Video: Catch through the fence
Watch a Kentucky player go right through a fence to record an outOne by one the unbeaten teams are falling and with each defeat, the mythical national title chances for Eagle increase.
Eagle concluded its unbeaten season three weeks ago and remains atop this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, with the final rankings to be released next week.
Grand Terrace held strong at No. 2, but last week's No. 3 – East Carter – finished 3-2 in the Kentucky State Tournament and dropped from the Poll.
However, as some unbeaten teams lose, others step up. Lakewood and Fitch completed their seasons with state titles and unblemished records, and moved up to Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Lakewood allowed just 30 runs on the season, winning 16 times via shutout. The Lancers also scored 295 times in going 29-0.
In winning 27 games, Fitch allowed 18 runs and won 18 by shutout. The Falcons scored 233 runs.
New to the Top 25 are Michigan teams Mercy (Farmington Hills) and Dakota (Macomb), Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.), and Oak Park-River Forest (Forest Grove, Ill). Mercy and Dakota could meet in the Michigan state final this weekend.
Click here to see softball state champions from across the nation, with a link to playoff brackets as wellMaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Oak Park-River Forest is all smiles after entering the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Patrick Gorski
1. (last week No. 1) Eagle (Idaho), 29-0 *season overThe Mustangs won their second-straight 5A state title and finished the season 29-0.
2. (2) Grand Terrace (Calif.), 28-1 *season overGrand Terrace finished the season with a 26-game win streak and won the CIF-Southern Section D3 title.
3. (7) Lakewood (Hebron, Ohio), 29-0 *season overLakewood won the state 2A title.
4. (9) Fitch (Groton, Conn.), 27-0 *season overFitch capped a perfect season with the CIAC Class L state championship on Friday with a 2-0 win over Masuk. Senior and tournament MVP
Caroline Taber threw her second-straight shutout, scattering four hits without a walk and 11 strikeouts.
5. (4) West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 30-1 *season overWest Orange won Florida's 9A state title.
6. (5) La Grange (Texas), 40-2 *season overThe Leopards captured the Texas state 4A championship.
7. (6) Curry (Jasper, Ala.), 47-2 *season overThe Yellowjackets won 21 straight and captured the state 4A title.
8. (8) Bald Knob (Ark.), 36-0 *season overThe Bulldogs won their third-straight state 3A title and improved their two-season win streak to 60.
9. (15) Mission Viejo (Calif.), 27-4 *season overThe Diablos captured the the CIF-SS D2 championship and played one of the toughest schedules on either side of the Mississippi River.
10. (10) Gainesville (Fla.), 28-2 *season overGainesville won Florida's 7A title.
11. (13) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 31-1 *season overThe Blue Eagles got a four-hit, 14-strikeout performance from junior
Olivia Sprofera to defeat 24-5 Donovan Catholic (Toms River) to run their win streak to 30 and captured the state non-public title.
12. (12) Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.), 20-0 *season overSporting a 103-game winning streak, Sherwood has won five straight Maryland state championships.
13. (NR) Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park, Ill.), 37-2 *season overDown 2-0 in the sixth, Oak Park rallied to defeat Community West (Normal), 4-2 in 10 innings, to win the state 4A championship. Freshman
Fiona Girardot drove in two runs in the 10th for Oak Park, which won its final 20 games.
14. (NR) Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.), 40-2Mercy moves into the state D-1 quarterfinals after defeating Walled Lake 11-1 to run its win streak to eight. The two 2016 losses were by 1-0 and 2-1 scores.
15. (NR) Dakota (Macomb, Mich.), 36-2Dakota routed Anchor Bay (10-0) and Warren Cousino (13-0) to move on to the state D-1 quarterfinals. Dakota has won 13 in a row.
16. (16) West Forsyth (Clemmons, N.C.), 30-2 *season overThe Titans captured the state 4A title.
17. (17) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 27-1 *season overNeshoba Central won the 5A state title and ended the season with 22 straight wins.
18. (18) Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 30-2 *season overThe Crusaders completed their season with 18 straight wins and the state 6A championship.
19. (19) Ironwood Ridge (Tucson, Ariz.), 35-4 *season overThe Nighthawks captured the Arizona D-2 state title, winning 20 of their last 21 games.
20. (20) Campbell (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), 18-1 *season overCampbell repeated as state large school champion.
21. (21) Lebanon (Ind.), 27-1 *season overLed by
Jessica Weaver's four-hit shutout, the Tigers beat Kankanee Valley to win the state 3A title. Weaver finished 22-0 with a 0.65 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 146 innings. She batted .500 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs.
22. (22) Bentonville (Ark.), 27-1 *season overThe Tigers won the Arkansas 7A title and finished the season with 19 straight wins.
23. (NR) Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.), 36-3 *season overLed by sophomore pitcher and tournament MVP
Kennedy Sullivan, Scott County defeated McCracken County (Pudacah) 9-7 to win the state softball title. McCracken County, which finished 43-4, was ranked No. 14 last week. Scott County is also ranked No. 5 this week in the
MaxPreps National Computer Ratings.24. (24) Hempfield Area (Greensburg, Pa.), 25-2 The Spartans won their state 4A semifinal game over Chambersburg, 2-0. Up next: 24-3 Avon Grove on Thursday in the state 4A championship.
25. (25) Keller (Texas), 32-6 *season overWinners of 23 of their final 25 games, the Indians won the Texas 6A State championship.
Dropped out: Downer's Grove South (Ill.), East Carter (Ky.), Union Grove (Wis.), McCracken County (Paducah, Ky.).