LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky state champion Ballard was all the buzz in the 2023 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 after defeating two-time defending champion Indiana Roncalli in a neutral-site dream matchup at the University of Louisville.
The Bruins (29-1) moved into the top 10 after posting a landmark 2-1 win in nine innings over No. 4 Roncalli and two-time reigning Gatorade and Florida National Player of the Year Keegan Rothrock on Saturday. Lily Koch scored the winning run in the second extra inning when Rothrock, who was battling a blister, threw a stunning strike moments after receiving treatment on her pitching arm.
Brooke Gray, who will soon play her college home games for Louisville on the same Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium, won the epic duel of pitching aces who combined for 17 batters in the contest. Both teams had wins earlier in the day over Floyd Central in a matchup hosted by the perennial Indiana power Highlanders.
Meanwhile, there was no change at the top as No. 1 Lake Creek continued to take care of business. (38-0) The Lions swept Pflugerville, 9-0, in the state 5A regional quarterfinals last Thursday and face Barbers Hill on Friday in the first game of a best-of-three regional semifinal series.
Bentonville (28-2) and Jackson (21-1) are the new Nos. 2 and 3 teams after Willow Kenyon (30-2-1) lost 4-2 in the Arizona 5A state title game to Desert Mountain on Monday . Springfield (25-0) moved up five spots to fifth after winning three games to advance to Friday’s Ohio title game against Perrysburg.
Elsewhere, No. 15 Salpointe Catholic (35-1) wrapped up the Arizona 4A championship with a 2-0 win over Greenway on Tuesday, and No. 17 Donovan Catholic (26-1) earned two more berths this week after posting six wins in the last seven days.
State rankings presented by 2023 NFCA High School Management Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are selected based on performance, roster quality, strength of schedule and active NFCA membership.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – May 18, 2023
1. Lake Creek (Texas)
Record: 38-0 | PR: 1
2. Bentonville (Arkansas)
Record: 28-2 | PR: 3
3. Jackson (Washington)
Record: 21-1 | PR: 5
4. Roncalli (Indiana)
Record: 23-3-1 | PR: 4
5. Springfield (Holland, Ohio)
Record: 25-0 | PR: 10
6. Willow Canyon (Arizona)
Record: 30-2-1 | PR: 2
7. Neshoba Central (Miss.)
Record: 25-5 | PR: 6
8. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)
Record: 25-0 | PR: 8
9. Rockridge (Illinois)
Record: 32-1 | PR: 11
10. Ballard (KY)
Record: 29-1 | PR: 15
11. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 34-2 | PR: 10
12. Moorpark (California)
Record: 21-2 | PR: 7
13. Coral Springs (FL) Charter
Record: 25-0-2 | PR: 14
14. Mount Vernon (Mo.)
Record: 35-1 | PR: 15
15. Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)
Record: 35-1 | PR: 17
16. West Stanley (North Carolina)
Record: 26-1 | PR: 18
17. Donovan Catholic (NJ)
Record: 26-1 | PR: 19
18. Los Alamitos (California)
Record: 24-4 | PR: 12
19. Saint Francis (California)
Record: 24-2 | PR: 19
20. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 27-4 | PR: 21
21. Norco (California)
Record: 28-3 | PR: 22
22. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)
Record: 22-3 | PR: 20
23. Special Fork (Utah)
Record: 21-2 | PR: 23
24. Bend (Ore.)
Record: 23-2 | PR: 24
25. Queen Creek (Arizona)
Record: 29-3-1 | PR: 25
Dropped out: None.
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its vast library of digital education, NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches at various levels: from podcasts to extensive Awards and Scholarships platform, to NFCA Webinar and a National Convention.