LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Unbeaten Texas state 5A titlist Lake Creek is No. 1 in the final USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 of the 2022 season.
In all, unbeaten teams comprise half of the top 10 teams, including five of the first seven. The (41-0) Lions lead the way with their 15th week in the top spot, followed by Indiana titlist Roncalli (33-0) at No. 2 and Arkansas state champ Benton (32-0) in the third spot.
No. 6 Rockridge (35-0) and seventh-ranked Monroe-Woodbury (26-0) are the other two teams in the poll who did not lose a game this season. Rockridge is the first Illinois team to have back-to-back unbeaten seasons, while the Crusaders rode senior pitcher Brianna Roberts to New York’s Class AA title.
Utah’s Riverton (28-1) and Ohio’s Anthony Wayne (30-1) had just one blemish on their record in the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, while No. 8 Donovan Catholic (30-1) suffered its lone loss to fellow state titlist Haddon Heights in New Jersey’s Tournament of Champions. The Griffins had just won a third-straight state Non-Public A crown and were riding a 48-game win streak at the time.
Ninth-ranked Lakewood Ranch (30-2) avenged two early losses to Lake Brantley with a 8-2 victory over the Patriots in the Florida state Class 7A championship, and No. 10 Oaks Christian (34-1) closed the year with three California playoff triumphs after a mid-May loss to Los Alamitos snapped the Lions’ 31-game win streak.
State rankings submitted by the 2022 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality, strength of schedule, and active NFCA membership.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – June 30, 2022
|
Rank |
Team |
2022 Record |
Previous |
|
1 |
Lake Creek (Texas) |
41-0 |
1 |
|
2 |
Roncalli (Ind.) |
33-0 |
2 |
|
3 |
Benton (Ark.) |
32-0 |
3 |
|
4 |
Riverton (Utah) |
28-1 |
4 |
|
5 |
Anthony Wayne (Ohio) |
30-1 |
5 |
|
6 |
Rockridge (Ill.) |
35-0 |
6 |
|
7 |
Monroe-Woodbury (N.Y.) |
26-0 |
7 |
|
8 |
Donovan Catholic (N.J.) |
30-1 |
8 |
|
9 |
Lakewood Ranch (Fla.) |
30-2 |
9 |
|
10 |
Oaks Christian (Calif.) |
34-1 |
10 |
|
11 |
Neshoba Central (Miss.) |
31-3 |
11 |
|
12 |
Clovis North (Calif.) |
21-3 |
12 |
|
13 |
North Augusta (S.C.) |
33-2 |
13 |
|
14 |
Eastern Alamance (N.C.) |
28-2 |
14 |
|
15 |
Patterson Mill (Md.) |
21-1 |
16 |
|
16 |
Immaculate Heart Academy (N.J.) |
27-2 |
17 |
|
17 |
Concord (N.H.) |
26-2 |
15 |
|
18 |
Lakota West (Ohio) |
29-3 |
18 |
|
19 |
Watkins Memorial (Ohio) |
28-3 |
19 |
|
20 |
Alexander Central (N.C.) |
25-3 |
20 |
|
21 |
Lexington (S.C.) |
27-4 |
21 |
|
22 |
New Palestine (Ind.) |
23-4-1 |
22 |
|
23 |
John Curtis (La.) |
29-3 |
23 |
|
24 |
Diamond (Mo.) |
29-3 |
24 |
|
25 |
Rosemount (Minn.) |
21-4 |
25 |
Dropped out: None.
State rankings submitted by the 2022 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality, strength of schedule, and active NFCA membership.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded coaches polls and All-America awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards, to in-person events and National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining nearly 6,000 coaches today!
