While the top-ranked team in The Sporting News high school softball rankings remains intact, the rest of the top 5 has altered from last week.
Here’s a look at The Sporting News Top 25 high school softball teams for this week.
Note: Games are through Wednesday, April 16.
Top 25 High School Softball Rankings
1. Melissa (Texas)
Record: 27-0
The Cardinals continue to deliver the long ball. Following Monday’s 16-0 win against McKinney North, they have now hit 89 home runs on the season. Four were hit in that game, with Kennedy Bradley hitting her team-leading 19th to Gabby Kuehler hitting her very first.
Melissa wraps up 5A Region II District 9 play Thursday evening against Prosper Walnut Grove. On Saturday, the Cards have a scheduled home game against Arkansas power Bentonville in a matchup of defending state champions.
2. Summerville (South Carolina)
Record: 20-0
On April 11, the Green Wave survived a 1-0 game against Aynor, with Ansley Bennett throwing a no-hitter. But Summerville won the game in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off RBI hit from Maeven Moreno. Wednesday, they scored 12 first-inning runs en route to a 22-1 win against Fort Dorchester.
3. Katy (Texas)
Record: 30-1
Ella Kate Smith had a huge day in the Tigers’ 9-0 win on Tuesday against Tompkins. She pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out 15, while on offense, she had three hits, including her 13th homer of the season.
4. Montgomery Lake Creek (Texas)
Record: 26-0
The Lions continued to roll through District 17-5A with an 11-4 win against College Station, as Lake Creek moved to 11-0 in the district. Lake Creek has another district game Thursday evening against Brenham.
5. Orange Beach (Alabama)
Record: 28-2
After dropping the first game of the season, the Makos reeled off 28 straight wins. But that streak came to an end on April 12 with a 4-0 loss to Thompson, another Alabama team which is enjoying an excellent season of its own.
6. Oak Ridge (California)
Record: 15-1
The Trojans haven’t played since April 9. They’re scheduled not to play again until April 23, a road game at Del Oro.
7. Doral Academy (Florida)
Record: 23-1
Sarah Breaux, a Clemson commit, went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs on Tuesday when the Firebirds defeated Archbishop McCarthy, 10-0. She also went 3-for-3 and homered the following day, driving in three runs in a 14-1 win against Miami Christian.
8. Coahoma (Texas)
Record: 25-0
In a 15-0 win against Compass Academy on Monday, Avery Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. She also combined on a three-inning no-hitter with Hannah Wells, with the two teaming up to strike out seven.
9. Calvary Christian (Florida)
Record: 21-1
The Warriors dropped their first game on April 10, falling 7-2 to Inspiration Academy. But they have bounced back to win three straight games, including shutout wins on consecutive days, 5-0 against Lake Region on Monday and 16-0 against Indian Rocks Christian Tuesday.
10. Montverde Academy (Florida)
Record: 21-2
It’s a current five-game win streak for the Eagles, which included a 5-3 win against Inspiration Academy on Monday and a 7-1 win the following day against Foundation Academy. Addison Poe homered in both wins, and Miranda Murch hit two out on Tuesday.
11. Desert Mountain (Arizona)
Record: 21-1-1
The Wolves scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh on Monday to rally past Saguaro, 5-4, as Zoe Horning hit a game-winning sacrifice fly. Desert Mountain then had an easier time of it the following day, downing Arizona College Prep, 8-1, as McKinsey Beyer had two hits and stole three bags while Renee Arabo homered.
12. Norco (California)
Record: 20-2
The Cougars picked up their second straight shutout on Tuesday with a 3-0 win against Roosevelt. Peyton May struck out 14 batters, while her battery mate, catcher Ashley Duran, hit two doubles and drove in a run.
13. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)
Record: 9-1
In a wild game on Monday, Austintown-Fitch rallied from a 6-0 second-inning deficit and a 14-5 deficit in the top of the fifth inning to defeat Canfield, 20-15. The Falcons took the lead by scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kaliana Ray went 5-for-5 with three RBIs, and Abby Toth had four hits, including a pair of homers, and drove in seven runs.
