Category: Super 25

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Back-to-back Mississippi state champion Northwest Rankin finishes the spring season as the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25.

The (34-0) Cougars completed their undefeated season on May 16 with a second-straight victory over Hernando in the Class 7A championship series. The final game was called due to weather after a delay with the Cougars leading 12-3 in the bottom of the sixth, and the trophy presentation was made on the team’s bus. Northwest Rankin allowed just 41 runs all season while scoring 324. The Cougars won the 6A title in 2023.

Northwest Rankin overcame Texas’ Katy (39-3-1) for the top spot on May 30 and held that distinction for the final five weeks. Katy spent eight weeks at No. 1 after California’s Pacifica (27-2) ceded that spot to the Tigers in week five.

More than half of the teams in the final ranking won state championships this season. Eight of the first 10 teams, including the first six are state titlists.

Four others finished second in their respective state tournaments.

State rankings submitted by the 2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.

The final ranking for the spring season is next Thursday. The NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll will start in late August.

USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll — Final Rankings

1. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)

Record: 34-0 | PR: 1

2. Calvary Baptist (La.)

Record: 35-2 | PR: 2

3. Sterlington (La.)

Record: 33-1 | PR: 3

4. Orange Beach (Ala.)

Record: 46-1 | PR: 4

5. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)

Record: 25-0 | PR: 5

6. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)

Record: 23-1 | PR: 6

7. Walsh Jesuit (Ohio)

Record: 22-1 | PR: 7

8. Diamond (Mo.)

Record: 38-1 | PR: 8

9. Carterville (Ill.)

Record: 38-1 | PR: 9

10. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)

Record: 31-2 | PR: 10

11. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 11

12. Jackson (Wash.)

Record: 26-2 | PR: 12

13. Lake Central (Ind.)

Record: 32-2 | PR: 13

14. Skyview (Wash.)

Record: 28-1-1 | PR: 14

15. Saint Francis (Calif.)

Record: 28-1 | PR: 15

16. St. John Vianney (N.J.)

Record: 26-1 | PR: 16

17. Mount St. Dominic (N.J.)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 17

18. Bartow (Fla.)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 18

19. Sheridan (Ark.)

Record: 29-2 | PR: 19

20. Pacifica (Calif.)

Record: 27-2 | PR: 20

21. Notre Dame (N.J.)

Record: 25-2 | PR: 21

22. Katy (Texas)

Record: 39-3-1 | PR: 22

23. Riverside (Va.)

Record: 24-3 | PR: 23

24. Owyhee (Utah)

Record: 25-4 | PR: 24

25. St. Thomas More (La.)

Record: 31-4-1 | PR: 25

Dropped out: none.

About the NFCA:

The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention. 

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With spring seasons winding down, and just a few states still competing, there were no changes this week to the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25.

More than half of the teams in the ranking won state championships this season. Eight of the first 10 teams, including the first six are state titlists.

Four others finished second in their respective state tournaments.

State rankings submitted by the 2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.

The final ranking for the spring season is next Thursday. The NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll will start in late August.

USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – June 20, 2024

1. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)

Record: 34-0 | PR: 1

2. Calvary Baptist (La.)

Record: 35-2 | PR: 2

3. Sterlington (La.)

Record: 33-1 | PR: 3

4. Orange Beach (Ala.)

Record: 46-1 | PR: 4

5. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)

Record: 25-0 | PR: 5

6. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)

Record: 23-1 | PR: 6

7. Walsh Jesuit (Ohio)

Record: 22-1 | PR: 7

8. Diamond (Mo.)

Record: 38-1 | PR: 8

9. Carterville (Ill.)

Record: 38-1 | PR: 9

10. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)

Record: 31-2 | PR: 10

11. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 11

12. Jackson (Wash.)

Record: 26-2 | PR: 12

13. Lake Central (Ind.)

Record: 32-2 | PR: 13

14. Skyview (Wash.)

Record: 28-1-1 | PR: 14

15. Saint Francis (Calif.)

Record: 28-1 | PR: 15

16. St. John Vianney (N.J.)

Record: 26-1 | PR: 16

17. Mount St. Dominic (N.J.)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 17

18. Bartow (Fla.)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 18

19. Sheridan (Ark.)

Record: 29-2 | PR: 19

20. Pacifica (Calif.)

Record: 27-2 | PR: 20

21. Notre Dame (N.J.)

Record: 25-2 | PR: 21

22. Katy (Texas)

Record: 39-3-1 | PR: 22

23. Riverside (Va.)

Record: 24-3 | PR: 23

24. Owyhee (Utah)

Record: 25-4 | PR: 24

25. St. Thomas More (La.)

Record: 31-4-1 | PR: 25

Dropped out: none.

About the NFCA:

The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention. 

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!

National scoreboard from ScoreStream

Live Stream High School Sports on the NFHS Network

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three state champions jumped into the mix this week, with minimal movement elsewhere, as the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 continues to wind down.

Illinois 2A titlist Carterville took over the ninth spot this week on the strength of the (38-1) Lions’ pair of 1-0 victories in the state final four. Carterville defeated Rockridge in 10 innings in the semis and North Boone in the championship. The Lions’ only loss came in their season opener, 1-0 to Kentucky powerhouse McCracken County, on March 15.

