There were a couple of top 10 teams that still had to complete their state championship playoffs before the final Extra Elite 80 national high school softball rankings could be done.
In the next-to-last weekly rankings, states like California, Texas, Florida and most others that play high school softball in the fall—some still play in the fall like Georgia, Oklahoma and Colorado)—No. 2 Roncalli of Indianapolis and No. 6 Ballard of Louisville still had games left.
State Champs Over the Last Few Weeks
Roncalli just had its Class 4A state final remaining against Harrison of West Lafayette and made quick work of the Raiders with a 16-0 rout. Keegan Rothrock completed her sensational high school career with a two-hitter and 16 strikeouts. She had plenty of support from her teammates. Cate Leher went 3-for-5 with four RBI, Lyla Blackwell went 3-for-5 with four runs scored and Torii Candler homered.
A case clearly can be made for Roncalli to be No. 1 in the nation with a dominant pitcher/player like Rothrock leading the way. It just should never be done to make a switch at the end when another team, in this case Lake Creek of Montgomery, Texas, has already played its last game. Whenever someone or some group does that in final rankings, it just shows they don’t know much about doing rankings in the first place. Roncalli therefore ends No. 2 in the Extra Elite 80.
Ballard had only gone to its state quarterfinals in the next-to-last rankings and still needed three wins to complete its unbeaten season. The Bruins got it done as they topped 38-2 South Warren in the semifinals and then defeated Lexington Catholic, 3-2, in the final. There are no divisions in the Kentucky playoffs as it’s an all-class format (the same as its famous basketball tournaments). Brooke Gray was named MVP of the state tourney for Ballard while teammates Imari Golden and Macy McCoy were both selected all-tourney.
Highest Rising “Newcomer”
The highest rising newcomer that won a state title in the last two weeks was Allen Park of Michigan.
The Jaguars captured the Michigan Division I state crown after losing in the finals last year with a 5-0 shutout of Macomb Dakota. Michigan-bound Madi Ramey hit a home run and displayed dazzling defense at shortstop to lead the way. Junior pitcher Morgan Sizemore also had a five-hitter.
Congratulations to all of the teams that earned a final national ranking this season and to the many others that were ranked at some point. We already know which ones will be ranked high in the preseason to start 2023!
— Mark Tennis
*****
FINAL EXTRA ELITE 80 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL RANKINGS (2022)
(After all games of 2022 season)
(Previous rank in parentheses)
1. (1) Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas) 41-0
2. (2) Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.) 33-0
3. (3) O’Connor (Heliotes, Texas) 32-1
4. (4) Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.) 30-2
5. (5) St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) 31-2
6. (6) Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) 39-0
7. (7) Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) 34-1
8. (8) Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.) 32-2
9. (9) Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) 28-4
10. (10) Lexington (Lexington, Tenn.) 51-1
*** Scroll down to see the rest of the FINAL Top 50 plus the Next 30 and the teams that dropped out…
