We no longer have an undefeated softball team. That paired with the fact that the top of the area power rankings is so crowded this season means we have a new No. 1. Here’s how preps coordinator Zach Piatt sees it:
1. LeRoy
Record: 19-1
Previous ranking: No. 2
Quick hit: The Panthers have been banging on the door of the No. 1 position since losing their first game of the season to Monticello. Since then, they’ve done nothing but win. Nineteen games in a row, to be exact. A program-record 19 wins in a row. Everything is working right now for LeRoy, from Jacey Hageman and the lights-out pitching staff to Morgan Fleming and the red-hot lineup.
2. Champaign Central
Record: 12-1
Previous ranking: No. 1
Quick hit: All good things must come to an end, and we saw the Maroons’ undefeated start to the season do just that in a 5-3 loss to Charleston. But that doesn’t mean Central isn’t still one of the best teams out there. It proved that with convincing bounceback wins over Urbana, Effingham and Peoria Richwoods. Opponents still need to prepare for Haley and Kaitlyn Helm, Grace Bandy and Molly Kloeppel.
3. Westville
Record: 17-2
Previous ranking: No. 5
Quick hit: The Tigers are absolutely mashing the ball this season. Almost to a point where it doesn’t matter how many runs the pitching trio of Lilly Kiesel, Taylor Valangeon and Layla Atwood allow. At the plate, it’s Kiesel, Laney Cook, Lani Gondzur and Daylin Zaayer. We would keep going, but there’s limited space. As if that wasn’t enough, Westville’s 7-4 win over Monticello is a huge confidence-booster.
4. Monticello
Record: 14-4
Previous ranking: No. 4
Quick hit: Three losses in five games didn’t deter the Sages, either. A 4-3 win over a blazing-hot Unity team on the backs of Madison Highland’s solid pitching and Avery Schweitzer’s clutch home run and three RBI let everyone know that Monticello is here to stay this season. Even with Tuesday’s road loss to Westville, the Sages are battle-tested. Don’t be surprised if they’re still in the mix this time next month.
5. Unity
Record: 16-3
Previous ranking: No. 3
Quick hit: The Rockets’ loss to Monticello didn’t derail this train of momentum they’re riding, as they responded with wins over Paris, Bloomington Central Catholic and Fisher thanks to some solid pitching by Danika Eisenmenger and a flurry of home runs by their lineup that’s about as deep as any in the state. Tough matchups with LeRoy and St. Joseph-Ogden are still to come.
6. St. Joseph-Ogden
Record: 13-5
Previous ranking: No. 6
Quick hit: Speaking of the Spartans, they’re just waiting to take advantage of any kind of slip-up from the top five area teams to vault themselves into that group. Truthfully, they absolutely are in that conversation of best teams in the area, as are a couple teams behind them. How could you not be with talents like Grace Osterbur and Timera Blackburn-Kelley? That’s how deep the area is.
7. Salt Fork
Record: 14-3
Previous ranking: No. 7
Quick hit: Those two losses to Casey-Westfield back on April 8 could have sent the Storm into a downward spiral. Instead it used them as fuel to compile five consecutive victories against some tough competition. Brilynn Barnett has really come on strong lately, showing off her power swing by blasting three home runs over her last two games while racking up seven RBI.
8. Villa Grove
Record: 8-3
Previous ranking: No. 9
Quick hit: In the Blue Devils’ three wins prior to Tuesday’s 9-5 win over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, they averaged nearly 19 runs per game. Not totaled, not peaked. Averaged just under 19 runs per game. It’s tough not to get excited about the potential of Hayden Thomas, Izzy Dodd, Piper Kiser and the rest of this team. Let’s just say Villa Grove is starting to hit its stride.
9. Oakwood/Schlarman
Record: 9-7-1
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Quick hit: The Comets started this season 3-6-1. Certainly not setting the world on fire by any means. Since then, they’re 6-1, with the highlight of their stretch being a 17-12 slugfest win over Milford/Cissna Park. Irene Rangel has looked like one of the best players in the area all season both at the plate and in the circle, and Bella Bradford and Gracie Hanner are right there with her.
10. Milford/Cissna Park
Record: 8-6
Previous ranking: No. 8
Quick hit: Following up a 7-1 start to the season with four consecutive losses isn’t what the Bearcats had in mind. They were finally able to end that skid on Monday with a 13-0 win over Chrisman thanks to home runs from Addison Lucht, Lillie Harris and Jossalin Lavicka and a great day both in the pitching circle and at the plate from Kami Muehling but had another setback against Hoopeston Area.
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