LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Ohio and New Jersey state tournaments were cause for subtle changes in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 this week, as softball seasons around the country continue to wind down.
No. 6 Austintown-Fitch (23-1) captured the Ohio Division I state title on Saturday with a 4-0 ranked victory over Watkins Memorial (31-2), which actually moved up one place to ninth in the poll. Watkins defeated Anthony Wayne (30-2), who had been ranked ahead of them in eighth, 2-0 in Friday’s Division I semifinal.
Lake Central (32-2) dropped a spot to 12th after being ousted by Penn, 4-2, in Saturday’s Indiana Class 4A semi-state semifinal, while Mount St. Dominic (30-1) remained 15th and continued to advance in the New Jersey state playoffs. Notre Dame (25-2), meanwhile, lost three places after a 3-0 loss to St. John Vianney in Monday’s South Jersey non-public Class A final.
Marist (35-3) stayed put at No. 21 after picking up a pair of Illinois state tournament triumphs. The Red Hawks play one-loss Mundelein (36-1) in the 4A state semis on Friday.
State rankings submitted by the 2024 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 and strength of schedule.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll
June 6, 2024
Rank |
Team |
2024 Record |
Previous |
1 |
Northwest Rankin (Miss.) |
34-0 |
1 |
2 |
Calvary Baptist (La.) |
35-2 |
2 |
3 |
Sterlington (La.) |
33-1 |
3 |
4 |
Orange Beach (Ala.) |
46-1 |
4 |
5 |
St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) |
25-0 |
5 |
6 |
Austintown-Fitch (Ohio) |
23-1 |
6 |
7 |
Walsh Jesuit (Ohio) |
22-1 |
7 |
8 |
Diamond (Mo.) |
38-1 |
9 |
9 |
Watkins Memorial (Ohio) |
31-2 |
10 |
10 |
Anthony Wayne (Ohio) |
30-2 |
8 |
11 |
Jackson (Wash.) |
26-2 |
12 |
12 |
Lake Central (Ind.) |
32-2 |
11 |
13 |
Skyview (Wash.) |
28-1-1 |
13 |
14 |
Saint Francis (Calif.) |
28-1 |
14 |
15 |
Mount St. Dominic (N.J.) |
30-1 |
15 |
16 |
Bartow (Fla.) |
30-2 |
17 |
17 |
Sheridan (Ark.) |
29-2 |
18 |
18 |
Pacifica (Calif.) |
27-2 |
19 |
19 |
Notre Dame (N.J.) |
25-2 |
16 |
20 |
Katy (Texas) |
39-3-1 |
20 |
21 |
Marist (Ill.) |
35-3 |
21 |
22 |
Oak Grove (N.C.) |
24-3 |
22 |
23 |
Shenendehowa (N.Y.) |
16-3 |
23 |
24 |
Owyhee (Idaho) |
25-4 |
24 |
T25 |
St. Thomas More (La.) |
31-4-1 |
T25 |
T25 |
North DeSoto (La.) |
31-5 |
T25 |
Dropped out: None.
2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee
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