The season is booming and the league races are shaping up as area high school softball teams prepare for the stretch run to the season. It’s time to once again check the temperature of the top area teams of the Greater Canton area with our second power poll of the 2026 season.
The poll is split into two groups: bigger schools for Divisions I, II and III, and smaller schools for Divisions IV, V, VI and VII.
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Stark County-area baseball power poll for April 27
Big schools (Divisions I-III)
1, Green Bulldogs (11-2, 8-1 Federal League)
It was a big week for Green. The Bulldogs won three Federal League games. That included wins over GlenOak (6-0) and Hoover (4-2). Green entered this week winners of seven in a row, good enough to push past Jackson and into first place this week. Two big Federal League games against teams in this poll loom ahead against Jackson and Lake. Annie Liszewski has pitched well all season for Green. The lineup, featuring Mackenzie Carr, Natalie Spada and Hailey Yanda, is firing on all cylinders. It should be a fun week for fans.
2, Jackson Polar Bears (12-3, 6-2 Federal League)
Jackson went 2-2 last week. The Polar Bears posted wins over Lakewood and Perry but fell to Lake in Federal League play and Berea. Federal League games against Hoover and Green highlight this week. Gabbi Williamson, Madi McGuire, Remi Grooms and Avery Wile lead Jackson’s lineup into a week that will go a long way toward defining the Federal League race the rest of the way.
3, Lake Blue Streaks (10-5, 4-4 Federal League)
The Lake Blue Streaks move up a spot after going 2-1, including a huge Federal League win over Jackson and a quality nonleague win over Amherst Steele. The only blemish was an 8-7 loss to Hoover in eight innings in the Federal League. Lake features top end speed at the top of the lineup in Aubrey Eisele and Makayla Props. Olivia Draher and Makenna Miller are dangerous in the middle of the lineup. Lake has three Federal League games scheduled this week, Green, GlenOak and Perry.
4, GlenOak Golden Eagles (9-5, 5-4 Federal League)
GlenOak suffered Federal League losses to Perry and Green this week. No shame in that. It’s one of the toughest leagues in the state. The Golden Eagles have games against Carrollton, Lake and Revere on tap this week. Lexie Groves and Savanna Eccard are special players for the Golden Eagles.
5, Louisville Leopards (8-10, independent)
It was a tough week for Louisville, which suffered losses to Walsh Jesuit (5-1) and Indian Valley (1-0). Louisville has games against Perry, Dover and Aurora this week, as its challenging schedule does not let up for the 2025 regional finalists. If the lineup, which features Leah Claugus, Bailee Griffith and Addy Campbell, gets hot, watch out.
Small schools (Divisions IV-VI)
1, Tusky Valley Trojans (12-2, 7-0 IVC)
Two big league games. Two quality wins for Tusky Valley. The Trojans posted two wins over Garaway (14-4 overall, 6-2 IVC) last week. All-Ohio pitcher Brennen Reichman continues to be a problem for opposing lineups. The schedule doesn’t let up. Tusky Valley has two big league games against Ridgewood (16-3, 8-2) as well as a games against Sandy Valley, Buckeye Trail and Waynedale.
2, Tuslaw Mustangs (14-4, 7-1 PAC-7)
A surprise loss to Canton South in PAC-7 play was the only blemish last week for Tuslaw, ending its six-game winning streak that included two wins each over Triway and Manchester and quality wins over Marlington and Dalton. Tuslaw is playing a challenging schedule and has been as active as any team in the area this spring. It’s hard to find any glaring flaws with the Mustangs. Hadley Porter, Kaydence Chapman and Isabel McCune help make this one of the highest-scoring lineups in the area. A key game against Norwayne (10-1) looms this week.
3, Marlington Dukes (11-5, 5-1 EBC)
Marlington went 5-0 last week, including four Eastern Buckeye Conference wins. The week ahead poses some challenges, notably Hoban and Ursuline. The Dukes have one of the top sluggers in the area in Chelsea Miller, who holds several school records and can change the complexion of a game with a single swing of the bat.
4, Sandy Valley Cardinals (14-5, 3-4 IVC)
The high-powered Sandy Valley offense helped the Cardinals to a 3-1 record last week. That included wins over Claymont, Newcomerstown and Malvern. Bella Meade, Nadia Douglas, Teresa Petro, Lucia Meade and the rest of the lineup are a threat to score double-digit runs. That lineup will be tested by two of the IVCs best teams this week, Garaway (twice) and Tusky Valley.
5, Canton South Wildcats (9-7, 4-4 PAC-7)
Canton South makes its first appearance in the power poll, thanks in large part to its 3-1 win over Tuslaw week week. The Wildcats went 3-1 last week. Two big PAC-7 games against Manchester this week will further test Hannah Valentine and the Wildcats.
Reach Cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com
On X: @chickmanREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Greater Canton high school softball power poll rankings for late April
Reporting by Cliff Hickman, Canton Repository / The Repository
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