Meanwhile, new No. 16 St. John Vianney defeated two Super 25 squads in succession en route to their second straight New Jersey Non-Public A crown. The (26-1) Lancers eliminated then-No. 16 Notre Dame with a 3-0 triumph ahead of last week’s poll, then edged No. 15 Mount St. Dominic, 4-1, last Thursday in the championship game. St. John Vianney’s lone loss was 2-0 to Immaculate Heart Academy in the Blue Eagles’ Anthony LaRezza Invitational on April 13.

No. 23 Riverside (24-3) defeated Hickory and Kellam last week to claim its first Virginia Class 5 state championship, in just the program’s ninth year of existence.

State rankings submitted by the 2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.

USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – June 13, 2024

1. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)

Record: 34-0 | PR: 1

2. Calvary Baptist (La.)

Record: 35-2 | PR: 2

3. Sterlington (La.)

Record: 33-1 | PR: 3

4. Orange Beach (Ala.)

Record: 46-1 | PR: 4

5. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)

Record: 25-0 | PR: 5

6. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)

Record: 23-1 | PR: 6

7. Walsh Jesuit (Ohio)

Record: 22-1 | PR: 7

8. Diamond (Mo.)

Record: 38-1 | PR: 8

9. Carterville (Ill.)

Record: 38-1 | PR: NR

10. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)

Record: 31-2 | PR: 9

11. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 10

12. Jackson (Wash.)

Record: 26-2 | PR: 11

13. Lake Central (Ind.)

Record: 32-2 | PR: 12

14. Skyview (Wash.)

Record: 28-1-1 | PR: 13

15. Saint Francis (Calif.)

Record: 28-1 | PR: 14

16. St. John Vianney (N.J.)

Record: 26-1 | PR: NR

17. Mount St. Dominic (N.J.)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 15

18. Bartow (Fla.)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 16

19. Sheridan (Ark.)

Record: 29-2 | PR: 17

20. Pacifica (Calif.)

Record: 27-2 | PR: 18

21. Notre Dame (N.J.)

Record: 25-2 | PR: 19

22. Katy (Texas)

Record: 39-3-1 | PR: 20

23. Riverside (Va.)

Record: 24-3 | PR: NR

24. Owyhee (Utah)

Record: 25-4 | PR: 24

25. St. Thomas More (La.)

Record: 31-4-1 | PR: t-25

Dropped out: Marist (Ill.), North DeSoto (La.), Oak Grove (N.C.) and Shenendehowa (N.Y.).

About the NFCA:

The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention. 

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!

National scoreboard from ScoreStream

Live Stream High School Sports on the NFHS Network

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Ohio and New Jersey state tournaments were cause for subtle changes in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 this week, as softball seasons around the country continue to wind down.

No. 6 Austintown-Fitch (23-1) captured the Ohio Division I state title on Saturday with a 4-0 ranked victory over Watkins Memorial (31-2), which actually moved up one place to ninth in the poll. Watkins defeated Anthony Wayne (30-2), who had been ranked ahead of them in eighth, 2-0 in Friday’s Division I semifinal.

Lake Central (32-2) dropped a spot to 12th after being ousted by Penn, 4-2, in Saturday’s Indiana Class 4A semi-state semifinal, while Mount St. Dominic (30-1) remained 15th and continued to advance in the New Jersey state playoffs. Notre Dame (25-2), meanwhile, lost three places after a 3-0 loss to St. John Vianney in Monday’s South Jersey non-public Class A final.

Marist (35-3) stayed put at No. 21 after picking up a pair of Illinois state tournament triumphs. The Red Hawks play one-loss Mundelein (36-1) in the 4A state semis on Friday.

State rankings submitted by the 2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.

USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – June 6, 2024

1. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)

Record: 34-0 | PR: 1

2. Calvary Baptist (La.)

Record: 35-2 | PR: 2

3. Sterlington (La.)

Record: 33-1 | PR: 3

4. Orange Beach (Ala.)

Record: 46-1 | PR: 4

5. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)

Record: 25-0 | PR: 5

6. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)

Record: 23-1 | PR: 6

7. Walsh Jesuit (Ohio)

Record: 22-1 | PR: 7

8. Diamond (Mo.)

Record: 38-1 | PR: 9

9. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)

Record: 31-2 | PR: 10

10. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 8

11. Jackson (Wash.)

Record: 26-2 | PR: 12

12. Lake Central (Ind.)

Record: 32-2 | PR: 11

13. Skyview (Wash.)

Record: 28-1-1 | PR: 13

14. Saint Francis (Calif.)

Record: 28-1 | PR: 14

15. Mount St. Dominic (N.J.)

Record: 30-1 | PR: 15

16. Bartow (Fla.)

Record: 30-2 | PR: 17

17. Sheridan (Ark.)

Record: 29-2 | PR: 18

18. Pacifica (Calif.)

Record: 27-2 | PR: 19

19. Notre Dame (N.J.)

Record: 25-2 | PR: 16

20. Katy (Texas)

Record: 39-3-1 | PR: 20

21. Marist (Ill.)

Record: 35-3 | PR: 21

22. Oak Grove (N.C.)

Record: 24-3 | PR: 22

23. Shenendehowa (N.Y.)

Record: 16-3 | PR: 23

24. Owyhee (Utah)

Record: 25-4 | PR: 24

t-25. St. Thomas More (La.)

Record: 31-4-1 | PR: t-25

t-25. North DeSoto (La.)

Record: 31-5 | PR: t-25

Dropped out: none.

About the NFCA:

The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention. 

Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!

National scoreboard from ScoreStream

Live Stream High School Sports on the NFHS Network