First Rankings for Softball

Prep Softball­– The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the first rankings of the softball season and three out of the five champions from last year do not enter this season as the top team.

In Class 1A, Twin Cedars defeated Southeast Warren in the championship game last year. This year Twin Cedars almost started outside of the top 15 as they snuck in with the #13 ranking. Additionally, it was not a great start to the season for the Sabers as they fell to Wayne 17-2. Southeast Warren enters as the top ranked team. Martensdale-St. Marys finished 3rd last year and enter the rankings in 2nd with Remsen St. Mary’s in 3rd. Highland comes into the season ranked 10th and St. Ansgar rounds out the top 15.

Iowa City Regina is looking to repeat as state champions after taking down Wilton 6-4 last year and they enter this year as the favorite. Lisbon ranks 2nd with Central Springs taking the #3 spot. Wilton is ranked 6th despite their runner-up finish last season. Mount Ayr competed in the state tournament last season; however, the Raiders do not find themselves ranked in the top 15. South Hardin rounds out the top 15 for Class 2A.

For Class 3A, last year’s champion Mount Vernon starts this year ranked 5th. Williamsburg is the favorite this year with Davenport Assumption assuming the #2 position after their runner-up finish last year. PCM closes out the top 15 as they finished last season with a 16-12 record.

Dallas Center-Grimes continues the trend created in Class 1A as they finished as last year’s runner-up and this year’s favorite for Class 4A. Fort Dodge ranks 2nd and North Scott in 3rd. Last year’s champion Winterset enters this season ranked 10th. Similarly, Winterset fell to 9th ranked North Polk to start the season 4-2. Two of our local teams find themselves ranked in the top 15. Burlington enters ranked 11th after making it to the state tournament last season where they went 0-2 to Winterset and Norwalk. Fairfield is ranked 13th but lost their season opener 10-6 to Van Buren County.

Last year’s Class 5A champion is this year’s favorite in Waukee Northwest. Valley is ranked 2nd with Southeast Polk taking 3rd. Fort Dodge is not ranked inside of the top 15 despite being last year’s runner-up. Muscatine enters the season ranked 7th despite finishing in 3rd place last year. Iowa City Liberty rounds out the top 15 after finishing 28-14 last year.