Each week, OzarksSportsZone.com will release local softball power rankings. Like our other power rankings, these rankings will be based on dominance by Class, not head-to-head.
Recent success and strength of schedule are also factored into the rankings. These rankings are through games played before Sept. 28.
Overall record and Class are listed in parenthesis.
SEPT. 21 POWER RANKINGS
SEPT. 14 POWER RANKINGS
SEPT. 6 POWER RANKINGS
1. Camdenton (19-4, C4, Last week: 1)
Alright, I’m going to touch on what I’m about to say again when we dive into Republic, but let’s take some of what we saw at the Crackerjack Shack Springfield Invitational with a grain of salt. The Lakers, for the most part, romped, beating Eldon, Fatima, Rogersville and Branson by a combined 37-8. But Camdenton didn’t win its group thanks a Day 1 loss to Liberty, and it wasn’t close either, with Liberty winning, 10-0. Camdenton won’t see Liberty until the state championship, if the Lakers manage to get there (and they might!). But if they do see them again, let’s forget 10-0 happened. Liberty (16-10) is 0-2 this year against Nixa (which finished third at the Springfield Invitational but isn’t as good as the other Class 4 teams on this last) and barely squeaked by Willard last weekend, 3-2. Willard is a good team, but the scores alone here prove the 10-0 is an outlier in Camdenton’s season. The Lakers are going to be challenged by teams like Republic and Blue Springs South, but not Liberty to such an extent.
This week’s opponents: 9/28 Joplin (9-12), 9/29 Bolivar (2-13), 9/30 Dixon (13-3), 10/3 Rolla (8-7)
2. Norwood (15-4, C1, Last week: 3)
After a weekend of tournaments that provided some clarity to where some of these top programs stand within their district and class, Norwood is starting to look like it has the best path to state, and I even had them at No. 1 on this list until the last second. The Pirates have won eight of nine and put up big wins this week over Class 2 Willow Springs, 3-2; Class 1 Morrisville, 10-2; and Class 1 Bakersfield, 10-0. I saw the Pirates against Bakersfield—which spent the last two weeks in these power rankings—and they looked great. The only question, and it is admittedly a glaring one, is this week’s 6-2 loss to Van Buren, a team Norwood would face Oct. 12 if both manage to win their district. The Pirates led that game 2-1 and gave it up late on the road. Emily Chadwell has been great, especially of late. She’s started every game for Norwood, posting a 1.73 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 109 innings. Most importantly, her WHIP is sitting under 1.00 at 0.98. Big test against West Plains to end the regular season.
This week’s opponents: 9/29 MV-BT/Liberty (9-9), 9/30 West Plains (15-5)
3. Republic (17-6, C4, Last week: 2)
Yeah, the Tigers lost a heartbreaker to Class 3 Cassville in the Springfield Invitational (see: Cassville for more). And yes, even more than that, Republic went on to drop games to Class 3 West Plains and Class 3 Helias Catholic last weekend. But it felt a little like this group spiraled a bit after the Cassville loss (an extra-inning walk-off grand slam), making me question how much weight the other two L’s should really carry (kudos to West Plains and Helias for winning, of course). But let’s be honest, Rachel Rook isn’t going to give up another grand slam this season, and she’s especially not going to give up home runs in three consecutive games, which is what happened in those three losses. She’s already back on track of course, striking out eight and allowing one unearned run in a 2-1 win over Willard on Tuesday. Kami Holt was lit this week, hitting four home runs and doubling her season total to eight. Also notable is that Rook jumped over 200 strikeouts on the season this week and now has 215 in 126.1 innings.
This week’s opponents: 10/29 McDonald County (13-4), 10/3 Rogersville (16-7)
4. Monett (13-6, C3, Last week: 7)
The fact that Monett, Rogersville, Salem, Cassville, West Plains and Reeds Spring are all bunched into the same corner of the district bracket both excites and depresses me. Excites because that’s A LOT of talent that’s going to end up going head-to-head pretty soon. Depresses because too many will be eliminated. This is a hard group to judge every week, but due to how Monett has competed against what’s probably the toughest schedule in this group, they’re going to jump to the head of it. A win this week over Class 4 McDonald County looks really good, and after the way Cassville played this weekend, the 11-1 win over the Wildcats earlier in the season is starting to look VERY good. Monett did drop games this weekend to Mexico and Trenton but will see neither the rest of the way.
