The calendar flipping to May is just another sign that the high school softball regular season is drawing to a close.
But the Greater Cincinnati softball power rankings roll on!
There were multiple games between top 10 teams and teams in the “next in line” category last week, providing another exciting week of action.
All stats and records are updated through April 28. Upcoming schedules are subject to change due to weather.
Next in line: Little Miami, Mason, Springboro, Harrison, Goshen, Ryle, Cooper, Campbell County, Ross
10. Conner Cougars (14-6)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Analysis: The Cougars locked up the top seed in the 33rd District tournament with a wild 20-19 win over Cooper. The win essentially booked their spot in the Ninth Region tournament; they’ll face Boone County in the district semifinals, a team they’ve outscored 24-2 in two contests so far.
Conner dropped two games over the weekend to Franklin County and North Oldham, which have a combined 22-16 record.
The Cougars held Highlands to four runs on five hits in a rain-shortened game on April 27, the best showing by any regional opponent against the Bluebirds this season. If they can clean up the errant pitches and minor defensive lapses, a potential Ninth Region championship would be just as good of a game.
Upcoming schedule: at Harrison County (April 29), at Ryle (May 1), at Grant County (May 4)
9. Talawanda Brave (15-4)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Analysis: Both of Talawanda’s league losses have come in the return game of a series where it beat its opponent handily in the first game.
While freshmen Allie McMickle and Bea Yerigan have primarily handled the pitching duties, the Brave are 2-3 when they use three pitchers in a game. The offense is averaging nearly 10 runs per game and freshman Bella Cobb hit for the cycle twice last week.
If Talawanda wins its final four league games and Ross and Franklin split their series next week, the three teams will split the Southwestern Buckeye League-Southwestern Division title.
Upcoming schedule: at Bellbrook (April 29), at Tr-Village (April 30), vs. Bellbrook (May 1), vs. Mount Notre Dame (May 4)
8. Oak Hills Highlanders (14-4)
Last week’s ranking: 10
Analysis: The Highlanders have won 11 games in a row and have launched themselves back into contention for a Greater Miami Conference title.
Four of their first six wins were by two runs or fewer but they have an average margin of victory of 8.1 runs over the last three weeks. They are 3-0 in extra innings and 5-1 in games decided by one or two runs.
Sasha Emmrich owns one of the most obscure stats of the season. She leads the GMC with seven home runs; six of those have been of the two-run variety.
While Milford’s Meghan McClellan is in the running to win the pitching triple crown in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, Annaliese Szabo currently leads the GMC with 13 wins, 150 strikeouts and a 0.99 earned run average.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Princeton (April 29), at Colerain (April 30), vs. Mason (May 4)
7. Lebanon Warriors (16-6)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Analysis: The Warriors endured a weekend in which they needed four runs in the seventh inning to beat Little Miami, then took a 20-1 loss to statewide No. 2 Kenton Ridge.
They responded with two shutout wins over Centerville and West Clermont. Avery Givens and Sophie Abrams both homered for insurance wins against Centerville and Lebanon stole 11 bases against West Clermont. Sophia Sheidler allowed six hits while striking out 15 batters in 12 total innings of work.
Lebanon has just four games left. A home tilt against Mason on April 30 and a trip to Kings on May 4 give the Warriors a real opportunity to truly get back on track heading into the postseason.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Loveland (April 29), vs. Mason (April 30), at Kings (May 4)
6. Lakota East Thunderhawks (15-4)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Analysis: The Thunderhawks responded from their first league loss by taking down rival Lakota West, sweeping the Firebirds for the third season in a row.
Juliette Sudnik had a two-run double as East put up a five-spot in the third inning of that game. She had a triple and scored a run as East jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Princeton before that game got suspended due to weather.
The Thunderhawks are receiving the majority of their contributions from the upperclassmen. The juniors and seniors are hitting a collective .323 with 15 doubles, seven triples, 14 home runs, 87 RBIs and 106 runs scored. Junior pitcher Kaleigh Crawford is on track for career bests in wins, strikeouts and ERA, and career lows in earned runs and walks.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Colerain (April 29), at Mason (May 1), vs. Middletown (May 4)
5. Highlands Bluebirds (18-6)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Analysis: Don’t look now, but the Bluebirds have won 11 of their last 12 games. The best win in that stretch came against a Ballard team that is currently ranked No. 4 in the state.
As the Ninth Region continues to search for its first state tournament win since 2017 (and first ever in the current single elimination format), Highlands is proving that it can contend with the best.
Highlands took advantage of multiple Conner errors to score three runs in the first inning of a 4-1 win, writing its name in Sharpie at the top of the regional standings. Senior pitcher Kaitlyn Dixon struck out 10 batters in that game and reached 1,000 for her career in a 14-3 win over Dixie Heights.
Upcoming schedule: at Cooper (April 29), at Henry County (May 1), vs. Lafayette (May 2), at Campbell County (May 4)
4. Badin Rams (19-2)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Analysis: The Rams have dropped the two biggest games on their schedule, losing to Greenville and Kings. They’ve totaled seven hits compared to 17 total strikeouts in those games.
Two of Badin’s biggest three remaining games are on the road, at Fairfield on April 30 and at Hamilton on May 9 to close the regular season. The Rams also host Mount Notre Dame on May 6.
An April 28 win over Fenwick clinched the Rams’ fourth straight Greater Catholic League-Coed title. They haven’t lost a league contest since April 28, 2023.
Upcoming schedule: at Fenwick (April 29), at Fairfield (April 30)
3. Western Brown Broncos (17-3)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Analysis: The Broncos have certainly moved past their late-game debacle against Springfield Shawnee, winning four straight games and outscoring those opponents 40-3.
In a 7-1 win over Clinton-Massie, Jayci Barnes and Khloe Ogden each hit their fifth home run of the year while Charlee Helton picked up her 13th win of the season and lowered her ERA to 2.59.
Western Brown should run its winning streak to 10 games before the regular-season finale against Mason provides a final postseason tune-up.
Upcoming schedule: at Clinton-Massie (April 29), vs. Franklin (May 2), vs. Beavercreek (May 2), at Fayetteville-Perry (May 4)
2. Milford Eagles (16-3)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Analysis: The Eagles were in position to beat Kings for the second time but gave up four runs in the sixth inning. With two of their three losses coming to conference opponents, they’re still in the Division I regional tournament conversation.
Milford now faces one of its busiest stretches of the season with four games in five days. Luckily, three of those are at home.
In nine games back after missing the first 10, senior shortstop Lanie McCoy is hitting .536 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 16 RBIs, eight runs and seven stolen bases, and has committed just one error in the field.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Harrison (April 30), at Anderson (May 1), vs. Springboro (May 2), vs. Little Miami (May 4)
1. Kings Knights (18-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Analysis: Kings backed up a revenge win over Milford with an 8-2 win at Badin. Catcher Julia Lowry smacked two home runs in that game; she has a team-high eight homers. The Knights have 32 total. Even Grace Parkhurst has seen a power surge, hitting four round-trippers in the last two weeks.
It sure looks like the Knights will finish the regular season with a 1 in the loss column. They will be favored if the DII, Region 8 tournament consists of Cincinnati and Dayton schools. Head coach John Schablein is focused on taking down Anthony Wayne, which ended Kings’ 2025 campaign in the regional final.
Upcoming schedule: vs. West Clermont (April 29), at Loveland (May 1), vs. Lebanon (May 4)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Oak Hills makes jump in Greater Cincinnati softball power rankings
Reporting by Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
