LOUISVILLE, Ky. \u2014 Top-ranked Katy continued to pace an unchanged first five in the\u00a0USA TODAY Sports\/NFCA High School Super 25 for a fourth week.<\/p>\n
The (32-1-1) Tigers easily defeated Katy Taylor for the second time this season, 15-1 last Friday, but allowed just their second run in a nine-game stretch \u2014 which was also to the Mustangs in a 11-1 win on March 22. In its other game this past week, Katy blanked Liberty, 7-0 on Monday. The Tigers, who have outscored opponents 341-11 this season, open a best-of-three Texas Class 6A bi-district series with Fort Bend Dulles later today.<\/p>\n
No. 2 Northwest Rankin (26-0) captured its lone game and third-ranked Jackson (15-1) won twice. Calvary Baptist (33-2) and Sterlington (31-1) both won their Louisiana state quarterfinals to advance to the final four later this week. Fourth-ranked Calvary faces Notre Dame in the Division III select semis, while No. 5 Sterlington plays Jena in Saturday\u2019s Division III non-select matchup.<\/p>\n
Seventh-ranked Watkins Memorial (18-0) stayed unbeaten and added seven victories to its ledger, including a 4-1 victory over then-No. 10 Lancaster last Saturday to move up three spots in the rankings. The biggest gainer of the week, though, was Lake Central (20-0), which advanced five places.<\/p>\n
On the other side of things, Lancaster (18-2) and Oak Grove (19-1) both dropped six spots following losses, while two defeats apiece knocked Antioch, Ballard and Basha out entirely.<\/p>\n
A pair of perfect New York squads \u2014 Shenendehowa (9-0) and St. Anthony\u2019s (11-0) \u2014 jumped into the mix at No. 12 and 14, respectively. New Jersey\u2019s Notre Dame (9-1), which has won three straight since a 1-0 loss to Robbinsville last Thursday, is the other newcomer this week at No. 20.<\/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: 32-1-1 | PR: 1<\/p>\n Record: 26-0 | PR: 2<\/p>\n Record: 15-1 | PR: 3<\/p>\n Record: 33-2 | PR: 4<\/p>\n Record: 31-1 | PR: 5<\/p>\n Record: 18-0 | PR: 8<\/p>\n Record: 18-0 | PR: 10<\/p>\n Record: 13-0 | PR: 12<\/p>\n Record: 31-0 | PR: 13<\/p>\n Record: 20-0 | PR: 15<\/p>\n Record: 34-1 | PR: 6<\/p>\n Record: 9-0 | PR: NR<\/p>\n Record: 19-1 | PR: 7<\/p>\n Record: 11-0 | PR: NR<\/p>\n Record: 18-2 | PR: 9<\/p>\n Record: 11-1 | PR: 16<\/p>\n Record: 23-1 | PR: 17<\/p>\n Record: 15-1 | PR: 18<\/p>\n Record: 21-1 | PR: 14<\/p>\n Record: 9-1 | PR: NR<\/p>\n Record: 21-2 | PR: 19<\/p>\n Record: 31-3-1 | PR: 22<\/p>\n Record: 11-1 | PR: 23<\/p>\n Record: 19-1 | PR: 24<\/p>\n Record: 14-2 | PR: 20<\/p>\n Record: 30-4 | PR: t-25<\/p>\n Dropped out:<\/strong> Antioch (Ill.), Ballard (Ky.) and Basha (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 April 25, 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n
1. Katy (Texas)<\/h3>\n
2. Northwest Rankin (Miss.)<\/h3>\n
3. Jackson (Wash.)<\/h3>\n
4. Calvary Baptist (La.)<\/h3>\n
5. Sterlington (La.)<\/h3>\n
6. Saint Francis (Calif.)<\/h3>\n
7. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
8. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
9. Diamond (Mo.)<\/h3>\n
10. Lake Central (Ind.)<\/h3>\n
11. Orange Beach (Ala.)<\/h3>\n
12. Shenendehowa (N.Y.)<\/h3>\n
13. Oak Grove (N.C.)<\/h3>\n
14. St. Anthony\u2019s (N.Y.)<\/h3>\n
15. Lancaster (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
16. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
17. Bartow (Fla.)<\/h3>\n
18. Owyhee (Utah)<\/h3>\n
19. Sheridan (Ark.)<\/h3>\n
20. Notre Dame (N.J.)<\/h3>\n
21. Pacifica (Calif.)<\/h3>\n
22. St. Thomas More (La.)<\/h3>\n
23. Roncalli (Ind.)<\/h3>\n
24. Marist (Ill.)<\/h3>\n
t-25. Bingham (Utah)<\/h3>\n
t-25. North DeSoto (La.)<\/h3>\n