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Each week, azcentral sports will rank the top 10 Arizona high school softball teams, regardless of conference.
These rankings will be updated throughout the 2017 season.
MORE: Acceleration of club softball fueling top high school teams
Through April 29
No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle, 31-1
Holding onto the top spot and trying not to look over their shoulder to Hamilton.
No. 2 Chandler Hamilton, 26-6
On a mission to get to Pinnacle, behind shortstop Bella Loomis.
No. 3 Glendale Cactus, 26-5
This 4A title contender has what it takes to go the distance with 20-game winner Emilie Guerra.
No. 4 Yuma Cibola, 31-1
Maybe that final regular-season loss will fuel this team in 6A playoffs.
No. 5 Phoenix Desert Vista, 24-8
Believes it belongs in the same conversation with Pinnacle and Hamilton.
No. 6 Mesa Desert Ridge, 21-4
Shaylee Ackerman is on a mission in the circle and at the plate.
No. 7 Surprise Shadow Ridge, 26-5
Wants to prove it has no peers in 5A.
No. 8 Buckeye Verrado, 25-4-1
Looking to get to the 5A final.
No. 9 Tucson Pueblo, 22-2
On a nine-game winning streak behind pitcher Sia Thomas.
No. 10 Tucson, 27-4
Bouncing back from that Pueblo loss and getting to the final eight in 6A.
Through April 22
No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle (30-1)
This 6A juggernaut has 17 home runs and a 1.02 ERA, and is on a 13-game winning streak.
No. 2 Chandler Hamilton (24-6)
Wants a shot at Pinnacle, showing its determination in the last six games, outscoring their opponents by a total score of 79-0.
No. 3 Glendale Cactus (24-5)
The 4A title should be looking clearer coming off another impressive week. Sports a .457 team batting average.
No. 4 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (27-5)
Has completed the regular season, as senior catcher Madison Westmoreland finished with a .551 batting average and 13 home runs.
No. 5 Yuma Cibola (30-0)
Has scored 351 runs and given up just 55 a season after winning 34 games.
No. 6 Phoenix Desert Vista (23-8)
Beat Mesa Desert Ridge and Phoenix Mountain Pointe last week, heading into state with much-needed momentum, as senior shortstop Mackenzie Moore leads the way with 62 hits and a .585 batting average.
No. 7 Desert Ridge (19-4)
Swept Gilbert but lost last week to red-shot Desert Vista.
No. 8 Surprise Shadow Ridge (24-5)
One of the hottest teams in 5A with a 13-game winning streak.
No. 9 Buckeye Verrado (23-4-1)
Last loss was March 28 to Scottsdale Chaparral. Since then has won 11 in a row.
No. 10 Tucson Pueblo (21-2)
Made big statement to the rest of 4A last week with a 6-4 win over 6A and 25-win Tucson.
MORE: High school baseball Super 10 rankings
Through April 9
No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle (25-1)
The Pioneers have only given up 23 runs in 26 games, and have posted 16 shutout. Pinnacle boasts five players who are hitting better than .400.
No. 2 Mesa Desert Ridge (17-2)
On a six-game winning streak with sophomore sensation Shaylee Ackerman hitting .533 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs.
No. 3 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (22-4)
Coming off an 8-4 loss to No. 1 Pinnacle, but has a potent offense, led by Madison Westmoreland’s 13 home runs and .551 batting average.
No. 4 Glendale Cactus (20-4)
This 4A power has won its last 12 and has a .462 batting average with 35 home runs, led by sophomore shortstop Alynah Torres (.651, 9 home runs, 52 RBIs).
No. 5 Chandler Hamilton (21-6)
Won last three, outscoring them by a combined score of 44-0.
No. 6 Gilbert Perry (18-7)
Swept Xavier Prep and beat Chandler Basha last week as junior catcher Piper Lujan increased batting average to .476 with 12 homers.
No. 7 Tucson Sahuaro (21-6)
On a seven-game winning streak, asserting itself as the team to beat in 5A.
No. 8 Tucson (21-3)
This 6A team has won 15 in a row with infielder/pitcher Mia Trejo leading the way.
No. 9 Yuma Cibola (25-0)
Leads the state with 283 runs scored.
No. 10 Peoria Sunrise Mountain (11-2)
On an 11-game winning streak.
Through April 1
No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle (23-1)
Moves back into the top spot after a dominant week, led by pitcher Marissa Schuld, who is 14-0 with a 0.30 ERA.
No. 2 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (20-3)
Won last 10 with Sierra Rodriguez leading the way in the circle (9-0) and catcher Madison Westmoreland now at 13 home runs.
