LOUISVILLE, Ky. \u2014 Top-ranked Katy swept its playoff series to continue as the leader in the\u00a0USA TODAY Sports\/NFCA High School Super 25 for a fifth week.<\/p>\n
The (34-1-1) Tigers roared past Fort Bend Dulles 10-0 and 14-0 late last week in their best-of-three Texas Class 6A bi-district matchup, and will face Cesar E. Chavez in a playoff series starting today.<\/p>\n
Similarly, No. 2 Northwest Rankin blanked Harrison Central, 2-0 and 4-0, in the first round of the Mississippi state tournament to remain unbeaten. The (28-0) Cougars open a best-of-three Class 7A playoff series against D\u2019Iberville on Friday.<\/p>\n
Third-ranked Jackson (17-1) scored two more victories as the Washington state regular season is winding down, while No. 4 Calvary Baptist (35-2) and No. 5 Sterlington (33-1) both captured Louisiana state championships last Saturday. It was the fourth straight title for Calvary Baptist.<\/p>\n
Unbeaten Saint Francis (21-0) stayed put in the No. 6 spot after posting three more victories.<\/p>\n
Alabama\u2019s Orange Beach jumped from 11th to seventh this week, after routing Mobile Christian by a combined 21-0 in the two games of its best-of-three playoff series. The (39-1) Makos have now won 21 straight games at home dating back to last season.<\/p>\n
No. 8 Lake Central (24-0) moved up two places, while No. 9 Shenendehowa (13-1) cracked the top 10 just one week after joining the rankings. Poll newcomer Walsh Jesuit (15-0) is the No. 10 team, fresh off its 1-0 victory over then-No. 8 Anthony Wayne last Saturday.<\/p>\n
Ohio teams occupy the No. 10 through 13 spots, with little to separate them from each other. A fifth school from the state, Lancaster (20-2), is the 17th-ranked team.<\/p>\n
New Jersey\u2019s Mount St. Dominic (14-1) is the other team making its debut, entering the Super 25 at No. 21. The Lions have won 12 straight since a 1-0 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas on April 6.<\/p>\n
The No. 25-ranked duo of St. Thomas More (31-4-1) and North DeSoto (31-5) both lost deep in their respective Louisiana state tournaments. St. Thomas More dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in the Division I select semis to eventual state champion Archbishop Chapelle, while North DeSoto lost 9-4 in the Division II non-select final to Lutcher, snapping a run of three straight state titles for the Griffins.<\/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: 34-1-1 | PR: 1<\/p>\n Record: 28-0 | PR: 2<\/p>\n Record: 17-1 | PR: 3<\/p>\n Record: 35-2 | PR: 4<\/p>\n Record: 33-1 | PR: 5<\/p>\n Record: 21-0 | PR: 8<\/p>\n Record: 39-1 | PR: 11<\/p>\n Record: 24-0 | PR: 10<\/p>\n Record: 13-1 | PR: 12<\/p>\n Record: 15-0 | PR: NR<\/p>\n Record: 14-1 | PR: 16<\/p>\n Record: 23-0 | PR: 7<\/p>\n Record: 17-1 | PR: 8<\/p>\n Record: 21-1 | PR: 13<\/p>\n Record: 12-0 | PR: 14<\/p>\n Record: 32-1 | PR: 9<\/p>\n Record: 20-2 | PR: 15<\/p>\n Record: 25-1 | PR: 17<\/p>\n Record: 17-2 | PR: 18<\/p>\n Record: 24-2 | PR: 19<\/p>\n Record: 14-1 | PR: NR<\/p>\n Record: 15-1 | PR: 21<\/p>\n Record: 16-1 | PR: 23<\/p>\n Record: 23-2 | PR: 21<\/p>\n Record: 31-4-1 | PR: 22<\/p>\n Record: 31-5 | PR: t-25<\/p>\n Dropped out:<\/strong> Bingham (Utah) and Marist (Ill.).<\/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 May 2, 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. Orange Beach (Ala.)<\/h3>\n
8. Lake Central (Ind.)<\/h3>\n
9. Shenendehowa (N.Y.)<\/h3>\n
10. Walsh Jesuit (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
11. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
12. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
13. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
14. Oak Grove (N.C.)<\/h3>\n
15. St. Anthony\u2019s (N.Y.)<\/h3>\n
16. Diamond (Mo.)<\/h3>\n
17. Lancaster (Ohio)<\/h3>\n
18. Bartow (Fla.)<\/h3>\n
19. Owyhee (Utah)<\/h3>\n
20. Sheridan (Ark.)<\/h3>\n
21. Mount St. Dominic (N.J.)<\/h3>\n
22. Notre Dame (N.J.)<\/h3>\n
23. Roncalli (Ind.)<\/h3>\n
24. Pacifica (Calif.)<\/h3>\n
t-25. St. Thomas More (La.)<\/h3>\n
t-25. North DeSoto (La.)<\/h3>\n