April 17, 2008

 

The USA TODAY/National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School Top 25 is compiled by state representatives from across the country.

 

Among the criteria considered are a school's strength of schedule, the quality of competition in its state or league, and the quality of its players.

 

Rank Team Record Last week

 

1 Pembroke Pines Charter (Fla.) 24-0 1

 

2 Sheldon (Calif.) 17-1 2

 

3 Aledo (Texas) 28-1 3

 

4 Santiago (Calif.) 17-1 4

 

5 Broad Run (Va.) 11-0 5

 

6 Eau Gallie (Fla.) 26-1 6

 

7 Canyon del Oro (Ariz.) 23-4 7

 

8 Butler (N.C.) 13-0 9

 

9 Lubbock Coronado (Texas) 33-1 10

 

10 Kennedy (Calif.) 18-3 12

 

11 Shadle Park (Wash.) 8-0 13

 

12 Byrd (La.) 29-1-1 15

 

13 Sandburg (Ill.) 13-0 17

 

14 Plano (Texas) 24-4 8

 

15 Sparkman (Ala.) 39-3 18

 

16 Ryle (Ky.) 9-0 20

 

17 Cibola (N.M.) 19-0 21

 

18 Simi Valley (Calif.) 19-0 23

 

19 Central Davidson (N.C.) 14-0 24

 

20 Ooltewah (Tenn.) 24-2 16

 

21 Chamberlain (Fla.) 20-4 11

 

22 St. Amant (La.) 26-0-1 19

 

23 Smithson Valley (Texas) 22-2 25

 

24 Escondido (Calif.) 18-0-2 RV

 

25 Lincoln (Fla.) 20-1 RV

 

Also receiving consideration: Greenville (Ohio), Hueytown (Ala.), Jesuit (Ore.), Lakeland (Mich.), Notre Dame (N.J.), Poteet (Texas), Riverton (Utah), Woodinsville (Wash.)

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/softball/rankings.htm

And yet some people feel Ryle shouldn't be No. 1 in the state...

And yet some people feel Ryle shouldn't be No. 1 in the state...

 

Who feels that way? Ryle has arguably one of the best pitchers in the country.

Wow kind of suprising to see that a team (#15 Sparkman) has played 42 games already?!?!

That was the thing that jumped out at me as well.

Wow kind of suprising to see that a team (#15 Sparkman) has played 42 games already?!?!

 

That was the thing that jumped out at me as well.

 

I agree. I think it's weird that Ryle has only played 9 or 10 games and other top 25 teams have played 20 +. Does the season start earlier for other states? I know they probably played in a few more tournaments but still 42 games is a lot.

Alot of the warmer weather areas are on the backside or at the end of the season .I know Florida is almost starting the tourneys when KY.teams are there on spring break .If I am not mistaken some of these states have 2 seasons of baseball and softball ,like fall and spring .

It is in the 60's and 70s in February in most of the southern states. Spring sports usually start their conditioning and tryouts almost right when they get back to school from Christmas vacation.

I know a few years ago my daughters team played Niceville ,Fla over our spring break .They had about 5 players going D-1 to Michigan ,LSU ,and FLA.They had already played about 35 games and said they were starting district in 2 weeks I believe .