NFCA, high school, poll, top 25, coaches, fall, softball, fastpitch, 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Back-to-back Georgia state 7A champion Buford improved to 9-0 to stay No. 1 in the NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll for a second straight week.

The Wolves rolled past Collins Hill, 8-0, on Wednesday behind the return of Kadyn Gabrels (2-for-2, home run, 3 RBI) and Addison Rackley’s two-hit shutout. That completed a week during which Buford outscored its five opponents 39-1, and extended its win streak to 48 games since a 1-0 loss on Oct. 20, 2022 to Lambert in the 7A Super Regionals.

Meanwhile, two losses at the Murray State Festival dropped second-ranked Caddo (8-2) all the way to 11th. Washington, which opens today at Francis Howell Central, is the new No. 2 and fellow perennial power East Coweta (14-0), moved up one position to third, ahead of poll newcomer Pocola (11-0) at No. 4.

East Coweta stayed perfect on Wednesday against Heard County thanks to Jada Savage, who tossed a two-hitter (10 strikeouts) and went 2-for-3 at the plate to raise her average to .694 for the season.

Ranked victories over Papillion-LaVista (5-1) and Millard North (4-1) catapulted Gretna (5-0) all the way to sixth in the rankings, and a pair of unbeaten Colorado squads — No. 8 Broomfield (6-0) and No. 10 Pueblo Central (7-0) — joined Pocola as this week’s new additions.

The five ranked Missouri teams are about to get rolling, while No. 12 Eaton (12-0) and No. 17 Lincoln Southwest (5-0) both continued their flawless run to open the season.

State rankings submitted by the 2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.

NFCA Summer/Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll – Aug. 29, 2024

Rank

Team

2024 Record

Previous

1

Buford (Ga.)

9-0

1

2

Washington (Mo.)

0-0

3

3

East Coweta (Ga.)

14-0

4

4

Pocola (Okla.)

11-0

NR

5

Van Meter (Iowa)

43-1

5

6

Gretna (Neb.)

5-0

21

7

North Cobb (Ga.)

11-1

6

8

Broomfield (Colo.)

6-0

NR

9

Lutheran (Colo.)

5-1

7

10

Pueblo Central (Colo.)

7-0

NR

11

Caddo (Okla.)

8-2

2

12

Eaton (Colo.)

6-0

14

13

Millard North (Neb.)

4-1

17

14

Piedmont (Okla.)

6-1

12

15

Papillion-LaVista (Neb.)

5-1

9

16

Silver Creek (Colo.)

4-1

10

17

Lincoln Southwest (Neb.)

5-0

22

18

Owasso (Okla.)

9-2

11

19

Pope (Ga.)

8-3

13

20

Francis Howell (Mo.)

0-0

15

21

Blue Springs South (Mo.)

0-0

16

22

Pleasant Valley (Iowa)

40-3

18

23

Raymore-Peculiar (Mo.)

0-0

19

24

Helias Catholic (Mo.)

0-0

20

25

Carlisle (Iowa)

37-8

23

Dropped out: Chatfield (Colo.), Sigourney (Iowa) and Williamsburg (Iowa).

2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee

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