SBLive Power 25 Ohio softball rankings: Watkins Memorial takes over top spot
A shakeup has taken place at the top of the SBLive Power 25 softball rankings after Holland Springfield beat last week's No. 1-ranked team, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, 5-4 on April 19.
That enables the Blue Devils to jump up to No. 2 behind Watkins Memorial, a Division I state runner-up in 2021 and a state semifinalist a year ago that is among the few remaining undefeated teams in Ohio.
There are eight remaining undefeated teams in the rankings, including Cincinnati Oak Hills, which stays at No. 3, and Youngstown Austintown-Fitch, which has moved up to spots to No. 4.
Here’s week four of the SBLive Ohio Power 25 softball rankings:
1. Watkins Memorial (17-0)
Last week: No. 2
Even with junior pitcher Carsyn Cassady temporarily sidelined with an injury that could keep her out until early May, the Warriors have continued to stay hot. They defeated Licking Valley 20-6 on April 24.
2. Holland Springfield (15-0)
Last week: No. 4
In addition to beating Anthony Wayne to hand the Generals their first loss, the Blue Devils beat Toledo St. Ursula Academy 3-0 on April 20 and bombed Napoleon 15-0 on April 24.
3. Cincinnati Oak Hills (17-0)
Last week: No. 3
The Highlanders scored two in the bottom of the seventh to beat Mason 6-5 on April 24. They had outscored their previous three opponents by a combined 34-0, including beating defending Division I state champion West Chester Lakota West 13-0 on April 20.
4. Austintown-Fitch (14-0)
Last week: No. 6
Sydnie Watts tossed her second perfect game this season and the third of her career April 24 as the Falcons beat Warren Harding 18-0 in five innings. Austintown-Fitch has allowed just six runs all season.
5. Athens (17-0)
Last week: No. 9
The No. 1-ranked team in the state in Division II according to the OHSFSCA, the Bulldogs followed shutout wins over Albany Alexander (10-0 on April 19) and Waterford (13-0 on April 20) by beating Pomeroy Meigs 5-1 on April 21 and Logan 4-1 on April 24.
6. Wheelersburg (13-0)
Last week: No. 7
The Pirates were the unanimous No. 1 in the OHSFSCA rankings in Division III this week after beating Waverly 14-0 on April 18 and Portsmouth West 5-1 on April 20 to continue their perfect start.
7. Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (11-1)
Last week: No. 1
The loss to Springfield marked the only time this season the Generals have given up more than two runs in a game. They bounced back with a 12-0 win over Bowling Green on April 20.
8. Gahanna Lincoln (19-1)
Last week: No. 5
The Lions endured their first loss April 22 in the second game of a doubleheader at Centerville when they fell 4-3 to Lebanon, but their No. 1 pitcher, Ella Esterby, was not the pitcher of record. Gahanna beat Westland 26-0 on April 24 to move to 6-0 in the OCC-Ohio Division.
9. LaGrange Keystone (15-0)
Last week: No. 13
The Wildcats continued a perfect start by shutting out Oberlin Firelands 16-0 on April 18 and Columbia Station Columbia 13-0 on April 19 and then beating Wellington 13-3 on April 20 and Cleveland St. Joseph Academy 9-1 on April 21.
10. Hopewell-Loudon (16-0)
Last week: No. 10
This Division IV powerhouse has posted seven consecutive shutout wins, including beating Old Fort 15-0 on April 19, New Riegel 14-0 on April 20, Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic 10-0 on April 21 and Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic 18-0 on April 24.
11. Chillicothe Unioto (16-1)
Last week: No. 12
The Shermans have won 14 in a row and continue to find success at the plate, averaging 11.3 runs per game. They followed a 15-5 win over Frankfort Adena on April 19 by beating Leesburg Fairfield 9-7 on April 20 and Bainbridge Paint Valley 8-0 on April 24.
12. Alliance Marlington (16-1)
Last week: Unranked
The Dukes have won seven in a row and move into the rankings following a week in which they defeated Alliance 10-0 on April 18 and Strasburg-Franklin 6-3 on April 20. Strasburg-Franklin is ranked first in Division IV according to the OHSFSCA.
13. Wooster Triway (13-1)
Last week: No. 14
The Titans followed their only loss, a 3-2 decision in 10 innings to Manchester on April 15, by beating Canal Fulton Northwest 13-0 on April 18 and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 20-2 on April 19 and 9-0 on April 24.
14. Canfield (12-1)
Last week: No. 18
The Cardinals recovered from their only loss, a 2-1 setback April 13 against Bluefield (West Virginia), by beating Warren Howland 7-1 on April 18 and 18-7 on April 19.
15. Lewistown Indian Lake (16-1)
Last week: No. 19
After opening last week by beating St. Paris Graham 8-1 on April 18 and 12-3 on April 19, the Lakers blew by New Carlisle Tecumseh 24-1 on April 20 and then edged Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan 3-0 on April 24.
16. Minster (16-1)
Last week: Unranked
The Wildcats haven’t lost since early April and enter following a week in which they beat Versailles 6-3 on April 18, Elida 16-6 on April 20, Sycamore Mohawk 9-3 and Van Buren 5-4 both on April 22 and Wapakoneta 5-0 on April 24.
17. Warren Champion (13-1)
Last week: No. 25
The Golden Flashes swept Youngstown Liberty 16-0 and 20-0 on April 19 in a doubleheader to extend their winning streak to 11.
18. Teays Valley (18-2)
Last week: No. 20
The Vikings are riding an 11-game winning streak that includes a 3-2 win over Circleville Logan Elm on April 19, Amanda-Clearcreek 16-0 on April 20 and Bloom-Carroll 5-4 on April 24.
19. Oak Harbor (17-2)
Last week: No. 11
The Rockets had a 15-game winning streak snapped when they lost 7-4 on April 24 to Castalia Margaretta. They survived to win 5-3 in eight innings over Maumee on April 20 and beat Toledo Notre Dame Academy 15-2 on April 22.
20. Uniontown Green (10-1)
Last week: No. 24
The Bulldogs continued a strong start by shutting out Canton GlenOak 13-0 on April 18 and Canton McKinley 16-0 on April 19.
21. Strasburg-Franklin (16-2)
Last week: No. 15
After losing 6-3 to Marlington on April 20, the Tigers beat Sugarcreek Garaway 2-0 on April 21 and Malvern 11-0 on April 24.
22. Brecksville-Broadview Heights (13-2)
Last week: No. 21
With wins over Wadsworth (5-2 on April 18), Stow-Munroe Falls (9-2 on April 19) and Hudson (17-5 on April 20), the Bees have won seven games in a row.
23. Bowerston Conotton Valley (16-2)
Last week: No. 22
The only losses for the Rockets remain against Strasburg-Franklin in mid-April. They beat Malvern 10-0 on April 18 and edged Newcomerstown 9-6 in eight innings on April 19.
24. Miamisburg (13-2)
Last week: No. 23
The Vikings shutout Kettering Fairmont 10-0 on April 18 and beat the Firebirds 15-3 the next day to continue what has become a 12-game winning streak.
25. New Concord John Glenn (15-2)
Last week: No. 16
After beating Dresden Tri-Valley 9-0 on April 19, the Little Muskies lost 3-1 to New Lexington on April 20 before bouncing back with a 15-2 win April 24 over Warsaw River View.
