LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Undefeated Kentucky champion South Warren overtook Orange Beach for the No. 1 spot in the final NFCA Spring High School Top 25 Coaches Poll of the season, the Association announced on Thursday.
The (45-0) Spartans pitched back-to-back shutouts to close out their first state softball crown over the weekend at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium. South Warren blanked Highlands, 10-0 in five innings, in Friday’s semis, then defeated Bullitt East, 8-0, in Saturday’s title contest. Tournament Most Valuable Player Courtney Norwood combined with Layla Ogden on the first victory and then tossed a complete game in the circle in the final.
Among their signature wins this season, South Warren dealt Orange Beach (46-1) its lone loss, 6-1 in a showcase game on April 9 on the road, hours after the Makos took over the top spot in the rankings from Calvary Baptist Academy (37-1), which had led the poll the first five weeks of the season. Orange Beach had been in the No. 1 position for all 10 polls since then.
The Spartans also beat the top-ranked team in 4A in Tennessee (Green Hill), the Florida 6A state champion (Pace), the defending Kentucky state champion (Assumption) and an Alabama 4A semifinalist (West Limestone). For the season, South Warren scored 565 runs and allowed just 37 runs, for a stunning run differential of +528.
Alabama’s Orange Beach and Louisiana’s Cavalry Baptist Academy both captured a sixth consecutive state title earlier this season.
In the only other action among teams ranked in the Top 25, No. 16 Taunton (26-1) and 19th-ranked Lake Central (31-2) both capped their seasons with state titles. Taunton claimed the Massachusetts Division 1 crown with a 11-8 victory over Attleboro on Saturday, while Lake Central closed out things with a 9-2 triumph over Terre Haute North Vigo in Friday’s Indiana’s 4A final.
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 – June 18, 2026
|
Rank |
Team |
2026 Record |
Previous |
|
1 |
South Warren (Ky.) |
45-0 |
3 |
|
2 |
Orange Beach (Ala.) |
46-1 |
1 |
|
3 |
Calvary Baptist Academy (La.) |
37-1 |
2 |
|
4 |
Lake Creek (Texas) |
40-1 |
4 |
|
5 |
Owyhee (Idaho) |
30-3 |
5 |
|
6 |
Gray Collegiate (S.C.) |
33-0 |
6 |
|
7 |
Destiny Christian (Calif.) |
31-0 |
7 |
|
8 |
Carterville (Ill.) |
39-1 |
8 |
|
9 |
Skyline (Wash.) |
22-1 |
9 |
|
10 |
Kenton Ridge (Ohio) |
32-0 |
10 |
|
11 |
St. John Vianney (N.J.) |
30-0 |
11 |
|
12 |
Weddington (N.C.) |
27-0 |
12 |
|
13 |
Barrington (Ill.) |
36-1 |
13 |
|
14 |
Austintown-Fitch (Ohio) |
26-1 |
14 |
|
15 |
Caldera (Ore.) |
29-1 |
15 |
|
16 |
Taunton (Mass.) |
26-1 |
16 |
|
17 |
Beecher (Ill.) |
32-1 |
17 |
|
18 |
Marist (Ill.) |
37-2 |
18 |
|
19 |
Lake Central (Ind.) |
31-2 |
19 |
|
20 |
Melissa (Texas) |
33-3 |
20 |
|
21 |
Mount St. Dominic Academy (N.J.) |
29-3 |
21 |
|
22 |
Donovan Catholic (N.J.) |
27-3 |
22 |
|
23 |
Murrieta Mesa (Calif.) |
26-3 |
23 |
|
24 |
Doral Academy (Fla.) |
26-3 |
24 |
|
T25 |
Norco (Calif.) |
28-3 |
T25 |
|
T25 |
Thompson (Ala.) |
46-3-2 |
T25 |
Dropped out: None.
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!
