SBLive Power 25 national softball rankings: St. Amant (Louisiana) wins second consecutive state title

The Lady Gators are the first Top 25 team to win a 2023 state championship

It's early May and we already have a softball state champion.

St. Amant (Louisiana) was the first state champion crowned of SBLive's Power 25 teams, winning back-to-back titles after shutting out Sam Houston on Saturday. 

Archbishop Mitty (California) is the newest edition to this week's national softball rankings as the Lady Monarchs check in at No. 20. 

The SBLive Power 25 national high school softball rankings include teams affiliated with the state high school athletic association in the state it resides in or those allowed to play affiliate high schools in their home state as well as some of the country's softball academies.

The rankings are released weekly throughout the 2023 softball season. Find the complete breakdown of the latest SBLive Power 25 below.

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.sutherland54@gmail.com.

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SBLIVE POWER 25 NATIONAL SOFTBALL RANKINGS

1. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) (36-0)

It comes as no surprise the Lady Lions closed out another undefeated regular season with a 7-1 win over Katy. They also thumped Killeen Shoemaker in a best-of-three series in the opening round of the UIL Texas playoffs.

Last week: 1

2. Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas) (34-0)

The Lady Eagles are still perfect and at this point have to finish that way in order to win a state championship. They swept Bryan to open the UIL Texas playoffs and begin the series with Royse City starting Thursday.

Last week: 4

3. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.) (31-1)

Good things keep happening for the Lady Lancers as they are on a 20-game win streak after taking down Seton Catholic in the first round of the AIA playoffs. They take on Sahuarita in the second round on Tuesday.

Last week: 3

4. Pace (Fla.) (21-1)

The Lady Patriots escaped Orange Beach (Ala.) in the first meeting on April 19, but it was the Makos’ night the second time around as they handed Pace its first loss of the year. The Lady Patriots play Milton on Friday in the first round of the FHSAA playoffs.

Last week: 2

5. Guyer (Denton, Texas) (31-0)

Marcus gave the Lady Wildcats all they wanted in the first game of the UIL Texas playoffs opening series, but Guyer left no doubt in the second contest winning 12-6. Martin is the next opponent with the series beginning on Thursday.

Last week: 5

6. Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.) (21-0-1)

The best teams win the close games, and the Lady Broncos have done just that in their past four contests winning by no more than three runs during that span. They defeated Clovis West 2-1 to finish last week and start this one with a home game against Clovis East.

Last week: 6

7. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) (26-1-1)

It may have been a somewhat stressful week for the Lady Lions, but they survived both contests winning by a run each over Westlake and Rio Mesa to finish out the regular season.

Last week: 7

8. Bentonville (Ark.) (26-1)

After escaping a couple of close contests last week, the Lady Tigers made sure to create separation shutting out three of their four opponents and claimed the 6A-West championship with a 9-1 rout of Rogers.

Last week: 8

9. St. Amant (La.) (32-2)

For the second consecutive season, and third time since 2019, the Lady Gators finished the season as state champions as they shut out Sam Houston to claim the Non-Select Division I title on Saturday.

Last week: 9

10. Willow Canyon (Surprise, Ariz.) (27-0-1)

Following a five-day break from the end of the regular season to the start of the postseason, the Lady Wildcats took the opening contest of the AIA Arizona playoffs over Williams Field. Casteel is up next on Tuesday.

Last week: 10

11. Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) (21-1)

It was a tough ending to the regular season for the Lady Cavaliers as they dropped their first game of the year in a shutout loss to James F. Byrnes, but that is just a small bump in the road as they look toward the postseason.

Last week: 11

12. Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) (19-0)

The Lady Bruins closed out the final games of April in dominating fashion with four shutouts including the most recent 8-0 victory over Assumption. Busy week ahead with four contests between Tuesday and Thursday.

Last week: 12

13. Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio) (19-0)

Ohio’s top-ranked team continues to stack wins on an unblemished record after taking down Licking Valley, Marysville, and Heath. The Lady Warriors play five this week starting Monday against Granville as they finish up the regular season.

Last week: 13

14. Los Alamitos (Calif.) (23-3)

It showed the Lady Griffins took  the one-run loss to Huntington Beach personal as they responded with three victories, including a redemption 5-4 victory over Huntington Beach in extra innings. They shut out Corona del Mar to close out the regular season.

Last week: 14

15. Anthony Wayne (Whitehouse, Ohio) (15-1)

The Lady Generals earned two very quality wins over Walsh Jesuit and Triway to close out the week. They have won five consecutive since dropping their first game of the year.

Last week: 15

16. Moorpark (Calif.) (18-1)

A little closer margin than they would have chosen, but the Lady Musketeers got past Royal and Camarillo - whom they fell to on April 17 - to end the regular season back in the win column and they set their sights on postseason play.

Last week: 16

17. Norco (Calif.) (24-3)

The offense rolled in the final two regular-season contests first against Roosevelt in what finished with a football score (22-13) and the Lady Cougars followed that up with a 19-4 rout of Centennial.

Last week: 17

18. Rockridge (Taylor Ridge, Ill.) (20-1)

It was a painless week for Rockridge with a doubleheader sweep over Monmouth-Roseville and then Kewanee on Friday as the Lady Rockets outscored their opponents 34-2 in the three contests.

Last week: 18

19. Donovan Catholic (Torns River, N.J.) (16-0)

The Lady Griffins have taken no prisoners as they pitched shutouts in all three contests last week putting them at 10 total shutouts this spring.

Last week: 19

20. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) (16-2)

Making their season debut in the Power 25, the Lady Monarchs currently lead their league and have won eight consecutive games that includes a 3-2 win over No. 20 Saint Francis.

Last week: NR

21. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) (19-2)

The Lady Lancers have responded to their close loss to Archbishop Mitty as well as you could ask as they are on a three-game win streak and have outscored opponents 30-1. They start this week at home against St. Ignatius Prep whom they shutout 7-0 on Friday.

Last week: 20

22. Huntington Beach (Calif.) (22-5)

After taking down Edison 7-1, the Lady Oilers took on No. 14 Los Alamitos for the third time this year. They briefly led by a run in the third inning, but fell in extras 5-4 to close out the regular season.

Last week: 22

23. Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.) (11-0)

The Lady Hawks defeated New Kent and Riverbend each by three runs before opening the floodgates against Mechanicsville in an 11-1 rout. A tilt with Varina begins a four-game slate this week.

Last week: 23

24. Bothell (Wash.) (17-0)

Following wins over Inglemoor, Mount Si, and Redmond, the Lady Cougars are three victories away from accomplishing an undefeated regular season before setting their sights on the playoffs.

Last week: 24

25. Melbourne (Fla.) (19-3)

The Lady Bulldogs have not taken the field for a game since finishing the regular season with a 5-0 shutout of Oviedo, so expect them to be well rested for their opening game of the FHSAA playoffs on Monday against Heritage.

Last week: 25