Villa Park (Calif.) had an impressive tournament run at the 26th Annual Dave Kops Tournament of Champions, which included 53 teams from the West Coast. After knocking off two Arizona teams, the Spartans beat three California squads to come away as tournament champions. Their title run at one of the biggest tournaments on the calendar moved Villa Park two spaces to No. 5 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings.
Fellow Southern California powers
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) and
Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.) have each started hot and join this week's rankings. The Maramonte League rivals meet Tuesday with each entering with 9-0 records.
Bartow (Fla.) is one of the five new teams to join the rankings this week as sophomore sensation
Katelynn Oxley has been absolutely dominant to start the 2022 season. She has struck 107 batters in 40 innings as the Yellow Jackets land at No. 22.
Results and games played are key factors for determining the MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings and movement throughout the season. No team who has yet to play a game will move down or up from their preseason ranking until they hit the dirt. Teams that do not enter results and statistical information to MaxPreps make forming the rankings and highlighting players much more difficult.
Villa Park moved to No. 5 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings are winning the prestigious Dave Kops tournament in Arizona.
Photo by Mark Jones
1. Roncalli (Indianapolis)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 1
Season begins April 5.
2. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 1-0 |
Last week: 2
Minnesota commit
Jessica Oakland started the year off with a bang, hitting two bombs and driving in four.
3. Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 9-0 |
Last week: 3
Grace Hogie was named player of the game against Gulf Coast after going 3-for-3 at the plate, including a home run.
4. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 17-0 |
Last week: 5
Madelyn Lopez had three hits and hit a long ball as the Lady Lions blanked Dayton 11-0 on Saturday.
5. Villa Park (Calif.)
Record: 5-0 |
Last week: 7
The Spartans jumped into the top 5 after winning the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions, one of the toughest tournaments in the country.
6. Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.)
Record: 6-0 |
Last week: 4
Charmayne Morris had a pair of hits, including a dinger, as the Lady Rockets beat Leake Central 13-1.
7. Fairhope (Ala.)
Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 11
Hailey Minchew had three hits and
Alea Johnson had four as the Lady Pirates knocked off Daphne 10-4 in eight innings.
8. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 8
Season begins March 17.
9. Notre Dame (Crowley, La.)
Record: 11-0 |
Last week: 12
Abigail Savoy has now hit 42 career home runs. She has eight this season and is batting .581.
10. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Record: 5-0 |
Last week: 16
Naleya Bridges hit a hit triple and drove in two runs in a 3-0 win over Notre Dame.
11. Deer Park (Texas)
Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 18
Madison Bailey had three hits, including a double and a triple, as the the Lady Deer beat Dobie 14-0.
12. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Record: 9-0 |
Last week: NR
The Lions looked impressive in Las Vegas going 5-0 overall at the Bishop Gorman tournament. Notre Dame commit
Micaela Kastor has a 0.22 ERA and has four home runs at the plate.
13. West Monroe (La.)
Record: 10-0 |
Last week: 17
Macy Funderburk hit a home run and drove in three runs as West Monroe beat West Ouachita 7-2.
14. Marist (Chicago)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 14
Season begins March 17.
15. Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Record: 9-0 |
Last week: NR
Emily Jones,
Lily Berlinger and
Kennedy Bunker have driven in a combined 55 runs this season for the Warriors. The team has a combined .461 average.
16. Wellington (Fla.)
Record: 7-0 |
Last week: NR
Junior pitcher
Jordan White struck out seven and pitched a complete game in the Wolverines beat Doral Academy 3-2.
17. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Record: 4-0 |
Last week: 22
The Rebels opened up their new stadium with an 18-0 win over Spartansburg.
18. Bullard (Texas)
Record: 19-0 |
Last week: 24
Callie Bailey had a double and drove in one as Lady Panthers beat Melissa 2-1 on Saturday.
19. Patterson Mill (Bel Air, Md.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 19
Season begins in April.
20. Beaver (Pa.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 20
Season begins March 17.
21. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 21
Season begins March 18.
22. Bartow (Fla.)
Record: 6-0 |
Last week: NR
Sophomore
Katelynn Oxley has struck out at least 15 batters in all six games. She has two games with 21 Ks, and already has five no hitters.
23. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Record: 4-1 |
Last week: 9
The Firebirds lost a tough one 3-2 to Wellington. They look to bounce back Tuesday on the road at Coral Reef.
24. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 3-0 |
Last week: NR
The Lady Panthers opened the season with three lopsided victories.
Alyssa Houston and
Sophia Meadows both have a home run
25. South Lyon (Mich.)
Record: 0-0 |
Last week: 25
Season begins in April.
Next Five26.
O'Connor (Helotes, Texas)27.
College Station (Texas)28.
Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)29.
Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)30.
Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)
