Completion of the Arizona state championships earlier this week and a rare matchup between powerhouse programs from different states caused the most impact in this week’s Extra Elite 80 national rankings.
In the Cactus State, it was business as usual in the Class 4A state final as Salpointe Catholic of Tucson won its fifth straight state title with a 2-0 triumph over Greenway of Phoenix. The Lancers, who also wrapped up a 35-1 season and a likely top 10 final national ranking, were led by BYU-bound pitcher Gianna Mares, who pitched the shutout. She also blanked Paradise Honors, 8-0, in the semifinals with 13 strikeouts.
For the fifth time in a row…your Lady Lancers are 4A State Champs after a complete team win 2-0 win over Greenway behind a complete game effort from G. Mares. 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/iqGAflQGSl
— SC Softball (@schssoftball_) May 17, 2023
There was a big upset in the Class 5A state championship, however, as previous No. 4 Willow Canyon of Surprise lost to Desert Mountain of Phoenix, 4-2. Willow Canyon had lost its first game earlier in the double-elimination format playoffs. Desert Mountain emerged with the title and with just four losses overall on the season jumped up almost into the top 25 of this week’s rankings.
Freshman Lily “Goose” Goodwin led the Wolves as she out-dueled Willow Canyon’s Marissa McCann (Missouri) and she had an RBI double plus a run scored in the seventh inning. Emily Strittmatter also came through for Desert Mountain as she smashed a two-run homer in the fourth inning after McCann had not given up a hit in the first three innings.
The Class 6A state champ in Arizona was won by Basha of Chandler. The Bears played their league rivals from Perry in the title game and won 4-1. Ashley Cain and Gabriella Garcia both hit homers while Natalie Fritz struck out 11 in a strong pitching performance. Basha was moved up 15 slots in this week’s rankings.
HISTORY MADE!! 🏆💍 Your 2023 Lady Bears have done it!! 🐻💚💛 They’re bringing home the AIA 6A State Softball Championship trophy to Basha High School for the first time since 2009!! Not to mention some other hardware as well ⬇️ (continued in comments) pic.twitter.com/lpLEStYCaL
— Basha Bears Softball (@basha_softball) May 17, 2023
The big state vs. state matchup was held in Louisville last Saturday as Ballard of Kentucky took on last year’s national No. 1, Roncalli of Indianapolis, Ind. The game went to the ninth inning before Ballard grabbed a 2-1 win with the game ending on a wild pitch that scored a runner from third. Brooke Gray (Louisville) struck out seven and got the win over Keegan Rothrock (Florida). Keegan ended with 10 strikeouts.
Ballard beats Roncalli 2-1 in 9 innings on this wild pitch. pic.twitter.com/OEtpxBbZSD
— Jason Frakes (@kyhighs) May 14, 2023
National No. 1 Lake Creek and the rest of the teams in the Class 6A and Class 5A state playoffs in Texas will be in regional semifinals this weekend. The region finals the following week essentially will then create the final four teams in each division. Teams in Texas remember can lose a game and still move on to the next round by winning a 2-of-3 series. Losing games, however, could prevent a Texas team from finishing No. 1 in the final national ranking.
— Mark Tennis
*****
(After games of Wednesday, May 17)
(Previous rank in parentheses)
*Indicates season complete.
**Indicates forfeit wins, losses not included.
TOP 10
1. (1) Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) 38-0
2. (2) Guyer (Denton, Texas) 33-0
3. (3) Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.) 25-0-2**
4. (5) Pace (Pace, Fla.) 26-1
5. (6) St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) 24-2
6. (10) Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) 28-1
7. (7) Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio) 25-0
8. (8) Canyon (New Braunfels, Texas) 28-0
9. (16) Norco (Norco, Calif.) 27-3
10. (11) Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.) 35-1*
*** Scroll down to see the rest of the 2023 Extra Elite 80 teams!
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