LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Buford defended its Georgia state 7A championship to complete an undefeated season and keep the No. 1 ranking in the NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll for the entire 2023 season.
The (32-0) Wolves defeated Mill Creek, 12-4, last Thursday, then scored late in a Friday’s 3-2 semifinal victory over East Coweta that matched top-10 poll teams. After the (32-5) Indians beat Brookwood for the second time in three days, Buford beat East Coweta, 9-1, in Saturday’s state final, to win its 39th straight game and 64th in its last 65 over the past two seasons.
The Wolves’ last loss was a 1-0 defeat to Lambert on Oct. 20, 2022 in the 7A Super Regionals. Buford and East Coweta have now accounted for five of the last seven Georgia state 7A titles.
Meanwhile, new No. 3 Washington beat Helias Catholic, 3-1, on Friday to claim its second Missouri Class 4 championship in the past three years. In last Thursday’s state semis, the (37-1-1) Bluejays soared past Parkway West, 16-1.
Previously-unranked Francis Howell (27-6) jumped into the mix for the final poll after cruising past defending state titlist Blue Springs South, 8-0, in the Missouri Class 5 championship. The two teams also met in the 2022 final.
Blue Springs South (27-3) edged then-No. 7 Raymore-Peculiar, 5-4, in the state semis, while Francis Howell defeated Troy Buchanan, 3-2 in its semifinal.
Pope (33-5) won four straight elimination games before falling just short of a second consecutive state crown, losing 1-0 in Saturday’s Georgia 6A championship to poll newcomer Newnan (27-7) and senior pitcher Maddie Veal’s 57 straight shutout innings in the playoffs. One of Pope’s victories was a 3-1 triumph that ousted Lassiter (29-4) from both the double-elimination event and the rankings.
State rankings submitted by the 2023 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality, strength of schedule, and active NFCA membership. Five states — Colorado, Georgia, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri — play a fall fastpitch schedule, while Iowa recently completed its summer season.
NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll – Final 2023
1. Buford (Ga.)
Record: 32-0 | PR: 1
2. Caddo (Okla.)
Record: 39-2 | PR: 2
3. Washington (Mo.)
Record: 37-1-1 | PR: 5
4. Owasso (Okla.)
Record: 33-1-1 | PR: 4
5. Piedmont (Okla.)
Record: 39-3 | PR: 6
6. Francis Howell (Mo.)
Record: 27-6 | PR: NR
7. Blue Springs South (Mo.)
Record: 27-3 | PR: 3
8. East Coweta (Ga.)
Record: 32-5 | PR: 10
9. Raymore-Peculiar (Mo.)
Record: 31-3 | PR: 7
10. Newnan (Ga.)
Record: 27-7 | PR: NR
11. Pope (Ga.)
Record: 33-5 | PR: 15
12. Lutheran (Colo.)
Record: 23-5 | PR: 9
13. Chatfield (Colo.)
Record: 23-6 | PR: 11
14. Holy Family (Colo.)
Record: 26-2 | PR: 12
15. Eaton (Colo.)
Record: 28-1 | PR: 13
16. Moore (Okla.)
Record: 32-3 | PR: 14
17. Papillion-LaVista (Neb.)
Record: 29-8 | PR: 16
18. Gretna (Neb.)
Record: 32-4 | PR: 17
19. Erie (Colo.)
Record: 23-6 | PR: 18
20. Riverdale Ridge (Colo.)
Record: 26-3 | PR: 19
21. Columbine (Colo.)
Record: 22-5 | PR: 20
22. Arvada West (Colo.)
Record: 22-5 | PR: 21
23. North Linn (Iowa)
Record: 39-6 | PR: 22
24. Ankeny Centennial (Iowa)
Record: 36-5 | PR: 23
t-25. Millard North (Neb.)
Record: 28-6 | PR: 24
t-25. Regina Catholic (Iowa)
Record: 30-8 | | PR: 25
Dropped out: Lassiter (Ga.).