The Broncos return to action Wednesday after a week off.
4. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 4
Ilove'a Brittingham hit a long ball and
Micaela Kastor struck out 17 during the Lions 8-0 win over Calabasas.
5 . Deer Park (Texas)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 5
Lady Deer clinched a district title and have one more regular season game left.
6. Patterson Mill (Bel Air, Md.)
Record: 9-0 |
Last week: 6
Madison Knight hit two bombs and tossed a no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Elkton on Thursday.
7. Bullard (Texas)
Record: 29-0 |
Last week: 7
The Panthers have scored 10 or more runs in 10 straight games.
8. Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Record: 16-0-1 |
Last week: 8
The ThunderWolves have allowed just 10 runs in 17 games this season.
9. O'Connor (Helotes, Texas)
Record: 22-1 |
Last week: 9
Leighann Goode,
Ella Gonzales, and
Meiko Dominguez all had three hits in a 15-13 wild win over Brennan on Tuesday.
10. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 18-0 |
Last week: 10
Elana Scott and
Alyssa Houston combined for a no-hitter during the Panthers 3-0 win on Thursday over Greene County Tech.
11. Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)
Record: 7-0 |
Last week: 11
Ashley Federico hit a home run and drove in four runs as the Griffins beat Manchester Township 11-0 on Thursday.
12. Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 19-1 |
Last week: 12
Katelynn Oxley struck out 13 in the circle and hit a bomb at the plate during the Yellow Jackets' 9-0 win over Winter Haven on Wednesday.
13. Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 16-2 |
Last week: 13
Cassidy McLellan drove in five runs as the Mustangs rolled Canterbury 13-0 on Wednesday.
14. Pineville (La.)
Record: 33-2 |
Last week: 14
The Rebels scored 10 or more runs in 17 games so far this season.
15. Bend (Ore.)
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 15
The Lava Bears have outscored its opponents 111-13 so far this season.
16. Beaver (Pa.)
Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 16
Payton List struck out 16 during the Bobcats 3-1 win over Louisa County on Thursday.
17. North Augusta (S.C.)
Record: 21-1 |
Last week: 17
Annabel Hurst had five hits as the Yellowjackets beat Midland Valley 7-2 on Wednesday.
18. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)
Record: 12-0 |
Last week: 18
Hannah Hunt drove in four runs during the Warriors' 11-1 home victory over Granville on Friday.
19. Lexington (S.C.)
Record: 17-1 |
Last week: 19
The Wildcats return to action Tuesday on the road against White Knoll.
20. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 24-2 |
Last week: 20
Gators have held opponents scoreless in 15 games thus far in 2022.
21. South Lyon (Mich.)Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 25
The Lions opened up its season scoring 47 runs in four games.
22. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Record: 23-2 |
Last week: 24
Anyssa Wild,
Gianna Mares,
Logan Cole, and
Krista Martinez all hit home runs as the Lancers beat Sahuaro 8-0 on Friday.
23. Lake Central (St. John, Ind.)
Record: 10-0 |
Last week: NR
The Indians are batting .462 as a team. Northern Illinois University commit
Kiley Conner is batting .500.
24. Mid Valley (Throop, Pa.)
Record: 8-0 |
Last week: NR
Courtney Rebar hit a home run and drove in four during the Spartans' 9-1 win on Monday over Carbondale Area.
25. Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.)
Record: 17-1 |
Last week: NR
Olivia Robison and
Kendal Manley have each hit seven home runs and are part of an explosive Golden Eagle lineup.
Next Five
26.
Lexington (Tenn.)27.
North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.)28.
Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.)29.
McCracken County (Paducah, Ky.)30.
Fairhope (Ala.)
