Lake Creek (Texas) named best softball team in the country in final 2023 SBLive Power 25 rankings

Another great season on the dirt has come to a close. 

Montgomery Lake Creek (Texas) went wire-to-wire as the top high school softball team in the country. The Lions have won 85 of their past 86 games and they capped their 2023 season with a second consecutive UIL 5A state championship.

Salpointe Catholic (Arizona), St. Amant (Louisiana), Ballard (Kentucky), and Jackson (Washington) round out the Top 5 in SBLive's final Power 25 national softball rankings of the 2023 season. 

The SBLive Power 25 national high school softball rankings include teams affiliated with the state high school athletic association in the state it resides in or those allowed to play affiliate high schools in their home state as well as some of the country's softball academies.

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SBLIVE POWER 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS

June 20, 2023

1. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) (44-1)

An incredible two-year run ended in the best way possible for the Lady Lions as they claimed their second consecutive 5A state championship blanking New Braunfels Canyon 8-0. Florida signee Ava Brown was exceptional in her final high school game allowing just one hit and punching out 15 batters to earn MVP honors. Dating back to last season, Lake Creek has won an incredible 85 of 86 contests.

2. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.) (35-1)

BYU signee Gianna Mares and the Lady Lancers’ defense came through in a tight 2-0 victory over Phoenix Greenway to capture their fifth consecutive state championship. Mares walked four batters (three of those intentional against UCLA signee Kaitlyn Terry), but was able to keep anyone from crossing the plate in a complete game effort allowing just two hits and striking out seven.

3. St. Amant (La.) (32-2)

Finished the 2023 season winning a second consecutive state championship - third since 2019 - on April 29 with a 4-0 win over Sam Houston. Boston College signee Addison Jackson capped her decorated prep career earning the Outstanding Player.

4. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) (36-1)

Six runs in the sixth inning of the state finals sealed the deal for the Lady Bruins in a 12-4 win over Henderson County to claim the program’s second consecutive state title, as well as Ballard’s 75th victory in the past 76 contests. Louisville signee Brooke Gray earned MVP honors striking out 10 batters and finished 29-0 on the season.

5. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) (26-1)

Bad weather shortened the state finals to playing just shy of six innings in Jackson’s 5-1 victory over Glacier Peak with the Lady Timberwolves claiming their third championship since 2018. SBLive Washington Player of the Year and UNLV commit Yanina Sherwood allowed three hits in five innings while punching out five batters.

6. Hollister (Calif.) (30-3)

Hollister fell to Archbishop Mitty 3-2 on May 1, but didn't lose again as the Haybalers reeled off 10 consecutive victories - including the final three by a combined four runs - capping it off with a 1-0 win over Saint Francis to earn the program’s first ever CIF Nor-Cal Division I state title.

7. Rockridge (Taylor Ridge, Ill.) (38-1)

A very long win streak ended for the Rockets early on, but they were not fazed, and proved that by winning their third consecutive state championship defeating Beecher 7-1 and finishing the 2023 season on a 30-game win streak. They are 102-1 over the past three seasons.

8. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) (23-8)

Not every moment this season was pretty, but the Lady Mariners got the job done when it mattered most and put on an offensive clinic in their 15-9 win over Norco to claim the CIF Southern Section Division I championship. UCLA commit Kaniya Bragg thrived at the plate finishing 3-for-5.

9. Kaukauna (Wis.) (30-0)

Kaukauna cemented its dynasty status by blanking Superior 4-0 to earn the program’s third consecutive state championship and heads into next season on an 81-game win streak. Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, sophomore Karly Meredith, tossed a five-hit shutout and hit a double at the plate along with batting two runners in.

10. Bartow (Fla.) (29-3)

A seventh-inning rally that included four runs breaking a 1-1 tie secured the Lady Yellow Jackets’ ninth state championship in program history, defeating Pace 5-1 to cap the season with an 11-game win streak. Florida commit Katelynn “Red” Oxley allowed just two hits and punched out 16 batters

11. Marist (Chicago, Ill.) (37-2)

The Lady RedHawks were simply dominant in the postseason, outscoring opponents by a combined 71-4 en route to winning their second state championship in the past three seasons defeating Yorkville 9-1. Division I signees Maia Pietrzak (Ball State) and Eileen Donahue (Illinois) each went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Isabel Cunnea (Northwestern) smacked a double and had a RBI.

12. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) (28-4)

The Lady Lancers may have come up short in the state finals to Hollister, but their 2023 resume stacks up against the best. They finished with 22 shutouts in 32 games, while all four of their losses were to teams that have been nationally ranked at some point in the season.

