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2024 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 softball rankings: Week 8

Top 5 rock solid in USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Top-ranked Katy continued to pace an unchanged first five in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 for a fourth week.

The (32-1-1) Tigers easily defeated Katy Taylor for the second time this season, 15-1 last Friday, but allowed just their second run in a nine-game stretch — which was also to the Mustangs in a 11-1 win on March 22. In its other game this past week, Katy blanked Liberty, 7-0 on Monday. The Tigers, who have outscored opponents 341-11 this season, open a best-of-three Texas Class 6A bi-district series with Fort Bend Dulles later today.

No. 2 Northwest Rankin (26-0) captured its lone game and third-ranked Jackson (15-1) won twice. Calvary Baptist (33-2) and Sterlington (31-1) both won their Louisiana state quarterfinals to advance to the final four later this week. Fourth-ranked Calvary faces Notre Dame in the Division III select semis, while No. 5 Sterlington plays Jena in Saturday’s Division III non-select matchup.

Seventh-ranked Watkins Memorial (18-0) stayed unbeaten and added seven victories to its ledger, including a 4-1 victory over then-No. 10 Lancaster last Saturday to move up three spots in the rankings. The biggest gainer of the week, though, was Lake Central (20-0), which advanced five places.

On the other side of things, Lancaster (18-2) and Oak Grove (19-1) both dropped six spots following losses, while two defeats apiece knocked Antioch, Ballard and Basha out entirely.

A pair of perfect New York squads — Shenendehowa (9-0) and St. Anthony’s (11-0) — jumped into the mix at No. 12 and 14, respectively. New Jersey’s Notre Dame (9-1), which has won three straight since a 1-0 loss to Robbinsville last Thursday, is the other newcomer this week at No. 20.

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 – April 25, 2024

1. Katy (Texas)

Record: 32-1-1 | PR: 1

2. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)

Record: 26-0 | PR: 2

3. Jackson (Wash.)

Record: 15-1 | PR: 3

4. Calvary Baptist (La.)

Record: 33-2 | PR: 4

5. Sterlington (La.)

Record: 31-1 | PR: 5

6. Saint Francis (Calif.)

Record: 18-0 | PR: 8

7. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)

Record: 18-0 | PR: 10

8. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)

Record: 13-0 | PR: 12

9. Diamond (Mo.)

Record: 31-0 | PR: 13

10. Lake Central (Ind.)

Record: 20-0 | PR: 15

11. Orange Beach (Ala.)

Record: 34-1 | PR: 6

12. Shenendehowa (N.Y.)

Record: 9-0 | PR: NR

13. Oak Grove (N.C.)

Record: 19-1 | PR: 7

14. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.)

Record: 11-0 | PR: NR

15. Lancaster (Ohio)

Record: 18-2 | PR: 9

16. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)

Record: 11-1 | PR: 16

17. Bartow (Fla.)

Record: 23-1 | PR: 17

18. Owyhee (Utah)

Record: 15-1 | PR: 18

19. Sheridan (Ark.)

Record: 21-1 | PR: 14

20. Notre Dame (N.J.)

Record: 9-1 | PR: NR

21. Pacifica (Calif.)

Record: 21-2 | PR: 19

22. St. Thomas More (La.)

Record: 31-3-1 | PR: 22

23. Roncalli (Ind.)

Record: 11-1 | PR: 23

24. Marist (Ill.)

Record: 19-1 | PR: 24

t-25. Bingham (Utah)

Record: 14-2 | PR: 20

t-25. North DeSoto (La.)

Record: 30-4 | PR: t-25

Dropped out: Antioch (Ill.), Ballard (Ky.) and Basha (Ariz.).

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

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Could Texas Longhorns softball catch Oklahoma for Big 12 regular season title?

Currently on a 9-game winning streak, the Texas Longhorns softball team sits a game back of rival Oklahoma in the Big 12 softball standings.

After winning two of three contests against the former No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, who had a 40-game Big 12 Conference winning streak before that, the now No. 1 Texas Longhorns have buoyed those two wins into a current 9-game winning streak. Continue reading “Could Texas Longhorns softball catch Oklahoma for Big 12 regular season title?”

Lady Vols’ commit Elsa Morrison records two hits against Grace Christian Academy

Tennessee softball commit Elsa Morrison records two hits against Grace Christian Academy.

2025 Tennessee softball commit Elsa Morrison went 2-for-3 for Farragut High School (Farragut, Tennessee) in its, 7-0, victory over Grace Christiaan Academy (Knoxville, Tennessee) at Bellamy Field in Farragut.

