SBLive Iowa Top 25 softball rankings: First-year program takes top spot

Waukee Northwest is enjoying instant success at 23-3.

By John Bohnenkamp  

Waukee Northwest moved to the top of the Iowa softball rankings this week.

The first-year program leads the CIML-Iowa standings and is coming off a week in which it swept Ankeny Centennial. The Wolves are the top-ranked team in Class 5A in the IGHSAU rankings and are No. 1 in the Varsity Bound power rankings.

A look at the Top 25 heading to the final week of the regular season for most schools. Records are through Saturday’s games. 

1. Waukee Northwest (23-3)

Six-game winning streak includes a sweep of Ankeny Centennial.

2. Johnston (26-2)

Dragons have won 11 consecutive games.

3. ADM (26-2)

Tigers are on a seven-game winning streak.

4. Winterset (26-4)

Huskies are on a 12-game winning streak heading into a Wednesday showdown with ADM.

5. Fort Dodge (23-5)

Dodgers swept Ankeny Centennial last week.

6. Muscatine (25-2)

Muskies have won five consecutive and have a one-game lead in the MAC.

7. Mount Vernon (27-3)

Only loss last week was a 2-0 defeat to Muscatine.

8. Davenport Assumption (24-6)

Knights have won 13 of their last 14 but have struggled within the MAC.

9. Central Springs (23-1)

Panthers are on a nine-game winning streak.

10. Linn-Mar (27-4)

Lions have a big lead in the MVC’s Mississippi Division.

11. North Linn (24-7)

Two losses last week, to Cedar Rapids Prairie and Benton.

12. Lisbon (29-4) (49)

Lions rolling in the Tri-Rivers East.

13. Logan-Magnolia (25-0)

Abby Hiatt has 200 strikeouts in 125 innings.

14. Twin Cedars (21-1)

Sabers keep going — they haven’t lost since the season opener.

15. Norwalk (24-4)

Warriors are on a seven-game winning streak heading into Monday matchup against Dallas Center-Grimes.

16. Dallas Center-Grimes (25-6)

Mustangs are a half-game out of the Little Hawkeye lead.

17. Clear Creek-Amana (26-5)

Clippers lost to Carlisle and Iowa City Regina in their own tournament.

18. Newell-Fonda (29-4)

Mustangs are on an eight-game winning streak.

19. Ankeny Centennial (18-11)

Jaguars are high in the state’s power rankings but don’t have a lot to show for it in the standings.

20. North Union (26-3)

Warriors have won four consecutive after loss to Central Springs.

21. Martensdale-St. Mary’s (18-3)

Blue Devils have a one-game lead in the Pride of Iowa standings.

22. Southeast Warren (18-4)

The Warhawks have lost two in a row.

23. Saydel (25-2)

Eagles suffered their first two losses of the season last week.

24. Collins-Maxwell (19-2)

Spartans are on a seven-game winning streak.

25. West Liberty (16-3)

Comets haven’t played a lot of games, but they’re on a 15-game winning streak.