High School: This Week’s Extra Elite 25 Fall Season National Rankings Highlighted by Top Showdown in Nebraska (Sept. 23, 2022)

For this week’s second installment of the Extra Inning Softball national high school rankings for the 2022 fall season, it was decided to be delayed for one day so that a match-up between the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in Nebraska could be played on Thursday.

There was no upset as Gretna continued its unbeaten season with a 2-0 win over Millard North of Omaha. Sophomore standout Alexis Jensen pitched a two-hitter as the Dragons spoiled senior night at Millard North. They scored the only runs they would need in the top of the first inning.

Avenging losses was the other theme of this week’s rankings.

In Georgia since the first rankings, Pope of Marietta avenged its only loss with an 11-3 win against the defending Class 6A state champions from Lassiter. The Greyhounds jumped to No. 2 due to that victory but are still behind unbeaten Buford. All three teams – Buford, Pope and Lassiter – are likely to face each other in this year’s state playoffs in the same bracket.

Missouri’s No. 1 ranking also changed for the same reason. Previous No. 2 and unbeaten Blue Springs South lost in the finals of the Park Hill South tournament, 11-5, to Rock Bridge of Columbia. Rock Bridge avenged its only loss and won its 17th straight game on Thursday, 14-0, over Hickman. In this week’s national rankings, the Bruins moved up from No. 13 to No. 5. Head coach Lisa Alvis also picked up her 100th win.The next national rankings update for the fall high school season will be in two weeks.

There will be weekly updates after the Oklahoma and Nebraska state championships are decided on Oct. 13-15, then again after the Colorado state championships on Oct. 21-22 and then the final rankings will be done after Georgia and Missouri are wrapped up on Oct. 29.

— By Mark Tennis

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(Teams listed with most current win-loss records as of Thursday, Sept. 22)

1. 1. (1) Buford (Buford, Ga.) 18-0
   2. (7) Pope (Marietta, Ga.) 20-1
   3. (3) Gretna (Gretna, Neb.) 25-0
   4. (4) Columbine (Littleton, Colo.) 16-0
   5. (13) Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.) 18-1

*** Scroll down to see the rest of the Extra Elite Fall Rankings including the teams on the bubble!

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