Top 25 national high school softball rankings: Orange Beach (Alabama) moves up after big win (3/18/2024)

The Makos topped then-No. 4 Pace (Florida) last week

The surface of the 2024 high school softball season has hardly been scratched, but Orange Beach (Alabama) made an early statement in a two-run victory over then-No. 4 Pace (Florida), propelling the Makos into the Top 5.

There was plenty of movement in the SBLive Power 25 national softball rankings, as Texas-based Melissa and Liberty made their way into the Top 10. The Lone Star State now has four teams in, along with No. 3 Katy and No. 15 Guyer.

Basha (Arizona) and Melbourne (Florida) also earned their way in, while four of the Top 5 squads from last week held onto their spots. 

The Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Kyle Sutherland based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. Reach Kyle on Twitter @k_sutherlandAR or email him at kyle@scorebooklive.com.

1. Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.) (10-0)

Last week: 1

The Mariners held a 2-0 advantage in the top of the fourth inning in Friday’s matchup against Huntington Beach, but the remainder of the game was canceled due to rain. They start this week with home matchups against Crean Lutheran and El Modena before finishing it out at Valencia. 

2. Bartow (Fla.) (9-0)

Last week: 2

Did not play. Returns to action with a road trip to Auburndale on Tuesday. 

3. Katy (Texas) (21-1-1)

Last week: 3

Did not play. The Tigers return to the field Tuesday for a road trip to Cinco Ranch. 

4. Orange Beach (Ala.) (11-0)

Last week: 11

A loaded week that saw the Makos go 6-0 was headlined by a 4-2 statement victory over previous No. 4 Pace (Fla.). Auburn commit Daigle Wilson scored two of Orange Beach’s two runs in the game, while South Carolina commit KG Favors struck out six 12 batters in a complete-game effort.

5. Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.) (11-0)

Last Week: 5

The Cougars only played one game, and it was a shutout victory over Hancock. Southern Miss commit Jolie Hays threw a two-hit shutout, while allowing only one walk, and struck out 13. Georgia commit Brooke Smith l finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored, plus batted a run in and smacked one of the Cougars’ two home runs. 

6. Pace (Fla.) (10-1)

Last week: 4

The Patriots got a rally going late but could not complete the comeback in a nationally ranked matchup against Orange Beach (Ala.). They did rebound with victories over Fort Walton Beach and Wakulla, in which LSU commit Jayden Heavener combined for 26 strikeouts while allowing only two hits.

7. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) (15-1-1)

Last Week: NR

The Bears had a good showing in the Hamilton Softball Invitational that was capped with an impressive 10-0 win over Canyon del Oro. Oklahoma commit and leadoff batter Gabriella Garcia finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and hit the game’s lone home run. 

8. Melissa (Texas) (20-1-1)

Last Week: NR

Texas commit Caigan Crabtree’s (.571/.654/1.892, 11 HR, 35 RBI in 2024) 31st career home run set a record in the Lady Cardinals’ 9-0 win over Sherman. Michigan State commit Alex Starr – along with standout freshman Eloisa Maes (54.2 IP, 86 K, 1.54 ERA) – has led Melissa in the circle, striking out 126 batters in 67.2 innings while compiling a .72 ERA.

9. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) (3-0)

Last Week: 7

Three games, three run rules as the Timberwolves have yet to play a seven-inning contest. UNLV commit Yanina Sherwood has pitched every inning and allowed only five hits, one walk and struck out 34 batters. Sherwood (.444/.500/1.111, 2 HR) and Fresno State commit Rachel Sysum (.455/.462/1.000, 1 HR) are two of four Timberwolves with at least nine at bats hitting over .400. 

10. Liberty (Texas) (23-1)

Last Week: NR

After finishing as a state runner-up following back-to-back title runs in 2021-22, the Panthers are on a mission to take the trophy back. They have pitched three consecutive shutouts, while Louisiana-Monroe commit Hollie Thomas and Texas State commit Bailee Slack smacked two of the team’s six homers in the most recent win over Hardin-Jefferson. 

11. Kaukauna (Wis.)

Last Week: 9

Season begins April 2.

12. Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.) (2-0)

Last Week: 10

Of the 25 batters Arkansas commit Payton Burnham has faced, she has struck out 16 of them while compiling a perfect 0.00 earned run average. She is also perfect at the plate, batting 1.000 in five at bats with a team-leading three home runs. Utah Tech commit Kinley Pappas is also perfect at the plate with a home run and has seven runs batted in, which ties Burnham for the team lead. 

13. Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.)

Last Week: 13

Season begins Thursday. 

14. Doral Academy (Doral, Fla.) (5-0)

Last Week: 15

Did not play. The Firebirds return to the field Thursday to host Coral Springs Charter. 

15. Guyer (Denton, Texas) (19-1)

Last week: 25

Oregon commit Kaylynn Jones and Texas State commit Erin Peterson recorded two hits in each of the Lady Tigers’ wins over McKinney Boyd and Braswell. Winners of four straight, Guyer has four games remaining in March starting this week against Allen and McKinney.

16. Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.) (11-1)

Last Week: 8

A dominant run to an 11-0 start got its first blemish in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to West (Torrence). Don’t take the loaded Spartans off your radar just yet, as they aim to get a new streak going in two games against Dos Pueblos this week. 

17. Austintown Fitch (Austintown, Ohio)

Last Week: 16

Season begins March 23.

18. Saint John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)

Last Week: 18

Season begins April 1.

19. Gaylord (Mich.)

Last Week: 19

Season begins April 9.

20. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)

Last Week: 20

Season begins April 1. 

21. Summerville (S.C.) (5-0)

Last Week: 21

South Carolina commit Ansley Bennett tossed a complete, one-hit shutout and struck out 16 batters in the Green Wave’s 4-0 win over Berkeley, then the bats caught on fire in a 17-0 rout of Timberland. Doubleheaders with Oceanside Collegiate and Gray Collegiate are on the slate for this week.

22. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) (5-0)

Last Week: 22

Through five games, Texas A&M commit Kate Munnerlyn has allowed only two hits and walked four batters in 15.1 innings, plus struck out 30 and compiled a perfect 0.00 earned run average. She is also leading the Lancers at the plate, slashing .538/.600/.615. They take on Monterey (5-1) and Hollister (5-0) this week. 

23. Melbourne (Fla.) (11-0)

Last Week: NR

Ace Jazzy Francik has the Lady Bulldogs off to another hot start. The Florida State commit has thrown 65.2 innings and struck out 159 of 228 batters faced and compiled a .53 earned run average. Melbourne will play on three consecutive days Tuesday through Thursday, starting with Astronaut, then Satellite on Wednesday and, finally, Melbourne Central Catholic. 

24. Woodgrove (Purcellville, Va.) (3-0)

Last Week: 24

George Mason commit Abbey Lane picked up where she left off in 2023, leading the Wolverines to three wins to start the season. Along with going 5-for-9 at the plate with 3 RBIs and a home run, Lane threw a no-hitter and had a perfect outing in back-to-back contests while striking out 37 batters. 

25. Marist (Chicago, Ill.) (1-1)

Last Week: 14

The Redhawks dropped their season opener against a quality Lincoln-Way East squad, then played as they expected to in Friday’s rout of Lyons. Bradley commit Gianna Hillegonds struck out five batters, while Georgia commit Gabi Novickas blasted three homers. While they did have an immediate setback, this group can still do plenty of damage with all of its top returners back from the 2023 state championship run.

-- Kyle Sutherland | kyle@scorebooklive.com | @k_sutherlandAR