2024 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 softball rankings: Week 5
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Katy took over the top spot in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 this week after Pacifica’s perfect run came to an end with two losses.
The (26-1-1) Tigers moved up from second to No. 1 for the first time following another strong week. Katy has now won 18 straight games since a 2-1 loss to Weslaco on Feb. 22, and has outscored its opponents 271-10 so far this season. And in the seven games since an eight-inning scoreless tie with perennial Texas powerhouse Barbers Hill on March 2, the Tigers have routed opponents 103-1.
Unbeaten Northwest Rankin (18-0) didn’t play this week but is the new No. 2 team after gaining one spot. The defending Mississippi Class 6A champion Cougars have a 26-game win streak dating back to last season.
Calvary Baptist, Austintown-Fitch, Jackson and Sterlington all kept winning to jump ahead of Pacifica (15-2), which was No. 1 for the first four rankings, but lost twice at the prestigious Michelle Carew Classic to drop to seventh nationally.
New No. 3 Calvary Baptist (29-1) captured last Friday’s ranked matchup with then-No. 19 North DeSoto, 6-4, and has now won 14 straight. Fourth-ranked Austintown-Fitch (3-0) won two more games and has outscored its opponents 28-0 through its first three contests.
No. 5 Jackson (10-1) routed Arlington, 15-0, on Wednesday among its three victories over the past week. Sixth-ranked Sterlington (24-1), which has wins earlier this season over fellow Louisiana ranked squads St. Thomas More and North DeSoto, rolled in its only action, 13-1 over Neville.
Elsewhere, Alabama’s Orange Beach (20-0) and Arkansas’ Sheridan (14-0) are the two newcomers this week at No. 10 and 13, respectively.
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 4, 2024
1. Katy (Texas)
Record: 26-1-1 | PR: 2
2. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)
Record: 18-0 | PR: 3
3. Calvary Baptist (La.)
Record: 29-1 | PR: 4
4. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)
Record: 3-0 | PR: 5
5. Jackson (Wash.)
Record: 10-1 | PR: 6
6. Sterlington (La.)
Record: 24-1 | PR: 7
7. Pacifica (Calif.)
Record: 15-2 | PR: 1
8. Basha (Ariz.)
Record: 19-1-1 | PR: 8
9. Antioch (Ill.)
Record: 5-0 | PR: 9
10. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record: 20-0 | PR: NR
11. Diamond (Mo.)
Record: 10-0 | PR: 10
12. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)
Record: 5-0 | PR: 11
13. Sheridan (Ark.)
Record: 14-0 | PR: NR
14. Lincoln-Way East (Ill.)
Record: 6-1 | PR: 12
15. Owyhee (Utah)
Record: 8-1 | PR: 13
16. Bingham (Utah)
Record: 8-1 | PR: 14
17. Ballard (Ky.)
Record: 6-0 | PR: 15
18. Roncalli (Ind.)
Record: 1-0 | PR: 16
19. St. Thomas More (La.)
Record: 25-2 | PR: 18
20. North DeSoto (La.)
Record: 26-4 | PR: 19
21. Marist (Ill.)
Record: 4-1 | PR: 20
22. Rockridge (Ill.)
Record: 4-1 | PR: 21
23. Lemont (Ill.)
Record: 2-2 | PR: 22
24. Canyon Del Oro (Ariz.)
Record: 19-2 | PR: 23
25. Red Mountain (Ariz.)
Record: 17-2 | PR: 24
Dropped out: Benton (Ark.) and Neshoba Central (Miss.).
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