LOUISVILLE, Ky. \u2014 Reigning California Division 1 Southern Section champion Pacifica opens the 2024\u00a0USA TODAY Sports\/NFCA High School Super 25 as the top-ranked team, fresh off winning the prestigious Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Arizona.<\/p>\n
The unbeaten (9-0) Mariners won all six games at that event, including a 6-1 triumph over defending titlist Norco in the championship game\u2019s matchup of ranked squads. Pacifica has now won its last 16.<\/p>\n
No. 2 Katy (20-1-1) is the new Texas team at the top of the poll to start the year, after two-time 5A state champion Lake Creek spent all but two weeks of the last two seasons in the No. 1 spot, including the last 31 weeks. The Tigers followed up Saturday\u2019s scoreless eight-inning tie with perennial Texas power Barbers Hill by mauling Paetow 16-0 on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Jackson, which finished second nationally in 2023 after winning its final 14 to capture the Washington state 4A crown, is strongly positioned at No. 3 heading into its March 11 season opener at Inglemoor.<\/p>\n
No. 4 Northwest Rankin (8-0), which returned nine starters from last year\u2019s Mississippi state 6A championship team, hasn\u2019t skipped a beat in the newly-created Class 7A, outscoring its eight opponents so far 78-12. Louisiana powerhouse North DeSoto (14-0), which is chasing its fourth straight state crown and sixth title since 2015, rounds out the top five.<\/p>\n
The other three teams in the poll off to perfect starts \u2014 North Carolina\u2019s West Stanly (2-0), Arizona\u2019s Canyon Del Oro (14-0) and Arkansas\u2019 Benton (2-0) find themselves grouped at Nos. 16-18 this week.<\/p>\n
State rankings submitted by the\u00a02024 NFCA High School Steering Committee<\/b><\/a>\u00a0are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports\/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.<\/p>\n Record: 9-0<\/p>\n Record: 20-1-1<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 8-0<\/p>\n Record: 14-0<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 8-1<\/p>\n Record: 7-1<\/p>\n Record: 8-2<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 7-1<\/p>\n Record: 5-1<\/p>\n Record: 2-0<\/p>\n Record: 11-0<\/p>\n Record: 2-0<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 3-1<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 0-0<\/p>\n Record: 10-3<\/p>\n Record: 17-5<\/p>\n Dropped out:<\/strong> Queen Creek (Ariz.).<\/p>\n About the NFCA:<\/a><\/p>\n The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded\u00a0<\/i>coaches polls<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/i>All-America awards<\/i><\/a>, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from\u00a0<\/i>podcasts<\/i><\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/i>awards<\/i><\/a>, to in-person\u00a0<\/i>events<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/i>National Convention<\/i><\/a>.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Learn more\u00a0<\/i>about the NFCA<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and consider\u00a0<\/i>joining<\/i><\/a>\u00a0our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!<\/i><\/p>\nUSA TODAY Sports\/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll \u2013 March 7, 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1. Pacifica (Calif.)<\/h3>\n
2. Katy (Texas)<\/h3>\n
3. Jackson (Wash.)<\/h3>\n
4. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)<\/h3>\n
5. North DeSoto (La.)<\/h3>\n
6. Marist (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
7. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
8. Basha (Ariz.)<\/h3>\n
9. Desert Mountain (Ariz.)<\/h3>\n
10. Norco (Calif.)<\/h3>\n
11. Lemont (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
12. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
13. Rockridge (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
14. Red Mountain (Ariz.)<\/h3>\n
15. Neshoba Central (Miss.)<\/h3>\n
16. West Stanly (N.C.)<\/h3>\n
17. Canyon Del Oro (Ariz.)<\/h3>\n
18. Benton (Ark.)<\/h3>\n
19. Ballard (Ky.)<\/h3>\n
20. Roncalli (Ind.)<\/h3>\n
21. Coral Springs Charter (Fla.)<\/h3>\n
22. Mount Vernon (Mo.)<\/h3>\n
23. Bingham (Utah)<\/h3>\n
24. St. Amant (La.)<\/h3>\n
25. Lake Creek (Texas)<\/h3>\n