SBLive Iowa Top 25 softball rankings: First-year program takes top spot
By John Bohnenkamp
Waukee Northwest moved to the top of the Iowa softball rankings this week.
The first-year program leads the CIML-Iowa standings and is coming off a week in which it swept Ankeny Centennial. The Wolves are the top-ranked team in Class 5A in the IGHSAU rankings and are No. 1 in the Varsity Bound power rankings.
A look at the Top 25 heading to the final week of the regular season for most schools. Records are through Saturday’s games.
1. Waukee Northwest (23-3)
Six-game winning streak includes a sweep of Ankeny Centennial.
2. Johnston (26-2)
Dragons have won 11 consecutive games.
3. ADM (26-2)
Tigers are on a seven-game winning streak.
4. Winterset (26-4)
Huskies are on a 12-game winning streak heading into a Wednesday showdown with ADM.
5. Fort Dodge (23-5)
Dodgers swept Ankeny Centennial last week.
6. Muscatine (25-2)
Muskies have won five consecutive and have a one-game lead in the MAC.
7. Mount Vernon (27-3)
Only loss last week was a 2-0 defeat to Muscatine.
8. Davenport Assumption (24-6)
Knights have won 13 of their last 14 but have struggled within the MAC.
9. Central Springs (23-1)
Panthers are on a nine-game winning streak.
10. Linn-Mar (27-4)
Lions have a big lead in the MVC’s Mississippi Division.
11. North Linn (24-7)
Two losses last week, to Cedar Rapids Prairie and Benton.
12. Lisbon (29-4) (49)
Lions rolling in the Tri-Rivers East.
13. Logan-Magnolia (25-0)
Abby Hiatt has 200 strikeouts in 125 innings.
14. Twin Cedars (21-1)
Sabers keep going — they haven’t lost since the season opener.
15. Norwalk (24-4)
Warriors are on a seven-game winning streak heading into Monday matchup against Dallas Center-Grimes.
16. Dallas Center-Grimes (25-6)
Mustangs are a half-game out of the Little Hawkeye lead.
17. Clear Creek-Amana (26-5)
Clippers lost to Carlisle and Iowa City Regina in their own tournament.
18. Newell-Fonda (29-4)
Mustangs are on an eight-game winning streak.
19. Ankeny Centennial (18-11)
Jaguars are high in the state’s power rankings but don’t have a lot to show for it in the standings.
20. North Union (26-3)
Warriors have won four consecutive after loss to Central Springs.
21. Martensdale-St. Mary’s (18-3)
Blue Devils have a one-game lead in the Pride of Iowa standings.
22. Southeast Warren (18-4)
The Warhawks have lost two in a row.
23. Saydel (25-2)
Eagles suffered their first two losses of the season last week.
24. Collins-Maxwell (19-2)
Spartans are on a seven-game winning streak.
25. West Liberty (16-3)
Comets haven’t played a lot of games, but they’re on a 15-game winning streak.
