In the semifinals, the Spartans took down Highlands (Fort Thomas) 10-0. Junior Courtney Norwood threw four shutout innings and Florida State signee McLaine Hudson powered the offense with two home runs, finishing the season with a .735 batting average and 28 round-trippers.
The next day in the final, Norwood threw a complete game shutout to finish 2026 with a 26-0 record in the circle and a 1.06 ERA.
Norwood and Layla Ogden formed a power duo in the circle with 26 shutouts – including nine over the last 10 games of the season.
In Massachusetts, Taunton climbed to No. 15 after coming back to win the Division 1 state championship 11-8 over Attleboro.
Taunton trailed 5-0 after the first but clawed back for its sixth state crown in a row. Bella Bourque and Victoria Corrao each hit home runs while Ella Parece pitched 6.2 innings out of the bullpen, earning the win.
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
Season complete. Conference 5A Division 2 state champion.
3. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
Record: 41-5 | Last week: 3
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. South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Record: 45-0 | Last week: 5
Scores: Def. Highlands 10-0, def. Bullitt East 8-0
Season complete. KHSAA state champion.
6. Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, S.C.)
Record: 33-0 | Last week: 6
Season complete. Class 4A state champion.
7. Kenton Ridge (Springfield, Ohio)
Record: 32-0 | Last week: 7
Season complete. Division IV state champion.
8. Katy (Texas)
Record: 40-5 | Last week: 8
Season complete. Conference 6A Division 2 state champion.
9. Destiny Christian Academy (Sacramento, Calif.)
Record: 31-0 | Last week: 9
Season complete. NorCal Division 1 champion.
10. Weddington (Matthews, N.C.)
Record: 27-0 | Last week: 10
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: 13
Season complete. Class 6A state champion.
14. Summerville (S.C.)
Record: 30-1 | Last week: 14
Season complete. Class 5A Division 1 state champion.
Record: 26-1 | Last week: 17
Scores: Def. Shrewsbury 9-2, def. Attleboro 11-8
Season complete. Division 1 champion.
16. Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista, Calif.)
Record: 31-3 | Last week: 17
Season complete. SoCal Division 1 champion.
17. Midway (Waco, Texas)
Record: 35-6-1 | Last week: 15
Season complete.
18. Palo Verde (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Record: 24-1 | Last week: 18
Season complete. Class 5A state champion.
19. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)
Record: 46-3-2 | Last week: 19
Season complete.
20. Marist (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 37-2 | Last week: 20
Season complete.
21. D.H. Conley (Greenville, N.C.)
Record: 25-4 | Last week: 21
Season complete.
22. Hernando (Miss.)
Record: 32-5 | Last week: 22
Season complete. Class 7A state champion.
23. High Point Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)
Record: 23-3 | Last week: 23
Season complete. Division II state champion.
24. Ponderosa (Shingle Springs, Calif.)
Record: 27-1 | Last week: 24
Season complete.
25. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Record: 31-5 | Last week: 25
Season complete. Class 6A state champion.