13. Pearland (Texas) (41-3)

The Lady Oilers rallied from down 2-0 early scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning, and later added another for insurance as they escaped Denton Guyer 4-2 to win their third state title in program history. Texas A&M signee Hailey Golden earned Most Valuable Player honors after finishing 3-for-4 at the plate while Sam Houston State signee Abigail Gutierrez struck out six batters in a complete game effort.

14. Norco (Calif.) (28-4)

Norco’s season ended in tough fashion falling to Pacifica in a 15-9 offensive showdown in the CIF Southern Section Division I finals. Despite the runner-up finish, Norco had a very impressive season overall with wins including Murrieta Mesa and Los Alamitos twice.

15. Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) (28-4-1)

In what likely felt like an eternity to reach the finish line, Penn won its first state title since 1999 surviving two-time defending champion Roncalli 2-1 in extras. Sophomore Olivia Signorino and junior Aubrey Zachary combined for a four-hit shutout and eight strikeouts in the upset over the Royals.

16. Pace (Fla.) (28-2)

The Lady Patriots’ first trip to the state finals since 2007 did not go as planned as the game got away from them in the seventh inning, surrendering four runs to Bartow and fell 5-1. Along with the state finals defeat, Pace’s only other loss was to Alabama powerhouse Orange Beach. Led by one of the nation’s top players for the 2024 class in LSU commit Jayden Heavener, expect the Lady Patriots to be right back in the mix next year.

17. Summerville (S.C.) (32-1)

Summerville claimed the program’s first state title in school history with a 2-0 win over Byrnes in the second game of a best-of-three series. Sophomore Ansley Burnett, the 2023 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year, capped a dominant season by throwing her second complete game of the state finals series.

18. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio) (22-0-2)

The Lady Falcons were in the state finals for the first time in three decades and made the most of the trip by earning their first state title in school history defeating Anthony Wayne 6-1 powered by a four-run fifth inning. Another big season could be on the horizon in 2024 with returners including Abby Toth, Ayla Ray, and Kylie Folkwein who each recorded multiple hits in the finals.

19. Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) (21-0)

It’s almost unbelievable what O’Connell has done dating back almost three decades claiming state championships in 27 of the previous 29 seasons. The Knights’ 4-2 victory over Potomac earned them their 11th consecutive trophy. Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year and Oklahoma State signee Katie Kutz went 2-for-2 at the plate with a double, while also punching out 14 batters in the circle.

20. North Posey (Poseyville, Ind.) (29-0)

Hollywood could not have scripted a better ending - at least for North Posey - nor individually for Erin Hoehn. The Michigan signee tossed a no-hitter and struck out 15 batters (a 2A championship game record), but her three-run, walk-off dinger to defeat Andrean 3-0 for the state championship took center stage as the Lady Vikings rebounded after falling in the finals by a single run last season.

21. Woodgrove (Purcellville, Va.) (27-1)

George Mason signee Abbey Lane did not finish with a dominant stat line, but she did keep things under control in the circle, throwing a complete game shutout as Woodgrove defeated Hickory 3-0 to claim the program’s first state championship since 2018 and also avenge last season’s loss to Hickory in the semifinals. UMASS signee Alaina Santoli and sophomore Erynn Thompson each recorded multiple hits in the contest for Woodgrove.

22. Benton (Ark.) (29-4)

There is very little that the Lady Panthers have not accomplished, but they checked another task off the list in the 5A state championship game winning their third consecutive state title, the first three-peat in school history. Stanford signee Alyssa Houston had a dominant finish to her outstanding prep career, striking out 12 batters while allowing just three hits solidifying her second straight state finals MVP award.

23. West Stanly (Oakboro, N.C.) (31-1)

The pressure of winning at the highest level has yet to affect the Colts and that was proven in their lopsided 10-0 win over Midway, the second of a best-of-three series, claiming their fourth consecutive title. Ace pitcher Lily Huneycutt, a Wingate signee, was named the Most Valuable Player after striking out 11 Midway batters in her final prep game while also eclipsing 500 career strikeouts.

24. Spanish Fork (Utah) (28-2)

Two one-run losses were the only blemishes on the Dons’ resume, but all that matters is they finished in a perfect manner winning their third consecutive state title defeating Bountiful 8-4 in the second game of a best-of-three series scoring eight total runs in the final two innings. Utah Gatorade Player of the Year Avery Sapp, a Utah Valley signee, finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a run batted in.

25. Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.) (31-4-1)

It is no secret that the Rockets felt like the state championship game got away from them as they fell just shy of clinching their third straight state championship, falling in the finals to Penn 2-1 in extra innings. Florida signee Keagan Rathrock capped off her illustrious prep career despite the loss, allowing just two hits and struck out 17 batters. Rathrock also scored Roncalli’s only run on a solo homer in the seventh inning.