Lake Creek won its second in a row behind Wichita State signee Sara Wiggins, who pitched a complete game while driving in three runs. Future North Carolina Tarheel Madalyn Davis was named MVP of the tournament and had two hits in the final.

In North Carolina, Weddington (Matthews) remained undefeated and moved up to No. 10 after sweeping No. 18 D.H. Conley (Greenville) in the best-of-three state final. Senior Lenoir-Rhyne signee Joella Thomas pitched all 15 innings without allowing a run while striking out 19 batters. In the second game, senior Reece Lindsay had three hits and junior Samantha Shipley had a pair of RBI.

Joella Thomas of No. 10 Weddington went over 800 career strikeouts this postseason. The Lenoir-Rhyne signee struck out 11 batters in the first game of the championship series as the Warriors won their first state crown while finishing the season undefeated. (PHOTO: Tom Masters)

South Warren is led by stellar pitching from Kentucky signee Courtney Norwood and junior Western Kentucky commit Layla Ogden, who are a combined 40-0. Florida State pledge McLaine Hudson has 26 home runs and a .765 batting average for a squad that is four games away from a state crown.

Kenton Ridge has won its last 62 games dating back to 2024. The Cougars are two games away from defending their state title and play in the semifinals June 5 against Field (Mogadore). The championship will be June 7 against either Bryan or Licking Valley (Newark).

MaxPreps Top 25 softball rankings


1. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
Record: 37-1 | Last week: 1
Season complete. Division III Select state champion.

2. Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)
Record: 40-1 | Last week: 2
Scores: Def. Brewer 6-5
Season complete. Conference 5A Division 2 state champion.

3. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
Record: 41-5 | Last week: 3
Scores: Def. Aledo 11-0
Season complete. Conference 5A Division 1 state champion.

4. Orange Beach (Ala.)
Record: 46-1 | Last week: 4
Season complete. Class 4A state champion.

5. Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, S.C.)
Record: 33-0 | Last week: 5
Scores: Def. A.C. Flora 7-1, 7-1
Season complete. Class 4A state champion.

6. South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Record: 41-0 | Last week: 6
Scores: Def. Franklin-Simpson 14-0, def. Barren County 4-0
Next: Thursday vs. Oldham County

7. Kenton Ridge (Springfield, Ohio)
Record: 30-0 | Last week: 7
Scores: Def. Carlisle 2-1, def. Taylor 7-1
Next: Friday vs. Field

8. Katy (Texas)
Record: 40-5 | Last week: 8
Scores: Def. Forney 7-2
Season complete. Conference 6A Division 2 state champion.

9. Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record: 28-0 | Last week: 9
Next: Today vs. College Park

10. Weddington (Matthews, N.C.)
Record: 27-0 | Last week: 13
Scores: Def. No. 18 D.H. Conley 1-0, 5-0
Season over. Class 7A state champion.

11. Melissa (Texas)
Record: 33-4 | Last week: 11
Season complete.

12. Norco (Calif.)
Record: 28-3 | Last week: 12
Season complete.

13. Pace (Fla.)
Record: 27-4 | Last week: 15
Season complete. Class 6A state champion.

14. Marist (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 36-1 | Last week: 16
Scores: Def. St. Laurence 10-0, def. Riverside-Brookfield 10-0, def. St. Charles East 10-1
Next: Friday vs. Lincoln-Way West

15. Summerville (S.C.)
Record: 30-1 | Last week: 17
Scores: Def. James F. Byrnes 6-3
Season complete. Class 5A Division 1 state champion.

16. Midway (Waco, Texas)
Record: 35-6-1 | Last week: 10
Scores: Lost to Pearland 6-3
Season complete.

17. Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Record: 29-3 | Last week: 21
Scores: Def. Del Norte 7-2, def. Point Loma 5-3
Next: Thursday (TBD)

18. Taunton (Mass.)
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 22
Scores: Def. Newton South 17-1
Next: Thursday vs. Braintree

19. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)
Record: 46-3-2 | Last week: 19
Season complete

20. Palo Verde (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Record: 24-1 | Last week: 20
Season complete. Class 5A state champion.

21. D.H. Conley (Greenville, N.C.)
Record: 25-4 | Last week: 18
Scores: Lost to No. 13 Weddington 1-0, Weddington 5-0
Season complete.

22. Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 27
Scores: Def. Berea-Midpark 10-0, def. Jackson 11-1
Next: Wednesday vs. Lancaster

23. Hernando (Miss.)
Record: 32-5 | Last week: 29
Season complete. Class 7A state champion.

24. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs, Calif.)
Record: 27-1 | Last week: 24
Season complete.

25. Murrieta Mesa (Murrieta, Calif.)
Record: 26-2 | Last week: 25
Next: Today vs. St. Paul

Dropped out: No. 14 St. James (Murrells Inlet, S.C.), No. 23 Chariho (Wood River Junction, R.I.)

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