SBLive Power 25 national softball rankings: Clovis North (California) moves up, Jackson (Washington) moves in
St. Amant (Louisiana) became the first nationally-ranked high school softball team to win a state championship in 2023 - and many more teams will have the opportunity to join them in the coming weeks.
No. 8 St. Amant beat Sam Houston 4-0 to their second consecutive LHSAA state championship.
Clovis North (California) moves into the top 5 of the latest SBLive Power 25 national softball rankings, while Lake Brantley (Florida) makes its debut and Jackson (Washington) claims the final spot at No. 25.
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.
The rankings are released weekly throughout the 2023 softball season. Find the complete breakdown of the latest SBLive Power 25 below.
The Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Kyle Sutherland based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. Reach Kyle on Twitter @k_sutherlandAR or email him at kyle.sutherland54@gmail.com.
- PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7 | WEEK 8 | WEEK 9
SBLIVE POWER 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS
May 8, 2023
1. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) (37-0)
Elgin was hardly a challenge for the Lady Tigers who blanked them 11-0 to advance to next weekend’s regional quarterfinals. Florida signee Ava Brown tossed a no-hitter striking out 11 batters and also smacked a home run. LSU signee Maddie McKee went 4-for-5 with two triples.
Last week: 1
2. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.) (33-1)
Playoff victories over Sahuarita and Canyon del Oro advanced the Lady Lancers to Thursday’s semifinal round against Greenway to play for a berth in the state championship game.
Last week: 3
3. Pace (Fla.) (23-1)
A 7-3 win over Navarre earned the Lady Patriots their third consecutive district championship. LSU commit Jayden Heavener went 4-for-4 at the plate with 5 RBI’s and a home run, while also striking out all four batters she faced to close the game.
Last week: 4
4. Guyer (Denton, Texas) (32-0)
The Lady Wildcats thumped Martin 8-0 to win the area championship and advance to the regional quarterfinals where they will square off against Plano West on Saturday.
Last week: 5
5. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.) (23-0-1)
Following an extra innings scare against Clovis West, the Lady Broncos left no doubts pitching back-to-back shutouts over Clovis East and Clovis. Up next is Central (Fresno) before Bechanan in the regular season finale on Friday.
Last week: 6
6. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) (27-1-1)
The Lady Lions earned a 5-1 win over Chino Hills in the first round of the CIF playoffs. They are back on the field Tuesday against Orange Lutheran with hopes of advancing to Thursday’s semifinal round.
Last week: 7
7. Bentonville (Ark.) (28-1)
The Lady Tigers won their 39th consecutive conference contest over cross-city rival Bentonville West to close out the regular season. They now have their sights set on winning their third straight 6A state title and sixth since 2016.
Last week: 8
8. St. Amant (La.) (32-2)
Finished the 2023 season winning a second consecutive state championship on April 29 with a 4-0 win over Sam Houson.
Last week: 9
9. Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.) (29-0-1)
Victories over Casteel and Campo Verde kept the Lady Wildcats in the winner’s bracket of the AIA playoffs as well as the Top 10 of the Power 25. Up next they take on Desert Mountain in the semifinals Thursday.
Last week: 10
10. Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) (23-1)
The Lady Cavaliers bounced back from a shutout loss to close the season and began the postseason by dishing out back-to-back shutouts of their own against Nation Ford and Dutch Fork.
Last week: 11
11. Los Alamitos (Calif.) (24-3)
Since falling by a run to Huntington Beach on April 18, the Lady Griffins have won six consecutive contests, including the opening round win over Mission Viejo in the CIF playoffs. If they beat Pacifica in Tuesday’s quarterfinals that could set up a possible meeting with No. 6 Oaks Christian in the semis.
Last week: 14
12. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio) (21-0)
Despite playing for the first time in eight days the Lady Warriors did not skip a beat earning convincing victories over Northridge and Granville by a combined 25-3.
Last week: 13
13. Moorpark (Calif.) (19-1)
It has been a long road, but the Lady Musketeers made the path a little shorter by shutting out El Segundo to start the CIF playoffs. They will square off against Saugus on Tuesday looking to punch a ticket to Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Last week: 16
14. Anthony Wayne (Whitehouse, Ohio) (18-1)
They cruised past Northview and Fairview, but Perrysburg made the Lady Generals work and they did just that with stellar pitching and a game-winning RBI from Molly Connor.
Last week: 15
15. Norco (Calif.) (25-3)
The bats have been hot for Norco in the past three games averaging 17 runs per contest in that span. They kicked off postseason play with a 9-5 win over Gahr in the CIF playoffs to advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
Last week: 17
16. Rockridge (Taylor Ridge, Ill.) (24-1)
The Lady Rockets made sure to get May started off right by shutting out three of four opponents, winning by a combined 68-2. They get a five-game week started against Erie-Prophetstown on Monday.
Last week: 18
17. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) (22-1)
An unblemished record ended after 22 games at the hands of Great Crossing, who outscored the Lady Bruins 4-2 following a first inning tie. Ballard plays five this week to finish out the regular season beginning with North Oldham.
Last week: 12
18. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) (22-2)
The Lady Lancers notched a massive victory earning redemption over Archbishop Mitty with a shutout to extend the win streak to six. The regular season concludes after this week’s contests against Valley Christian and Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep.
Last week: 20
19. Huntington Beach (Calif.) (25-5)
The Lady Oilers came into the postseason with something to prove and keep surviving and advancing since taking down Westlake in the play-in game for the CIF playoffs. They thumped Torrence 12-1 in the first round and will play Murrieta Mesa in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
Last week: 22
20. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) (19-3)
A close shutout loss to Saint Francis to end the week followed wins over Hollister and Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep. The Lady Monarchs are itching to get back on the field Wednesday against St. Ignatius Prep and Valley Christian on Friday to close the regular season.
Last week: 20
21. Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.) (14-0)
The Lady Hawks pitched two shutouts over Varina and Patrick Henry before closing out the week with a 5-2 win over a quality Altee squad powered by a three-run eighth inning in extras.
Last week: 23
22. Donovan Catholic (Torns River, N.J.) (17-1)
Notre Dame gave Donovan Catholic its first taste of defeat in 2023, but the Lady Griffins bounced back with a 7-0 victory over Northern Burlington in the Rick Unterstein Invitational. It was their fourth shutout in the past five games.
Last week: 19
23. Bothell (Wash.) (20-0)
A perfect regular season was checked off the 2023 to-do list after the Cougars won all three contests by a combined 36-4 as they now await their postseason opponent.
Last week: 24
24. Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) (21-3)
The Lady Patriots make their 2023 debut in the Power 25 after winning the 7A District 3 district tournament by shutting out Lake Mary. They take on Winter Park in the regional quarterfinals of the FHSAA playoffs on Thursday.
Last week: NR
25. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) (17-1)
Jackson makes its way back into the Power 25 with the only stumble being to a quality Kamiak squad. They start the final week of the regular season against Lake Stevens on Monday before hosting Mariner.
Last week: NR
