Each week, O-Zone will release local spring softball power rankings. Because there is only one Class for spring softball, these rankings – unlike our traditional power rankings for every other team sport – can be viewed as overall head-to-head rankings.
Recent success and strength of schedule are factored into the rankings.
APRIL 6 POWER RANKINGS
APRIL 13 POWER RANKINGS
Current record, Class and previous ranking are listed in parenthesis.
1. Strafford (13-0, PR: 2) – Really tough call this week. So far this spring, it’s been Strafford and Purdy, then everyone else. Strafford’s played nine fewer games and thus had fewer chances for losses than Purdy, but recent success is also a factor in our power rankings. Purdy went 1-2 at the Mt. Vernon Invitational, with losses to Mt. Vernon (a team Strafford beat recently and plays again next week) and two-time spring Final Four qualifier Crest Ridge. So, Purdy drops a spot this week, but we’re really splitting hairs between these two because Purdy and Strafford have been the best local teams this spring. As for Strafford, the Indians collected win No. 13 on Tuesday behind a dominating all-around performance from sophomore Zoey Mullings. She threw a no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Clever, and also added three extra-base hits and three RBIs at the plate. With a 1-through-5 lineup that includes leadoff hitter Brooke Bishop, Rilie Vote, Mullings, Presley Floyd and Hayley Frank, the Indians feature some scary hitting. The Indians also crushed Plato 16-3 last Friday, handing the Eagles (10-1 overall) their first loss of the season. Strafford hosts the Strafford Invitational this Saturday, facing Mountain Grove, Sarcoxie and Fair Grove.
2. Purdy (20-2, PR: 1) – It’s a game of inches sometimes. Purdy suffered a pair of one-run losses at the Mt. Vernon Invitational last weekend, including 4-3 to Crest Ridge in 12 innings. And inches – or in this case, decimals – really do separate Purdy and Strafford. Here’s a stat for you: by my count, Purdy and Strafford have played five common opponents (Stockton, Mt. Vernon, Forsyth, Skyline and Marionville). Strafford’s 5-0 against those opponents with an average margin of victory of 8.8 runs. Purdy’s 6-1 against those same opponents (the Eagles have played Mt. Vernon three times) with an average margin of victory of 8.7 runs. A sectional matchup would be great since Purdy and Strafford don’t play in the regular season, but we all know crazy stuff occurs in districts. Purdy first has to worry about winning its own district tournament, a group that includes Pierce City, Sarcoxie and Southwest. Pierce City played Purdy to a 4-0 loss in early March, and those teams will again meet tomorrow afternoon in Pierce City. Purdy concludes the regular season next week with home games against Southwest (April 26) and Clever (April 28).
3. Mt. Vernon (15-6, PR: 6) – I thought No. 6 was too low for the Mountaineers last week, but I really had no other choice. Over the weekend, the Mountaineers went out and showed – when healthy – they’re capable of competing with the best of the best in spring softball. Mt. Vernon defeated Purdy 7-6 and Mtn. Grove 8-6 in the Mt. Vernon Invitational over the weekend. If not for allowing six runs to Crest Ridge in the top of the 7th in a 7-4 loss, Mt. Vernon would have won the event. Mt. Vernon also deserves credit for facing the likes of Purdy, Strafford, Pierce City, Clever, Sarcoxie and Class 6A Mtn. Home (Ark.) during the regular season. Mt. Vernon did lose 10-7 to Sarcoxie recently (a game that saw the Mountaineers allow six runs in the final two innings), but Sarcoxie lost 9-0 to Purdy recently as well and Mt. Vernon beat Purdy over the weekend. Games against common opponents matter, too. Mt. Vernon, after beating Fair Grove 10-4 tonight, has a challenging upcoming stretch with games against Stockton (April 21), Strafford (April 25) and Clever (April 26).
4. Sarcoxie (14-2-1, PR: 4) – The Bears continue to collect wins and tournament championships. Sarcoxie won 4 of 5 games over the past week. After losing to Purdy on April 18, the Bears beat Liberal 4-3 in extra innings on April 19, then defeated Pierce City, Diamond and Billings on Saturday to win the Marionville White Squirrel championship. The Bears are one of the area’s youngest teams, starting five and sometimes even six freshmen in their regular lineup, according to coach Dale Rice. Seven freshmen, two seniors, two juniors and two sophomores fill out the 13-player varsity group. Four different players have hit homers for Sarcoxie this season. Peyton Kisling is Sarcoxie’s main pitcher (9-1-1 overall, 2.03 ERA, 69 Ks), but Alyssa Rice (5-1 overall, 2.66 ERA, 20 Ks) also sees time in the circle. Upcoming games for Sarcoxie are: April 21 at Diamond, April 22 at Lockwood, April 25 at home versus Southwest and April 26 at College Heights Christian.
5. Pierce City (14-3, PR: 4) – You may have noticed a geographical pattern among these rankings each week. The best spring softball (save for Strafford) seems to be played West/Southwest of Springfield. Pierce City whipped SRVC foe Greenfield at home last Friday then went 2-1 in Marionville’s White Squirrel Classic over the weekend, falling to Sarcoxie for the championship. Pierce City had its Tuesday night game at Stockton postponed and was scheduled to host College Heights Christian tonight. Pierce City travels to Purdy tomorrow night and hosts Southwest on April 26. PC played Purdy to a 4-0 loss in early April.
6. Southwest (16-2, PR: 8) – The Trojans claimed the Jasper Tournament championship last weekend, defeating Golden City (11-1), Liberal (4-0) and College Heights Christian (10-0). Southwest freshman pitcher Maggie Robbins tallied 16 strikeouts in Southwest’s victories over Liberal and CHC on Saturday, totaling 216 for the season at that point. She had 13 Ks, and Shasta Sanders delivered 5 RBIs, in Southwest’s 15-1 road victory against Exeter tonight. After playing at Verona on April 21, Southwest returns to action April 25 and 26 with games at Sarcoxie and at Purdy, respectively. By the way, District 10 features four teams (Purdy, Pierce City, Sarcoxie and Southwest) in the Top 6 of this week’s Power Rankings.
7. Liberal (11-3, PR: 3) – Close losses to Sarcoxie and Southwest drop the Bulldogs a few spots on the rankings this week. Those losses were Liberal’s first to an in-state team this season. Neither Sarcoxie or Southwest is in Liberal’s district. By the looks of it, Liberal’s going to be the top seed for its district tournament and would face Stockton or Skyline in the sectional round, assuming it first can dethrone defending district champion Diamond, which has played the likes of Strafford and Sarcoxie to close losses and beaten Southwest. Liberal hosts Diamond on April 25, then Jasper on April 26, with a potential No. 1 seed for districts at stake.
8. College Heights Christian (12-5, PR: Unranked) – Close call this week between CHC, Fair Grove and Skyline for the final spot. I went with CHC thanks to their relatively strong schedule. The Cougars own wins over Diamond and Fair Grove, and have played Sarcoxie, Liberal and Southwest to competitive losses. Senior Nevada Moenning leads CHC; she’s the team’s No. 1 pitcher and bats a team-high .533 (through 14 games) at the plate. CHC was scheduled to play at Pierce City tonight and travels to Jasper this Friday.
Knocking on the door (alphabetical order): Clever (11-3), Diamond (9-7), Fair Grove (12-5-1), Mtn. Grove (12-3), Plato (10-1), Skyline (12-6), Stockton (9-6)