No. 3 Mesa Desert Ridge (13-2)
Bounce back from two-loss week with wins over Avondale Westview and Tempe Corona del Sol, as sophomore Shaylee Ackerman improved to 6-0.
No. 4 Glendale Cactus (17-4)
This is a special 4A team that has won nine in row with a special sophomore infielder in Alynah Torres.
No. 5 Chandler Hamilton (18-6)
Fell from the top after 1-3 last week, losing twice to Gilbert Perry.
No. 6 Perry (15-7)
A 14-4 loss to to Sandra Day O’Connor turned into a four-game winning streak that featured a two-game sweep of previous No. 1 Hamilton.
No. 7 Tucson Sahuaro (18-6)
Fast and furious, this 5A team has 50 stolen bases.
No. 8 Tucson (17-3)
Scored 21 runs in a rout of 6A Chandler last week.
No. 9 Yuma Cibola (24-0)
Knocked Desert Vista out of the Super 10 with a 7-6 win, as Madison Sierra has improved to 13-0.
No. 10 Peoria Sunrise Mountain (10-2)
Has won 10 in a row.
Through March 25
No. 1 Chandler Hamilton (17-3)
Great pitching that includes three shutouts in last three games has the the Huskies staying at No. 1.
No. 2 Phoenix Pinnacle (20-1)
Pitcher Marissa Schuld having an MVP-like season with 11 home runs.
No. 3 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (16-2)
Has won seven in a row and beat Gilbert 14-2 last week.
No. 4 Mesa Desert Ridge (11-2)
Came back down to Earth losing its first two games to the top two teams, Hamilton (6-0) and Pinnacle (12-0).
No. 5 Phoenix Desert Vista (13-5)
Quality 4-3 loss to Pinnacle, but perspective gained in a 12-0 loss to Hamilton.
No. 6 Tucson Sahuaro (15-5)
Beat Sahuarita Walden Grove in its only game last week.
No. 7 Glendale Cactus (13-4)
Idle last week.
No. 8 Tucson (15-3)
Red hot team riding eight-game winning streak, including an 11-0 rout of Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge.
No. 9 Oro Valley Canyon del Oro (14-2)
Emphatic 5A wins over Marana Mountain View and Ironwood Ridge last week.
No. 10 Yuma Cibola (20-0)
First team to 20 wins, but everybody waiting for Red Raiders to beat quality opponents.
Through March 18
No. 1 Chandler Hamilton (15-3)
Back on top after avenging its loss to Pinnacle in the final of the Desert Mountain tournament, 1-0.
No. 2 Pinnacle (17-1)
Suffered its only loss in the final of the Desert Mountain tourney to defending 6A champion Hamilton.
No. 3 Mesa Desert Ridge (11-0)
Was idle last week but can show it deserves to be No. 1 on Tuesday when it faces Hamilton.
No. 4 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (15-2)
Broke out the bats last week with 14-4, 11-5 and 14-2 wins over Perry, Boulder Creek and Gilbert in that order.
No. 5 Phoenix Desert Vista (13-3)
Fell to Hamilton 8-3 in the semifinals of the loaded Desert Mountain tournament.
No. 6 Tucson Sahuaro (14-5)
This 5A team was impressive in the Desert Mountain tourney, losing its only game to Desert Vista in nine innings.
No. 7 Glendale Cactus (13-4)
Sophomore Alynah Torres, who already has committed to Arizona State, might be the hottest hitter in state with .643 batting average and 32 RBIs. She had six RBIs and two home runs against Ironwood last week.
No. 8 Tucson (12-3)
Moves into the Super 10 after a 4-0 week that began with an 8-5 win over a solid 4A Oro Valley Canyon del Oro team.
No. 9 Canyon del Oro (12-2)
This dangerous 4A team beat Sahuaro 14-7 in late February.
No. 10 Yuma Cibola (18-0)
This 6A team is hitting .420, led by junior Ela Henry, who is batting .588 in 11 games.
Through March 11
No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle (12-0)
Went 4-0 on the week and has allowed just eight runs in its first 12 games.
No. 2 Mesa Desert Ridge (11-0)
Powerful team that has outscored its opponents 108-28.
No. 3 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (10-2)
Only two losses against out-of-state opponents, including Henderson (Nev.) Coronado last week in the TOC in Bullhead City.
No. 4 Chandler Hamilton (8-3)
Went 4-2 against tough out-of-state competition in the Bullhead City TOC.
No. 5 Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge (11-1)
Has scored 37 runs in its last three games.
