LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Melissa is the new No. 1 team this week in the NFCA Spring High School Top 25 Coaches Poll, following two losses by reigning Mississippi state champ Northwest Rankin, which had been the nation’s top team for the past five rankings, dating back to May 30, 2024.
The (17-0) Cardinals won both their games this past week, defeating Sherman on Friday and Anna on Tuesday by identical 15-0 scores. Melissa has allowed just one run in its last nine contests, and none over its last six, outscoring opponents by a 116-1 margin during that span.
Northwest Rankin’s 8-2 loss to George County on Friday snapped the (9-2) Cougars’ 49-game win streak. Another loss, 5-2 to Hernando on Tuesday, dropped them from first to 11th this week. Northwest Rankin’s last loss was a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Gulfport on April 29, 2023, in the middle game of a best-of-three playoff series the Cougars ultimately captured.
Meanwhile, new No. 2 Calvary Baptist (16-0) kept rolling, adding six more victories to its resume, including shutouts of Quitman (3-0 on Monday) and West Quachita (6-0 on Tuesday).
Norco’s 5-4 loss to El Modena on Saturday dropped the (11-1) Cougars one place to fifth, behind new No. 3 St. Anthony’s and new No. 4 Austintown-Fitch, who both have not yet opened their seasons.
Unbeaten teams Summerville (7-0), Coahoma (13-0), Bishop O’Connell (1-0) and Sheridan (5-0), plus one-loss squads Katy (21-1) and Spanish Fort (13-1) all gained ground from last week’s poll.
Doral Academy (5-0) is the lone newcomer to the rankings, debuting at No. 15 after staying perfect for the season with two more shutout wins. The Firebirds have allowed just one run over their first five games, and have outscored their opponents by a 50-1 margin.
State rankings submitted by the 2025 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the NFCA Spring High School Top 25 Coaches Poll. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.
NFCA Spring High School Softball Top 25 Coaches Poll – March 13, 2025
|
Rank |
Team |
2025 Record |
Previous |
|
1 |
Melissa (Texas) |
17-0 |
2 |
|
2 |
Calvary Baptist (La.) |
16-0 |
3 |
|
3 |
St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) |
0-0 |
5 |
|
4 |
Austintown-Fitch (Ohio) |
0-0 |
6 |
|
5 |
Norco (Calif.) |
11-1 |
4 |
|
6 |
Summerville (S.C.) |
7-0 |
8 |
|
7 |
Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) |
0-0 |
7 |
|
8 |
Katy (Texas) |
21-1 |
9 |
|
9 |
Coahoma (Texas) |
13-0 |
10 |
|
10 |
Spanish Fort (Ala.) |
13-1 |
11 |
|
11 |
Northwest Rankin (Miss.) |
9-2 |
1 |
|
12 |
Diamond (Mo.) |
0-0 |
12 |
|
13 |
Carterville (Ill.) |
0-0 |
13 |
|
14 |
Watkins Memorial (Ohio) |
0-0 |
14 |
|
15 |
Doral Academy (Fla.) |
5-0 |
NR |
|
16 |
Bishop O’Connell (Va.) |
1-0 |
16 |
|
17 |
Anthony Wayne (Ohio) |
0-0 |
15 |
|
18 |
Sheridan (Ark.) |
5-0 |
24 |
|
19 |
Lake Central (Ind.) |
0-0 |
18 |
|
20 |
St. John Vianney (N.J.) |
0-0 |
19 |
|
21 |
Jackson (Wash.) |
0-1 |
17 |
|
22 |
Prospect Mountain (N.H.) |
0-0 |
20 |
|
23 |
Marist (Ill.) |
0-0 |
21 |
|
24 |
St. Charles North (Ill.) |
0-0 |
23 |
|
25 |
Owyhee (Idaho) |
0-0 |
25 |
Dropped out: Skyview (Wash.)
2025 NFCA High School Steering Committee
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