She recorded three runs, two stolen bases and one RBI against the Rams in a non-district game.

Farragut has won eight of its last nine games.

Morrison committed to the Lady Vols in October as a catching prospect and is now playing shortstop for Farragut (18-9).

The 2023 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year, Morrison has recorded a .565 batting average, 13 home runs and 33 RBIs this season.

Morrison hit a school record 23 home runs as a sophomore last season.

Lady Vols shut out LSU to win series

Tennessee softball scores three runs in the sixth inning to clinch a series win against LSU.

No. 4 Tennessee (34-8, 14-4 SEC) defeated No. 7 LSU (35-10, 11-10 SEC), 3-0, Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Lady Vols clinched a series win against LSU.

Sunday’s series finale was scoreless until Tennessee scored three run in the sixth inning. Giulia Koutsoyanopulos and Rylie West hit doubles in the inning, which was Tennessee’s first extra-base hit during the series.

Koutsoyanopulos went 1-for-3. She recorded one double and two RBIs, while Gabby Leach went 1-for-1. Leach recorded a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth inning.

Karlyn Pickens (16-6) pitched six innings and earned a win for the Lady Vols. She recorded seven strikeouts and totaled 119 pitches (74 strikes).

Payton Gottshall earned her second save of the season. She pitched one inning and recorded two strikeouts.

Got the series! pic.twitter.com/e773Qwv5s0

— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) April 21, 2024

LSU shuts out Lady Vols to tie series

LSU softball shuts out Lady Vols to tie series.

No. 7 LSU (34-9, 10-9 SEC) defeated No. 4 Tennessee (33-7, 13-3 SEC), 1-0, on Saturday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Rankings reflect the USA TODAY/NFCA Division I Coaches Poll.

LSU tied the three-game series, 1-1, after losing the series opener. The Tigers recorded their first shutout against Tennessee since 2017 and the first in Knoxville since 2006.

The Lady Vols totaled four hits in Saturday’s contest, led by Taylor Pannell with two.

Karlyn Pickens (15-5) pitched a complete game for the Lady Vols. She recorded three strikeouts, while allowing three hits, one earned run and zero walks.

First pitch for Sunday’s series finale is slated for 2 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN2.

Tennessee shuts out LSU in series opener

Tennessee softball shuts out LSU in series opener.

No. 4 Tennessee (33-7, 13-3 SEC) defeated No. 7 LSU (34-9, 10-9 SEC), 3-0, Friday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Lady Vols scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning, taking advantage of three errors by LSU. Tennessee recorded three hits in the contest.

Kiki Milloy, the Lady Vols’ leadoff hitter, went 1-for-2. She was hit by a pitch and recorded one RBI and one stolen base, while Rylie West went 1-for-3 and scored one run.

Sophia Nugent and Taylor Pannell scored runs for the Lady Vols.

Payton Gottshall started for the Lady Vols and pitched 6.1 innings. She allowed two hits and recorded three strikeouts.

Karlyn Pickens recorded the last two outs and earned her first save of the 2024 season.

Rocked SPL tonight 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/LyL1MR8W3E

— Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball) April 19, 2024

2024 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 softball rankings: Week 7

Katy still dominating at No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Katy continued to overwhelm its opponents to stay No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 for a third week.

The (29-1-1) Tigers blanked Seven Lakes 16-0 on Tuesday to win their 11th straight game and run their record to 21-0-1 over their last 22 contests. For the season, the Tigers have outscored their opponents by an impressive 319-10 margin.

Katy has not allowed a run since an 11-1 victory over Katy Taylor on March 22, while scoring 104 over that stretch. A second meeting with Katy Taylor is up next for the Tigers on Friday.

Meanwhile, six of the next seven teams remain unchanged this week, including the next five in a row. Northwest Rankin (25-0), Jackson (13-1), Calvary Baptist (32-2), Sterlington (28-1) and Orange Beach (27-0) combined to go 8-0, before newcomers Oak Grove (17-0) and Lancaster (14-1) jumped into the mix at No. 7 and 9, respectively. Calvary Baptist and Sterlington both continued their winning ways with Louisiana state regional playoff victories.

Saint Francis (16-0) stayed put at the No. 8 position, while Watkins Memorial (11-0) gained four spots to round out the top 10.

Unbeaten Lake Central (14-0) is the other school debuting this week, at No. 15. Two losses apiece dropped Lebanon and Lincoln-Way East out, and also left no room for Red Mountain at the bottom of the rankings.