14. Barbers Hill (Texas)
Record: 27-2
The Eagles rolled past Barbers Hill, 11-1, on April 11 and then got past Nederland, 6-3, on April 15. Macie Bryant struck out 10 to get the win, and Taylor Lozano - hitting eighth in the lineup - had two hits and drove in two runs. Barbers Hill has an intriguing game scheduled on April 22 against Katy.
15. Etiwanda (California)
Record: 15-2
Mya Coleman tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out five in the Eagles’ 9-0 win Wednesday against Rancho Cucamonga. At the plate, Taylor Wren went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
16. Calvary Baptist Academy (Louisiana)
Record: 33-1
The Cavaliers capped a strong regular season with a 5-0 road win at Airline on Tuesday. Pitcher Kynzee Anderson gave up just two hits and struck out 13 and also went 2-for-3 and drove in a run. Baylor Bockhaus also homered, giving the freshman 23 now on the season.
17. Neshannock (Pennsylvania)
Record: 11-0
It’s been an impressive run of pitching for the Lancers, who have now recorded seven straight shutouts, the latest an 18-0 win against New Brighton on Monday as Addy Frye and Gianna Paglia combined on a three-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts. Jaidon Nogay, Gabriella Antuono and Anna Measel each had two hits and three RBIs.
18. Catawba Ridge (South Carolina)
Record: 19-0
Jaidyn Harris went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs, including a two-run walk-off homer to give the Copperheads a run-rule win on Tuesday, 10-0 against Indian Land. Keira O’Brien threw a one-hit shutout, striking out seven.
19. Bishop O’Connell (Virginia)
Record: 10-0
The Knights got to double-digit wins without a loss with an 11-2 win against Bishop Ireton on April 10. Emma Prykanowski and Callie Lissenden each went 3-for-4 and combined to drive in three runs.
20. Hernando (Mississippi)
Record: 26-1
It was a dose of payback for the Tigers on Tuesday, as they defeated DeSoto Central, 3-0, which was the same team that handed Hernando its lone loss. This time, freshman pitcher Olivia Skinner threw a four-hit shutout and struck out 13, and Hayden Hodge went 2-for-3 and drove in two of those three runs.
21. Corpus Christi Calallen (Texas)
Record: 24-4
The Wildcats clinched the 4A-31 district title with a 15-4 win against Tuloso-Midway. Kristin Leal went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored, and Brookelynn Meador was 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs.
22. Bentonville (Arkansas)
Record: 13-1
The Tigers held off Rogers, 3-2, on Tuesday as Darby Burnett struck out 12 and Anniston Reith homered. But Bentonville will be tested again the rest of the week. Thursday, the Tigers play a solid Springdale Har-Ber squad; then on Saturday, they will be heading down to Texas to take on No. 1 ranked Melissa.
23. Lincoln-Way Central (Illinois)
Record: 10-0
Kayla Doerre and Jalese Hays each homered as the Knights survived Marist, 3-2, on Monday. Then the next day, they downed Homewood-Flossmoor, 17-7, behind homers from Teagan Berkshire, Abigail Paczesny and Lisabella Dimitrijevic.
24. Rosary Academy (California)
Record: 20-2-1
The Royals have reeled off 11 straight wins, which included an 8-4 win on April 5 against Orange Lutheran. A pair of sophomores, Jenna Caldera and Hayden Huerta, are the team’s top two batters, hitting .541 and .516, respectively. The two have combined for 72 hits and 62 runs scored.
25. Thompson (Alabama)
Record: 32-3
The Warriors have won 15 of their last 16 ballgames, highlighted by a 4-0 win against Orange Beach on April 12. Their most recent game was on Tuesday, a 10-0 shutout against Hillcrest that clinched the 7A Area 5 championship.