The high school softball regular season is nearing its completion and as such, so are the Greater Cincinnati weekly power rankings.
These will be the second-to-last rankings as most Ohio teams wrap up regular-season play this weekend and the Kentucky regular season ends on May 16.
All stats and records are updated through May 5. Upcoming schedules are subject to change.
Next in line: Conner, Springboro, Goshen, Ryle, Ross, Harrison, Bishop Brossart
10. Lebanon Warriors (16-8)
Previous ranking: 7
Analysis: Two straight losses and three dropped contests in the last 10 days have the Warriors searching for answers as the regular season winds down. Sophie Abrams is tied for the league lead with 37 hits and five triples, but is ninth overall in batting average.
They scored one run apiece against Mason and Kings, but the bats should ignite against Turpin and Loveland. Lebanon’s final challenge is a home game against a Teays Valley team that took one-run losses to Kenton Ridge and West Jefferson.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Turpin (May 6), vs. Teays Valley (May 8), vs. Loveland (May 11)
9. Talawanda Brave (17-4)
Previous ranking: 9
Analysis: The Brave played just two games last week, beating Bellbrook in a three-inning game with just three hits and two runs, and an 8-4 win over Tri-Village, where Talawanda erupted for six runs in the fifth inning.
Quinn Frieden kickstarted the rally with a single that marked her 100th career hit. Maddy Cox and Audrey Hilbert followed with RBI doubles before Bea Yerigan cleared the bases to end the scoring. The win really showed how multifaceted Talawanda is and how dangerous it can be as the regular season ends.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Edgewood (May 6), at Bellbrook (May 7), at Edgewood (May 8), at Springboro (May 9), at Little Miami (May 12)
8. Oak Hills Highlanders (15-5)
Previous ranking: 8
Analysis: The Highlanders had their 12-game winning streak snapped thanks to a 2-1 loss to Mason, their first one-run result since April 8. Both of Mason’s runs were the result of Oak Hills errors.
The Highlanders committed four errors in both of their one-run losses this season. They are averaging 3.4 errors in each of their losses, showing just how important defense is to their success.
Oak Hills should enter the postseason on a five-game winning streak.
Upcoming schedule: at Middletown (May 6), vs. Princeton (May 7), vs. Sycamore (May 8), at Fairfield (May 11)
7. Mason Comets (15-8)
Previous ranking: Unranked
Analysis: The Comets have won 11 of their last 12 games after a 4-7 start. Their two best wins have come in the last week and have been highlighted by underclassmen play.
Freshman Claire Mickelson had a two-run single as part of a three-run first inning in a win over Lebanon, then sophomore Morgan McBrayer provided the go-ahead single in the top of the seventh inning to snap Oak Hills’ 12-game winning streak.
While chances are slim that Mason will repeat as the Greater Miami Conference champion, it has barged into an already crowded regional tournament conversation.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Lakota West (May 6), at Hamilton (May 7), at Princeton (May 8), at Western Brown (May 9), vs. Colerain (May 11)
6. Highlands Bluebirds (22-6)
Previous ranking: 5
Analysis: The Bluebirds have shut out consecutive opponents for the first time all season, blanking Henry County, Lafayette and Campbell County by a combined score of 45-0 in 15 total innings. Senior Kaitlyn Dixon was dominant in all three contests, allowing three total hits.
They face one of their toughest stretches of the season this weekend at the Jerry Puckett Showcase at George Rogers Clark, facing 12th Region contender West Jessamine, 14th Region frontrunners Letcher County Central and Perry County Central, and a top 10 team in McCracken County.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Notre Dame (May 6), vs. Letcher County Central at George Rogers Clark (May 8), vs. McCracken County at GRC (May 9), vs. West Jessamine at GRC (May 9), vs. Perry County Central at GRC (May 9), vs. Simon Kenton (May 11)
5. Badin Rams (21-2)
Previous ranking: 4
Analysis: Behind Mattilyn Canupp’s four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, the Rams beat Fairfield for the first time since 1998. Now, they turn their attention to beating Hamilton for the first time since 2021 and earning the title of queens of Butler County.
Sophomore Kendall Ponatoski is in line to win the league’s hitting triple crown. She currently boasts a .677 batting average with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs. Badin has at least three players in the top five of the league’s standings for each offensive category, including the top six players in the league for RBIs. Ponatoski, Canupp, Emily O’Brien, Emily Albrinck, Ella Kent and Jessie Giuliano are responsible for 185 runs this season.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Mount Notre Dame (May 6), at CHCA (May 7), at Hamilton (May 9)
4. Western Brown Broncos (19-3)
Previous ranking: 3
Analysis: Jayci Barnes hit her team-leading sixth home run of the year in a win over Clinton-Massie and, not to be outdone, Sophie Jamison hit two of her own against Franklin.
Western Brown hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a game in almost three weeks.
Ending the season against Ryle and Mason will prepare the Broncos well for a possible district championship match against Badin.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Batavia (May 6), vs. Ryle (May 8), vs. Mason (May 9)
3. Lakota East Thunderhawks (18-4)
Previous ranking: 6
Analysis: Lakota East showed its resilience in a 9-5 win over Mason in which it trailed 5-3 after two innings. Kaleigh Crawford went 5-for-5 at the plate and scored two runs, and got out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings to end the game.
Winners of 18 of their last 20, the Thunderhawks need two more league wins to clinch a share of their first league title since 2019. They have a packed final week of the regular season, but it’s not inconceivable that they enter the postseason with a 23-4 record.
Upcoming schedule: at Sycamore (May 6), vs. Harrison (May 7), at Fairfield (May 8), at Hamilton (May 11), vs. Colerain (May 12)
2. Milford Eagles (19-3)
Previous ranking: 2
Analysis: The Eagles have had five-run innings in each of their last two wins. A fourth-inning outburst cemented a win over Springboro, while a fifth-inning hit parade only added on to a shutout of Little Miami.
Lanie McCoy and Maddie Varner are in the top three for batting average in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, and Varner is in second place with 18 stolen bases and nine doubles.
Upcoming schedule: at West Clermont (May 6), vs. Loveland (May 8)
1. Kings Knights (21-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Analysis: A 10-1 win over Lebanon cemented the Knights’ place atop the citywide rankings. Julia Lowry hit her ninth home run of the year and sophomore Olivia Smith hit her third, two of which have come against Lebanon.
Kings rounds out its schedule with three road games but is nearly a shoo-in to repeat as district champions and win its first-ever regional title.
Upcoming schedule: at Little Miami (May 7), at Turpin (May 8), at Ross (May 9)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mason Comets enter latest Greater Cincinnati softball power rankings
Reporting by Brendan Connelly, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
