LOUISVILLE, Ky. \u2014 Katy took over the top spot in the\u00a0USA TODAY Sports\/NFCA High School Super 25 this week after\u00a0Pacifica\u2019s perfect run came to an end with two losses.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Unbeaten Northwest Rankin (18-0) didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
New No. 3 Calvary Baptist (29-1) captured last Friday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Alabama\u2019s Orange Beach (20-0) and Arkansas\u2019 Sheridan (14-0) are the two newcomers this week at No. 10 and 13, respectively.<\/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: 26-1-1 | PR: 2<\/p>\n Record: 18-0 | PR: 3<\/p>\n Record: 29-1 | PR: 4<\/p>\n Record: 3-0 | PR: 5<\/p>\n Record: 10-1 | PR: 6<\/p>\n Record: 24-1 | PR: 7<\/p>\n Record: 15-2 | PR: 1<\/p>\n Record: 19-1-1 | PR: 8<\/p>\n Record: 5-0 | PR: 9<\/p>\n Record: 20-0 | PR: NR<\/p>\n Record: 10-0 | PR: 10<\/p>\n Record: 5-0 | PR: 11<\/p>\n Record: 14-0 | PR: NR<\/p>\n Record: 6-1 | PR: 12<\/p>\n Record: 8-1 | PR: 13<\/p>\n Record: 8-1 | PR: 14<\/p>\n Record: 6-0 | PR: 15<\/p>\n Record: 1-0 | PR: 16<\/p>\n Record: 25-2 | PR: 18<\/p>\n Record: 26-4 | PR: 19<\/p>\n Record: 4-1 | PR: 20<\/p>\n Record: 4-1 | PR: 21<\/p>\n Record: 2-2 | PR: 22<\/p>\n Record: 19-2 | PR: 23<\/p>\n Record: 17-2 | PR: 24<\/p>\n Dropped out: <\/strong>Benton (Ark.) and Neshoba Central (Miss.).<\/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 April 4, 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1. Katy (Texas)<\/h3>\n
2. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)<\/h3>\n
3. Calvary Baptist (La.)<\/h3>\n
4. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
5. Jackson (Wash.)<\/h3>\n
6. Sterlington (La.)<\/h3>\n
7. Pacifica (Calif.)<\/h3>\n
8. Basha (Ariz.)<\/h3>\n
9. Antioch (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
10. Orange Beach (Ala.)<\/h3>\n
11. Diamond (Mo.)<\/h3>\n
12. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
13. Sheridan (Ark.)<\/h3>\n
14. Lincoln-Way East (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
15. Owyhee (Utah)<\/h3>\n
16. Bingham (Utah)<\/h3>\n
17. Ballard (Ky.)<\/h3>\n
18. Roncalli (Ind.)<\/h3>\n
19. St. Thomas More (La.)<\/h3>\n
20. North DeSoto (La.)<\/h3>\n
21. Marist (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
22. Rockridge (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
23. Lemont (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
24. Canyon Del Oro (Ariz.)<\/h3>\n
25. Red Mountain (Ariz.)<\/h3>\n