This week’s opponents: 9/29 East Newton (8-8), 10/3 Reeds Spring (11-10)
5. Cassville (11-6, C3, Last week: 14)
Why not Cassville? But really, why not? Cassville was the local darling of the Springfield Invitational last weekend, heading into a pool with Republic and West Plains and leaving that pool with a 2-0 record. The win over Republic was huge, with Lauren Turner hitting a walk-off grand slam in extra innings off Rachel Rook. The Wildcats fell to Class 4 Nixa Saturday morning (and again on Monday), 4-3. In a way I expected that after the rush that was Friday. (Cassville trailed Nixa 4-0 heading into the seventh and nearly completed another fantastic comeback). But they went on to blow by Class 4 Kickapoo before losing to Class 4 Holt in the fifth-place game, 4-2. That loss to Holt is actually sort of impressive since Holt is 22-2 this year with its only losses coming to other Class 4 schools. Cassville did lose earlier this year to Monett, 11-1, but it seems like the Wildcats are a different team right now, hitting the ball well and riding the arm of southpaw Josie Holt. They’re battle-tested a big threat in Class 3.
This week’s opponents: 9/29 Lamar (6-11), 10/1 Branson Tournament
6. Willow Springs (13-5, C2, Last week: 3)
This drop is less about anything Willow Springs is done and more about what Monett and Cassville have shown. Willow dropped games against Class 1 teams Norwood and Van Buren this week and have now lost twice to Van Buren this season. Beyond that, the Bears had a pair of good wins over Ava and also handled Bakersfield with relative ease. They’re in a good spot right now with a week to go before their district tournament. Shoutout to Krysta Rader for a great week at the plate, going 7-14 with a double and a triple. Sydney Miller and Kirstien Loman combined 46 strikeouts in 31 innings this week and a 1.81 ERA. Too many unearned runs, however, with the two combining for nine (total of eight earned).
This week’s opponents: 9/28 Mansfield (9-5), 9/29 Houston (8-8), 10/1 Three Rivers Tournament
7. Salem (16-1, C3, Last week: 6)
The Tigers just continue to win. So why did they drop in the rankings? Well, Cassville’s strength of schedule. That’s about it. Salem hasn’t seen the level of competition Cassville has, but you can’t really fault them for that since they’re beating teams into the GROUND. The Tigers ran over the field in the Potosi tournament last weekend, beating Jefferson (Festus), Potosi, Sikeston and Fredericktown by a combined 40-3. Overall, Salem posted a +52 run differential this week after beating St. Clair on Monday, 15-0. Their regular season is over and ended with a .434 team batting average. Shelby Carr and her .576 average lead the group, followed closely by Camryn Pryor’s .561 average. What Salem’s postseason success will eventually hinge on is Kari Hatridge. Hatridge wasn’t Salem’s opening-day starter but has separated herself as this team’s top arm. She’s currently 10-0 with a 1.14 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 55.1 innings. That’ll do.
8. West Plains (15-5, C3, Last week: 12)
Alaina Vick had my favorite defensive play of the weekend in the Springfield Invitational, charging a bunt and gunning out the runner from her knees (photo above). West Plains is in that group of Class 3 teams on this list that are just so so so close to each other talentwise, but the Zizzers are threatening to push ahead of this weekend, beating Republic and Rogersville by an 8-3 score in each. The Zizzers did lose to Cassville and were shutout by Branson, but like I said earlier, it was pretty hard to judge what wins actually meant in this tournament. What’s not hard to judge is Abbey Gann, who now has a 1.32 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 117 innings pitched. Interesting games this week against top Class 1 and Class 4 teams to end the season.
This week’s opponents: 9/30 Norwood (14-4), 10/3 Poplar Bluff (18-2)
9. Rogersville (16-7, C3, Last week: 5)
Rogersville won the games they should win in the Springfield Invitational, handling Walnut Grove and Hillcrest by a combined 25-2. Going into the weekend, I thought they might have had a shot against West Plains, but the Zizzers are pretty hot right now and won that one, 8-3. Rogersville’s other losses came to Class 4 teams Camdenton and Holt. Out of tournament, the Wildcats topped Marshfield this week, 5-3. Hailey Brown is closing in on 30 steals (27) and is up to 32 runs.