No. 6 Oro Valley Canyon del Oro (12-1)
Has won six straight.
No. 7 Phoenix Desert Vista (7-2)
Lost to O’Connor 13-10 in eight innings.
No. 8 Phoenix Mountain Pointe (9-0)
Took home a tourney championship last week.
No. 9 Yuma Cibola (17-0)
Has shut out three of its past four opponents.
No. 10 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (7-0)
3A team moves into Super 10 for first time outscoring opponents 100-17.
MORE: Arizona’s best high school softball programs
Through March 4
No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle (8-0)
Just knocked off previous No. 1 Chandler Hamilton in 11 innings, 9-4, behind Marissa Schuld’s 4 2/3 innings of three-hit, no-run pitching.
No. 2 Chandler Hamilton (3-1)
Will use the loss to Pinnacle as motivation, heading into the Tournament of Champions this week.
No. 3 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (8-1)
Key win was against Phoenix Desert Vista, 13-10, in eight innings.
No. 4 Mesa Desert Ridge (9-0)
No slowing down sophomore Shaylee Ackerman, who has 20 RBIs and a 4-0 record and 1.58 ERA.
GIRLS: Top softball hitters and pitchers
No. 5 Oro Valley Canyon del Oro (9-1)
Has outscored last three opponents 34-7.
No. 6 Tucson Sahuaro (7-2)
Takes a step back after 14-7 loss to Canyon del Oro.
No. 7 Desert Vista (7-2)
Both of its losses have come in extra innings.
No. 8 Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge (4-1)
Turned in an impressive 4-0 win over Tucson Salpointe in only game last week.
No. 9 Yuma Cibola (8-0)
Has scored 92 runs through eight games.
No 10 Phoenix Mountain Pointe (8-0)
Led by junior Danielle Farinas (6-0, 1.56 ERA, .652 batting average), Pride is averaging 10 runs a game.
Through Feb. 25
No. 1 Chandler Hamilton (2-0)
Outscored its first two opponents 21-3.
No 2. Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (4-1)
Only loss came against tough Texas team Eastlake, 4-3.
No. 3 Phoenix Pinnacle (6-0)
CC Cook gave up two earned runs in 20 innings the first week.
No. 4 Mesa Desert Ridge (6-0)
Scored 58 runs in the first week with sophomore Shaylee Ackerman driving in 19 of those.
No. 5 Tucson Sahuaro (5-1)
Breaks in on the strength of an eight-inning win over preseason No. 3 Phoenix Desert Vista.
No. 6 Desert Vista (5-1)
That 4-3 loss to Sahuaro ended a five-game win streak to open the season.
No. 7 Oro Valley Canyon del Oro (6-1)
Only loss on the week came against Texas power Eastlake, 6-4, after unable to hold onto a 4-2 leading entering the bottom of the seventh inning.
No. 8 Yuma Cibola (6-0)
Knocked Arcadia out of the Super 10 with a 14-5 win.
No. 9 Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge (2-1)
Giving up an eight-run inning to Desert Vista led to the 5A team’s only loss.
No. 10 Glendale Mountain Ridge (1-0)
Won its opener 21-2 in a run-rule, five-inning game against Goodyear Desert Edge.
Preseason
No. 1 Chandler Hamilton
Loaded for another 6A title run with pitching, offense, speed and defense.
No. 2 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor
Hayley Busby returns looking to add onto her career 144 RBIs.
No. 3 Phoenix Desert Vista
Motivated by losing a two-run lead in the final inning of last year’s semifinals.
No. 4 Phoenix Pinnacle
A 30-win team last year, returns pitchers C.C. Cook and Marissa Schuld, who had a combined 29 wins.
No. 5 Mesa Desert Ridge
Sophomore Shaylee Ackerman is a year older and better after hitting .462 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs.
No. 6 Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge
This 5A juggernaut won 33 games last year when it hit .392 with a team ERA of 1.93.
No. 7 Tucson Catalina Foothills
Pitcher Nic Conway, last year’s Small Schools POY, is shaking off a basketball injury but should be good to go in the circle by season’s start.
No. 8 Goodyear Millennium
Fast, productive offense, led by Arizona State-bound infielder Denae Chatman.
No. 9 Phoenix Arcadia
Loses 31-game winner Emily Ingles, but 1-through-5 in the batting order returns from 32-6 team.
No. 10 Oro Valley Canyon del Oro
Tremendous junior class, led by catcher Alexis Kaiser (.561 batting average, 28 RBIs in 2016), should have Dorados knocking on 4A championship door.
Suggest human interest stories to Richard Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert
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