For the first time in these fall season national rankings, there were no changes among the top teams from Georgia, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado.
There were some big changes, however, in Oklahoma as that state’s championships were concluded in Class 3A, Class 2A and Class 1A.
In Class 2A, there was an upset as season-long leader Pocola was knocked off, 2-0, in the Oklahoma state title game by Morrison. Kallie Rupp hammered a two-run homer to back the shutout pitching of Hally Vaughn, who finished with a four-hitter.
Losing in the state playoffs is much different than losing in the regular season, generally because the winning team – in this case Morrison – has to finish higher ranked than the team it just defeated. This is why Pocola had to drop out from this week’s rankings from its previous No. 8 position.
Oklahoma does have a state champion that cemented its position in the final national fall rankings. That will be Class 3A titlist Washington after the Warriors won their second straight title with a 2-0 win last weekend over Tishomingo.
Pitcher Maggie Place, who has been a standout for four years at the school, tossed a one-hitter. She will play next at Oklahoma Baptist. Head coach Tylor Lampkin also had another elite player in the state in catcher Tinley Lucas (Grand Canyon). Lucas homered for the second straight game to give Place all she would need in her shutout.
Here’s an interview with Maggie and Tinley after the big title win:
Washington's Tinley Lucas and Maggie Place on today's performance in the state championship #OKPreps pic.twitter.com/2EceeT8JIX
— Hunter Sheppard (@thecooldude52) October 8, 2022
Where Washington lands in the final fall national rankings will depend on what happens in the other four states that are still to be finished. Oklahoma’s larger class state finals, for 6A, 5A and 4A, also were set to be completed by this weekend.
The other state that will be wrapped up by this weekend will be Nebraska. Missouri, Georgia and Colorado will be in regional rounds this week.
Note that these rankings are now weekly through the end of the various state championships.
— By Mark Tennis
*****
(Teams listed with most current win-loss records as of Tuesday, Oct. 11)
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- (1) Buford (Buford, Ga.) 23-0
- (2) Pope (Marietta, Ga.) 27-1
- (3) Gretna (Gretna, Neb.) 36-0
- (4) Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.) 36-1
- (5) Whitewater (Fayetteville, Ga.) 26-0
*** Scroll down to see the rest of the Extra Elite Fall Rankings including the rest of the Top 25, ones that dropped out and teams on the bubble!
