LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lake Creek claimed a second straight Texas state 5A championship and remained No. 1 in the 2023 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 for a 29th week.
The (44-1) Lions defeated previously-unbeaten Canyon, 8-0, in the state final last Saturday, after beating Heritage, 9-0, in Friday’s semifinal. University of Florida-bound senior pitcher Ava Brown tossed a 74-pitch, one-hitter and fanned 15 Cougar batters in the championship.
Roncalli (31-3-1) maintained its No. 3 spot behind second-ranked Washington state 4A titlist Jackson by winning two more games to advance to Saturday’s Indiana state 4A final against Penn. The Royals rolled past both Evansville North, 10-1, and Pendleton Heights, 8-0, last Saturday.
Fourth-ranked Rockridge (38-1) captured the Illinois state 2A crown for a third-straight year with a 7-1 triumph over Beecher, while No. 7 Ballard is in the Kentucky state semis following a 4-1 victory over Greenwood in 11 innings last Saturday. Minnesota’s Rosemount (23-0) remains unbeaten in the No. 8 spot after claiming a sectional title, and faces Hopkins later today in the Class AAAA quarters.
Austintown-Fitch (22-0-1) finds itself in the poll for the first time this season at No. 9 after defeating new-No. 15 Anthony Wayne, 6-1, for the Ohio state Division I championship on Saturday. No. 19 Hollister (30-3) is the other newcomer this week after winning the California’s NorCal Division I crown.
State rankings submitted by the 2023 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 8, 2023
1. Lake Creek (Texas)
Record: 44-1 | PR: 1
2. Jackson (Wash.)
Record: 28-1 | PR: 2
3. Roncalli (Ind.)
Record: 31-3-1 | PR: 3
4. Rockridge (Ill.)
Record: 38-1 | PR: 5
5. Bentonville (Ark.)
Record: 29-2 | PR: 6
6. Willow Canyon (Ariz.)
Record: 30-2-1 | PR: 7
7. Ballard (Ky.)
Record: 34-1 | PR: 8
8. Rosemount (Minn.)
Record: 23-0 | PR: 10
9. Austintown-Fitch (Ohio)
Record: 22-0-1 | PR: NR
10. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 34-2 | PR: 11
11. Mount Vernon (Mo.)
Record: 37-1 | PR: 12
12. Salpointe Catholic (Ariz.)
Record: 35-1 | PR: 13
13. West Stanly (N.C.)
Record: 31-1 | PR: 14
14. Donovan Catholic (N.J.)
Record: 28-2 | PR: 15
15. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)
Record: 28-5 | PR: 19
16. Coral Springs Charter (Fla.)
Record: 25-1-2 | PR: 16
17. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)
Record: 28-2-1 | PR: 9
18. Springfield (Holland, Ohio)
Record: 27-1 | PR: 4
19. Hollister (Calif.)
Record: 30-3 | PR: NR
20. Spanish Fork (Utah)
Record: 28-2 | PR: 20
21. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 28-4 | PR: 25
22. Neshoba Central (Miss.)
Record: 25-5 | PR: 21
23. Saint Francis (Calif.)
Record: 28-4 | PR: 22
24. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 28-4 | PR: 23
25. Bend (Ore.)
Record: 26-4 | PR: 24
Dropped out: Los Alamitos (Calif.) and Moorpark (Calif.).
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