LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Calvary Baptist Academy tops the field in the first NFCA Spring High School Top 25 Coaches Poll of the 2026 season, the Association announced on Thursday.
The five-time reigning Louisiana state champion (14-0) Cavaliers have now won 20 straight games, including their four victories in the Division III Select tournament to close out 2025. Earlier this week, Calvary rolled past Evangel Christian Academy and Parkway by a combined 23-1 margin, and face Lutcher next on Saturday.
Perennial California contender Norco (4-0) opens at No. 2 to lead four more unbeaten teams in the top five. The other three are all from Alabama.
No. 3 Orange Beach (2-0) has won five straight state titles across two classifications, while fourth-ranked Thompson (12-0) is the reigning 7A champion, and No. 5 Hewitt-Trussville (11-0) was the 7A titlist in three of the past six state tournaments (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024).
Elsewhere, sixth-ranked Lake Creek (18-1) and No. 10 Kingwood (17-2) were declared co-champions of February’s NFCA Texas High School Leadoff Classic after their championship showdown was rained out.
Florida’s Montverde Academy (5-0) and Doral Academy (4-0), Arizona’s Desert Mountain (6-0-1) and Texas’ Clyde (14-0) are the other four undefeated teams in this week’s Top 25.
No. 11 Sam Houston (6-1) would also be in that unbeaten group, if not for its Feb. 20 home loss to No. 1 Calvary Baptist. Similarly, No. 20 Coahoma (8-1) suffered its only loss of the season at the hands of 12th-ranked Clyde on Feb. 14.
Seven squads are poised to open their respective seasons later this month.
State rankings submitted by the 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 Top 25 Coaches Poll – March 5, 2026
|
Rank |
Team |
2026 Record |
|
1 |
Calvary Baptist Academy (La.) |
14-0 |
|
2 |
Norco (Calif.) |
4-0 |
|
3 |
Orange Beach (Ala.) |
2-0 |
|
4 |
Thompson (Ala.) |
12-0 |
|
5 |
Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) |
11-0 |
|
6 |
Lake Creek (Texas) |
18-1 |
|
7 |
Montverde Academy (Fla.) |
5-0 |
|
8 |
Desert Mountain (Ariz.) |
6-0-1 |
|
9 |
Doral Academy (Fla.) |
4-0 |
|
10 |
Kingwood (Texas) |
17-2 |
|
11 |
Sam Houston (La.) |
6-1 |
|
12 |
Clyde (Texas) |
14-0 |
|
13 |
Barbers Hill (Texas) |
18-3 |
|
14 |
Bishop O’Connell (Va.) |
0-0 |
|
15 |
Owyhee (Idaho) |
0-0 |
|
16 |
Melissa (Texas) |
13-2 |
|
17 |
Midway (Texas) |
14-3-1 |
|
18 |
Skyview (Wash.) |
0-0 |
|
19 |
Ridgeview (Ore.) |
0-0 |
|
20 |
Coahoma (Texas) |
8-1 |
|
21 |
Byron Nelson (Texas) |
17-2-1 |
|
22 |
Donovan Catholic (N.J.) |
0-0 |
|
23 |
Marist (Ill.) |
0-0 |
|
24 |
Katy (Texas) |
17-4 |
|
25 |
Taunton (Mass.) |
0-0 |
2026 NFCA High School Steering Committee
The NFCA 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 our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!
