How can we pick the top high school softball team to start a season without games played? It's no easy task, but it all begins in the circle and the talent that surrounds it. And
Roncalli (Indianapolis) has that and then some.
Led by Class of 2023
Keagan Rothrock, a returning MaxPreps All-American and Florida commit, the Royals begin the 2022 season as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Not only is Rothrock the top pitcher in her class, she's arguably the top ace in the country. She went 24-2 with a 0.13 ERA. The powerful right-hander struck out 364 batters, walked six, had seven no-hitters, and tossed five perfect games. She can rake too as she batted .442.
And she's not the only piece that is back. Slapper and Virginia Tech commit
Lyla Blackwell had at least two hits in 17 games, finishing her sophomore campaign batting .467. Mount St. Joseph University commit
Courtney Keller is a versatile player who batted over .400 last spring. She'll be back as well. These are just three of the many weapons ready to defend their 4A title.
We understand it's not where you start, it's where you finish. But it wouldn't surprise us if they didn't move all season.
California is well represented with 12 teams inside the top 50, including No. 2 Saint Francis (Mountain View). The Golden State has some of the best talent from top to bottom in the country.
Outlook: The defending 4A state champions return a ton of talent from a team that finished ranked No. 11 overall in 2021. The Royals lost twice last season, but they ended up getting revenge, including in the state title game.
2. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)Outlook: The top-ranked team from California in 2021 will be back in that same position as they enter 2022 with major firepower. Minnesota commit
Jessica Oakland and Washington signee
Sydney Stewart have two of the top bats in the country. Class of 2023 pitcher
Chloe Cummings returns after a perfect 12-0 outing in the circle as a sophomore.
3. Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.)Outlook: The defending 7A champs head into spring with a lot of experience up and down the lineup. All of the seniors on this year's team have been in a state title game in every season (minus 2020). Florida commit
Cassidy McLellan is back after being named a MaxPreps All-American. She hit .542 in 2021.
4. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.)Outlook: The Huskies return several of the key weapons who helped lead them to a 7A state championship in 2021.
Kenleigh Cahalan, an Alabama commit and 2021 first-team MaxPreps Underclass All-American, was one of the top hitters in the country. Pitchers
Sarah Hindman and
Sara Phillips went a combined 26-1 in 2021.
5. Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.)
Outlook: The Lady Rockets won their eighth-straight state title in 2021 and ended the season with a 32-0 record. Ole Miss commit
Tenly Grisham, who batted .583 and was named a first-team MaxPreps All-American, is another great to come through the program.
Maurhree Jones is back as well and will be a key piece to a run at nine-straight.
6. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Outlook: The Lions fell to the top-ranked team in the country in 2021 after a deep postseason run. Class of 2023 Florida commit
Ava Brown has a career 21 home runs and is also 21-0 in the circle. Another junior to keep an eye on is LSU commit
Maddie Mckee, who hit .575.
7. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix)
Outlook: The Gators look to repeat as 6A champions in 2022. Two of the top players in the state return for their senior seasons.
Bridget Donahey, a Northwestern commit, launched 10 home runs last spring, and Harvard commit
Riley Flynn went 16-2 in the circle.
8. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Outlook: The Lady Red Raiders won their sixth straight DII-AA state softball title and ninth in the past 10 years in 2021. LSU commit and ace
Sydney Berzon returns in 2022. The first-team MaxPreps All-American went 17-0 in the circle in 2021.
9. Villa Park (Calif.)
Outlook: Arizona signee
Sydney Somnerdike was a second-team MaxPreps All-American, Orange County and California Gatorade Player of the Year after striking out 336 batters as a junior. She is back. Freshman phenom
Auddrey Lira is a another weapon in the circle and at the plate. The Spartans also added Iowa State commit
Tiana Poole.
10. Judson (Converse, Texas)
Outlook: Texas A&M commit
Keely Williams and Tennessee commit
Destiny Ortega-Rodriguez are just a few of the weapons returning for the Rockets in 2022. Both players hit over .580 last spring.
Emily Ayala had a very solid junior season finishing 12-1 overall.
11. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)
Outlook: Although the Lancers had a remarkable 2021, rolling to 24-0 season and a third-straight 4A title, there are some question marks on who replaces ace Alyssa Aguilar. The 2021 graduate had over 500 career strikeouts.
Allie Hayes could be the next great star at the school. The Class of 2023 pitcher joins Arizona commit
Logan Cole looking for four-in-a-row.
12. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.)
Outlook: The Firebirds were on fire last year winning the 6A state championship. University of Louisville softball commit
Alyssa Zabala is back in the circle for her senior season looking to build on her 35 career wins.
13. Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.)
Outlook: The Wildcats rolled off 12-straight wins to capture the 5A state title last spring. The majority of the lineup returns to repeat in 2022, including all pitchers who saw an inning, headlined by Missouri commit
Marissa McCann.
14. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.)
Outlook: The Lady Bucs won the school's fifth state championship overall in 2021. The winning pitcher in the state championship game
Halie Pappion, a Boston College commit, is back for her senior season. She already has over 360 career strikeouts. Arkansas commit
Nyjah Fontenot is one of the top players in the country.
15. Marist (Chicago)
Outlook: The RedHawks are known for reloading, not rebuilding. So although they lost several of the top players in the state to graduation, the Class 4A defending champions look to be back on top in 2022.
16. Fairhope (Ala.)
Outlook: The Lady Pirates won 43 games in 2021, but fell in the state title game to Hewitt-Trussville. It will be another great season of softball in Alabama, and with weapons like pitcher and LSU commit
Alea Johnson, and South Alabama commit
Ryley Harrison, look for them to be playing deep into May.
17. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)
Outlook: The Broncos went 21-1 in the 2021 and will return nearly every starter from that team. Arizona commit
Ryan Maddox went 18-1 and with 0.64 ERA. The Class of 2023 ace struck out 192 batters as a sophomore.
18. Clear Springs (League City, Texas)
Outlook: LSU commit
Emma Strood and the Chargers are looking to take that next step at trying to capture a 2022 state title. The ace pitcher joins Kentucky commit
Anna Soles and other major talent ready for a deep postseason run.
19. Patterson Mill (Bel Air, Md.)
Outlook: After an undefeated 2021 season, the defending 1A state champions return one of the top players in the country in
Madison Knight. The second-team MaxPreps All-American and Syracuse commit launched 12 home runs and was nearly flawless in the circle.
20. Beaver (Pa.)
Outlook: The Bobcats finished 2021 with a PIAA Class 4A championship and an undefeated season. Junior pitcher
Payton List, a Virginia Tech commit, finished with a 16-0 record and an 0.64 ERA.
21. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Outlook: The defending Division I Class AAA champions have a lot to look forward to in 2022. Tennessee Tech commit
Avery Flatford struck out 125 batters as a junior. She also batted .615. The Admirals have several big bats back, including Anderson University commit
Lauren Brakovec who hit 11 home runs in 2021.
22. Norco (Calif.)
Outlook: The Cougars are always loaded with talent. This year is no different. Arizona State commit
Mya Perez can do it all. Another Class of 2023 star,
Alyssa Hovermale, a Florida commit, can smash. And senior Utah commit
Abby Dayton can hit for power and can also swipe a bag.
23. Aledo (Texas)
Outlook: Lady Bearcats were on a state-title run last year before falling to the eventual Class 5A state champs. University of North Texas commit
Kayleigh Smith and several other returners are back looking to take it one step farther in 2022.
24. Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.)
Outlook: A legendary coach in Mary Jo Truesdale mixed in with incredible talent, is a recipe for success. The Huskies starting nine are all high-caliber next-level players.
Dakota Kennedy (Arizona),
D'Auna Johnson (Cal),
Reina Zermeno (San Jose State), and
Jaylee Ojo (UC San Diego) are just a few.
25. South Lyon (Mich.)
Outlook: The banner is up and the rings have been delivered to the 2021 D1 State champions. But the Lions have a new goal in mind, and that's to do it again. They have the foundation and it starts with Class of 2024 pitcher
Ava Bradshaw. She is one of the top prospects in her class. She struck out 329 batters in 186 innings as a freshman.
Next 25
27.
Leander (Texas)28.
Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)29.
Notre Dame (Crowley, La.)30.
Sabino (Tucson, Ariz.) 31.
Keystone (La Grange, Ohio)32.
O'Connor (Phoenix)33.
Artesia (N.M.)34.
Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)35.
Upland (Calif.)36.
John Glenn (New Concord, Ohio)37.
Los Alamitos (Calif.)38.
Heritage (Brentwood, Calif.)39.
Park Vista (Lake Worth, Fla.)40.
Deer Park (Texas)41.
Rockwall (Texas)42.
Topeka (Kan.)43.
Greenway (Phoenix)
44.
Aragon (San Mateo, Calif.)45.
Great Oak (Temecula, Calif.)46.
Apopka (Fla.)47.
Spring-Ford (Royersford, Pa.)48.
Roseville (Calif.)49.
Benton (Ark.)50.
Spanish Springs (Sparks, Nev.)
