Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.) opened state tournament play with an 11-0 win to improve its record to 27-0 and retain its No. 1 position in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school softball rankings.
But the target on the back of Lakewood Ranch gets bigger each week. Tuesday's challenger is No. 22-rated East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) that has won 26 in a row. To complete their dream season of a Class 8A state title and unbeaten season, the Mustangs need to win four more times.
The Sunshine State powerhouse, which has a dozen players signed or committed to play at the college level, has been ranked No. 1 for four weeks.
Video: MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings
Lakewood Ranch closing in on state title, unbeaten season.
After starting the season No. 1, 29-1 Norco (Calif.), is ranked No. 2 for the fourth-straight week. With a pair of playoff wins behind them, the Cougars are two wins away from defending their CIF Southern Section Division 1 title.
The biggest mover of the week is Fairhope (Ala.), which jumped back into the Top 25 at No. 17. The Pirates' four losses have been by a total of seven runs.
Also new to the Top 25 this week are unbeatens East Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.) and St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.).
Prospect of the Week: Despite being walked five times, West (Salt Lake City) senior
Huntyr Ava closed out the regular season by leading the
Panthers to three victories as she collected seven hits in eight at
bats (Ava homered, doubled twice, scored 10 times and drove in seven
runs). With Ava hitting .745 and owning a .826 on base percentage this
season, West is 19-1.
Game of the Week: Gahr (Cerritos, Calif.) scored two in the
seventh to beat giant killer Santiago (Corona), 4-3 in the quarter final
of the CIF Southern Section Division 1
tournament. Santiago was previously ranked after it defeated then-No. 1
(and now No. 2) Norco. Gahr faces Great Oak (Temecula) on Tuesday with the winner
meeting the winner of the Norco-Huntington Beach showdown.
Game to Watch: Florida's Class 8A regional semifinals with No. 1 Lakewood Ranch facing No. 22 East Lake on Tuesday.
Streaks: Keystone (LaGrange, Ohio) extended its winning streak to 58 games.
Pinnacle is back in Arizona's state championship game after a 4-2 win over Tucson.
Photo by: Chris Stanley
1. (Last week No. 1) Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.), 27-0Payton Kinney pitched a three-hitter and
Claire Davidson hit her 12th home run of the season as the Mustangs routed Pinellas Park 11-0 to open Class 8A state tournament play. The road gets a little tougher Tuesday when they face 27-1 East Lake, winners of 26 straight.
2. (2) Norco (Calif.), 29-1The Cougars opened defense of their CIF Southern Section title with a pair of shutout wins over Vista Murrieta and Orange Lutheran. Next up is 18-8 Huntington Beach, which has produced impressive playoff wins over Grand Terrace, Esperanza and Chino Hills.
3. (3) Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.), 23-0Oklahoma pledge
Nicole May closed the regular season out with back-to-back shutouts, bringing her season total to 15.
4. (4) Winter Springs (Fla.), 27-0The Bears got a pair of homers from junior
Aynslie Furbush, who was also stellar in relief, as they defeated St. Cloud, 12-5, in the Class 8A state quarterfinals. Furbush allowed just two hits in six innings. The win moves the Bears to the regional semifinals against Hagerty (Oviedo). Tuesday's game will be the fourth time this season the two teams have played.
5. (5) Male (Louisville, Ky.), 25-0The Bulldogs got homers from
Jasmine Miller,
Megan Konermann and
Lilly Davis in defeating previously unbeaten Holy Cross 5-1. They also beat one of Indiana power New Palestine 6-2.
6. (6) Dripping Springs (Texas), 36-2Izzy Bermudez collected four hits and
Brooke Rummel drove in three runs in a 15-9 win over Tivy as the Tigers won their 26th in a row. Next up is the Class 5A regional semifinal against Flour Bluff.
7. (7) Keller (Texas), 31-3-1The Indians have 20 wins in a row after sweeping Southlake Carroll 6-2 and 7-0. The win moves Keller to the Class 6A regional quarterfinals Friday.
8. (8) Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.), 25-19. (10) Klein Collins (Spring, Texas), 33-2Belton will try to do what Bryan, Nimitz and Spring have not been able to do this playoff season and that is to slow Klein Collins. In five playoff wins, the Tigers have outscored opponents 50-3.
