Softball Rankings: Willow Spring and Laney join top 25; five new teams break into area code rankings

Signature wins during spring break week has helped teams move up in the HighSchoolOT softball statewide rankings.

Alexander Central and Orange enter the top 10, while Willow Spring and Laney joined the top 25.

The Storm pulled off a thrilling victory on the road at previously No. 4 Garner, 5-3 in 10 innings. Willow Spring split last week's series with the Trojans who only dropped to No. 3 in the 919 and No. 15 in the state as they were without the services of shortstop Gaby Mizelle. Mizelle spent the week playing for the 18U Puerto Rico National Team in the Pan Am Games.

Laney meanwhile has won six straight after a walk-off win over South Central last Thursday, 3-2.

Wayne Christian and North Davidson dropped out of the Top-25 after suffering two losses each last week.

Roanoke Rapids (252), Panther Creek (919), Kings Mountain (704), Freedom Christian (910), and Reagan (336) have all used lengthy winning streaks to break into the area code rankings.

HighSchoolOT has also begun softball playoff projections for all eight regions in the state. These projections are for HighSchoolOT Insiders, and can be viewed below. Not an Insider? Become one today!

Softball playoff projections for the 2024 postseason

Rankings reminders:

• Rankings are updated weekly and released on every Monday
• All high schools in the state of North Carolina, excluding athletic training academies, are eligible for the statewide top 25
• There is a separate top 15 for the state's six area codes that is also updated weekly
• Rankings are paused during the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs
• Final rankings are released the week after the state championships

Purchase HighSchoolOT Photos: Digital downloads, prints & more

Links to previous rankings, coverage

• NCHSAA Playoff Projections (Insider)
• Preseason rankings
• Preseason Watch List (Insider)
• Class of 2024 college commitments
• Rankings after week 1
• Rankings after week 2
• Rankings after week 3
• Rankings after week 4
• Rankings after week 5

HSOT Statewide Top 25: Softball

1. Northwest Guilford (12-0)
2. Mooresville (11-0)
3. West Wilkes (9-0)
4. South Caldwell (13-0)
5. Wakefield (11-1)
6. Scotland (9-0)
7. Franklin (8-0)
8. Oak Grove (13-0)
9. Orange (8-1)
10. Alexander Central (10-2)
11. Marvin Ridge (9-1)
12. Hickory Ridge (10-3)
13. Weddington (9-0)
14. Porter Ridge (8-1)
15. Garner (10-1)
16. Willow Spring (11-3) (new)
17. Piedmont (9-2)
18. North Duplin (7-1)
19. Maiden (5-1)
20. Bunker Hill (9-1)
21. West Stanly (9-4)
22. Parkwood (7-3)
23. North Stanly (10-1)
24. Southern Nash (11-0)
25. Laney (10-1) (new)

Last Week's Rankings:

Softball Rankings: Seven teams join statewide top 25; four new teams in area code top 15s

Area Code Top 15 rankings: Softball

The top teams in this week's area code rankings are: Southern Nash (252), Wakefield (919), Scotland (910), Northwest Guilford (336), Mooresville (704), and South Caldwell (828).

252 area code

1. Southern Nash 11-0
2. