USA Today/NFCA High School Top 25 Poll 

Cactus High School in Glendale, Ariz., moved up one place to the No. 1 position in the latest edition of the USA Today/NFCA High School Top 25 Softball Poll, the association announced Thursday. 

Cactus’ move to the top came after previous No. 1 Keller (Texas) dropped a pair of gamed during the week to fall down to the No. 6 position. Central Cabarrus out of North Carolina moved into the No. 2 position, while El Dorado (Calif.) improved one spot to third. 

Palm Beach Gardens moved up to No. 4, while Ft. Bend Elkins moved into the top five at the fifth position. 

With Keller at No. 6, Canyon del Oro moved up two places to seventh. Garland (Texas) stayed at No. 8, while Chamberlain (Fla.) jumped four places to No. 9. Sabino (Ariz.) moved into the top 10, jumping one place to No. 10. 

Brenham (Texas) moved up four places to No. 11, while Freedom (Calif.) held at No. 12. Fellow California prep institution Valenica moved up three spots to 13th, and Florida standouts Bartow and Escambia followed at 14th and 15th, respectively. 

Arizona standout Bradshaw Mountain moved into the poll at No. 16 with a 13-0 mark, while Woodcreek (Calif.) also emerged in the poll at 17th. Olathe East held at No. 18, while another newcomer, Red Mountain (Ariz.) jumped in at No. 19. 

St. Amant of Louisiana fell six places to No. 20 with a pair of losses, while Regina (Mich.) stayed at No. 21. Royal (Calif.) earned its first ranking of 2006 at No. 22, while Oak Park and River Forest (Ill.) won its opener to stay at No. 23. 

St. Benedict out of Memphis, Tenn., debuted in the poll at No. 24 after taking down previous No. 1 Keller, and Martinsville (Ind.) completed the rankings at No. 25.