10. (11) Oshkosh North (Oshkosh, Wis.), 23-0Libby Neveau and Northwestern signee
Sydney Supple have hit 12 home runs each and combined for 95 RBI as the Spartans remain unbeaten. North is 15-0 in the strong Fox Valley Area Conference and outscoring opponents by a 186-7 margin.
11. (12) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 23-0Ran its two-year win streak to 55 as senior
Sydney Campbell pitched a no-hitter and combined with
Madi Herringto on a one-hitter. Campbell, 18-0, has won 55-straight high school games and in 117 innings pitched this year, has 185 strikeouts while allowing opponents a .091 batting average.
12. (13) Marist (Chicago), 28-2The Redhawks swept Carmel and Saint Viator by a combined 63-5 to run their win streak to 26 in a row. Sophomore Dartmouth commit
Abby Dunning is 12-1 with a 1.23 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 85 innings. Senior
Angela Zedak, who has signed with Northwestern, has hit 21 homers, driven in 73 runs and owns a pitching record of 14-1.
13. (14) Clarksville (Tenn.), 42-1Closed out the regular season with a doubleheader sweep over Springfield, 2-1 and 4-1. The wins stretched their win streak to 24.
14. (15) Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.), 25-3The Pioneers got a home run and two-hit pitching from
Morgan Smith in defeating Tucson 4-2, moving into the Class 6A state championship game.
15. (18) Hallettsville (Texas), 29-0Led by Florida signee Riley Trlicek, the Brahmas have three pitchers with more than 100 strikeouts on the season.
16. (16) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 31-2Rained postponed the Rockets' quest for a seventh-straight Class 5A state title. softball championship. The game will be played Monday against Wayne County.
17. (NR) Fairhope (Ala.), 40-4South Alabama signee
Emma Kropp homered twice and freshman
Alea Johnson threw a four-hit shutout as the Pirates avenged a recent loss to Baker 8-0. Johnson has 23 wins, 262 strikeouts in 137 innings and a 0.36 ERA.
18. (19) Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), 25-0The T-Wolves defeated Post Falls 8-5 and Couer d'Alene 10-1 to complete the regular season unbeaten.
19. (21) Katy (Texas), 26-2Winners of 21 in a row, the Tigers routed Ridge Point 10-0 to advance to the Class 6A regional semifinals against Alvin.
The Eagles edged Friendswood 2-1 to earn a spot in the Class 5A regional semifinals against Georgetown.
21. (24) Hartsville (S.C.), 25-0Freshman
Alyssa Poston won her 17th game of the season as she scattered five hits in a 6-1 win over Colleton County. The Red Foxes have won eight games by one run.
Four starters are hitting over .400 and junior pitcher
Tori Brennan (23-1) hasn't lost since Feb. 25. The Eagles have won 26 in a row.
23. (NR) Warren East (Bowling Green, Ky.), 28-0Senior pitcher
Katie Gardner has it going with 236 strikeouts, a 21-0 record and a 0.43 ERA. The hitting trio of
Hailey Hymer,
Kelsey Sparks and
Lucy Patterson have combined for 117 runs, 71 RBI, 136 base hits and 37 extra base hits.
24. (NR) St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 18-0The Lancers remain unbeaten after needing eight innings to defeat Matawan 2-1. The Lancers are seeking their 10th-straight county title.
25. (25) West Stanly (Oakboro, N.C.), 22-0The Colts beat West Stokes 13-1 to move into the third round of the Class 2A tournament.
Dropped out this week: Redmond (Wash.),
Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.),
Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.),
Lake Central (St. John, Ind.)On the Bubble: Trenton (Fla.), 24-0;
Lakota East (Liberty Township, Ohio), 25-1;
Oakdale (Calif.), 23-0-1;
Notre Dame (Crowley, La.), 33-0;
Hoover (Clendenin, W.Va.), 28-1;
Eustis (Fla.), 26-1;
Mt. Pleasant (Pa.), 17-0;
Rose Bud (Ark.), 32-1;
Apopka (Fla.), 25-1;
Washington (N.C.), 20-0;
Holy Cross (Louisville, Ky.), 26-2;
Western Brown (Mt. Orab, Ohio), 25-0;
Chopticon (Morganza, Md.), 17-1;
Angleton (Angleton, Texas), 32-1;
St. Joseph (Trumbull, Conn.)