This week’s opponents: Walnut Grove (9-13), Republic (17-6)
10. Marion C. Early (12-6, C1, Last week: 8)
First loss against Class 1 competition came to Norwood, losing 10-2 this week. But MCE handled Halfway and should be the favorite to win the District 3 tournament. If they end up taking first there, they’ll likely get another shot against Norwood. They get a Weaubleau team this week that has won eight of nine since a 3-6 start. The Lady Panthers are set up nicely for a District 3 title after getting the No. 1 seed. No other team in their bracket is above .500. Watch out for Walnut Grove, however; they’re better than their 9-13 record.
This week’s opponents: 10/3 Weaubleau (11-7), 10/4 Fair Play (5-13)
11. McDonald County (13-4, C4, Last week: 9)
The Mustangs keep winning the games you’d expect them to win. Can’t fault them for that, and the state didn’t either. McDonald County was awarded the No. 2 seed in the Class 4 District 12 tournament, setting up a potential championship matchup with Republic on Oct. 7. Wins for McDonald County this week over Class 3 East Newton, 5-1, and Class 4 Webb City, 3-1. Class 3 Monett handed the ‘Stangs a 10-9 loss in one of the biggest non-tourney games this week. A preview of the potential district title game goes down tomorrow when the Mustangs host Republic.
This week’s opponents: 9/29 Republic (17-6), 9/30-10/1 Carthage Tournament
12. Ozark (18-5, C4, Last week: 11)
Seemingly the only team to slow down Nixa (third place in the Springfield Invitational) this week was Ozark. The Tigers finished the week a perfect 3-0, beating Class 4 Nixa, 4-1; Class 3 Bolivar, 9-1; and Class 3 Hillcrest, 9-2. As of press time, still no bracket out for Ozark’s district tournament, but they should be the favorite in a group that includes Branson and Nixa.
This week’s opponents: 9/30-10/1 Carthage Tournament
13. Dixon (13-3, C2, Last week: 13)
Dixon looks good, man. The Lady Bulldogs won their only two games this week against Cuba and Crocker, two teams that combined for a 19-10 record. They did it pretty easily two, beating Cuba 8-0 and Crocker 12-1. They’ll be the top seed in the Class 2 District 11 tournament, are still perfect in Class 2 competition and are scheduled to play the winner of Richland and Steelville on Oct. 6. Tough game in Camdenton this week. We’ll see if they can hang.
This week’s opponents: 9/30 Camdenton (19-4), 10/4 Newburg (3-6*)
*=record incomplete
14. Pleasant Hope (15-8, C2, Last week: N/A)
Pleasant Hope is back! What can I say? They’ve earned it. The Pirates played a very tough early season schedule, and that is paying off now against more on-level competition. They went 4-1 as tournament hosts last weekend, beating Lamar, Seymour, Dora and Cameron before falling 3-0 to Sherwood in the the championship. The Pirates also had a pretty dominant win over Class 1 Marion C. Early this week, winning 21-8. They’re slated in as the top seed in the Class 2 District 12 tournament.
This week’s opponents: 9/29 Willard (9-9), 10/3 Jeff City (11-9)
15. Weaubleau (11-7, C1, Last week: N/A)
The Tigers were a team to watch in this fall’s O-Zone Magazine, and now they’re showing why. Winners of eight of nine since a 3-6 start, the Tigers are the top seed in Class 1 District 4. Over that stretch, they’ve won the Hermitage softball tournament and have quality wins over Pleasant Hope, Wheatland and Hermitage. If Weableau ends up winning its district, they’ll likely face Marion C. Early; a preview of that is coming this week.
This week’s opponents: 9/29 Wheatland (10-7), 10/3 Marion C. Early (12-6)
Keep an eye on: El Dorado Springs (12-7, C2), Dora (14-9, C1), Reeds Spring (11-10, C3), Waynesville (12-9, C4), Houston (8-8, C2), Hermitage (11-8, C1), Webb City (13-8, C4), Willard (11-9, C4)
