LOUISVILLE, Ky. — State champion Los Alamitos and fellow California school Norco start 2018 the same way they finished last season — as the top two teams in the USA Today Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 poll — after both cruised through their first two games.
No. 3 Oakleaf (6-0), which closed last season ranked 15th, dodged an upset bid by Baker in its opener and has outscored its opponents 57-5 since that one-run victory to win its first six, while Texas’ The Colony (5-0-2) has been similarly successful, collecting five wins and two ties so far.
Fifth-ranked Fort Myers (3-0) of Florida is one of three other undefeated teams in the first Super 25, winning its first two by identical 15-0 scores, before dealing Estero its lone loss, 1-0, last Friday. California’s Gahr (1-0) at No. 8 and Alabama’s Hazel Green (1-0) are the others.
Perennial Arizona powerhouse Pinnacle (4-2) is the lone team in the rankings with losses in 2018, but has won three of its last four after dropping its opener, 5-3 to rival Horizon, a week ago.
The remaining 17 teams in the poll have yet to start playing. Those schools include No. 7 Hurricane (W. Va.), which has won three straight state crowns; No. 11 Scott County (Ky.), which boasts nine college signees; No. 10 Bishop O’Connell (Va.), which is counting on getting USA Junior National Team pitcher Kat Sandercock back from a labrum injury; and reigning Kansas state 5A titlist Shawnee Heights at No. 13.
State rankings submitted by NFCA member coaches are used to compile the USA Today Sports/NFCA High School Super 25.
USA Today Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – March 1, 2018
Rank |
Team |
2018 Record |
1 |
Los Alamitos (Calif.) |
2-0 |
2 |
Norco (Calif.) |
2-0 |
3 |
Oakleaf (Fla.) |
6-0 |
4 |
The Colony (Texas) |
5-0-2 |
5 |
Fort Myers (Fla.) |
3-0 |
6 |
Pinnacle (Ariz.) |
4-2 |
7 |
Hurricane (W. Va.) |
0-0 |
8 |
Gahr (Calif.) |
1-0 |
9 |
Barrington (Ill.) |
0-0 |
10 |
Bishop O’Connell (Va.) |
0-0 |
11 |
Scott County (Ky.) |
0-0 |
12 |
Immaculate Heart Academy (N.J.) |
0-0 |
13 |
Shawnee Heights (Kan.) |
0-0 |
14 |
Prior Lake (Minn.) |
0-0 |
15 |
Clarkston (Mich.) |
0-0 |
16 |
Hazel Green (Ala.) |
1-0 |
17 |
Madisonville-North Hopkins (Ky.) |
0-0 |
18 |
Louisville Male (Ky.) |
0-0 |
19 |
Olathe Northwest (Kan.) |
0-0 |
20 |
King’s Academy (Tenn.) |
0-0 |
21 |
Spain Park (Ala.) |
0-0 |
22 |
West (Utah) |
0-0 |
23 |
Grand Terrace (Calif.) |
0-0 |
24 |
East Islip (N.Y.) |
0-0 |
25 |
Ramsey (N.J.) |
0-0 |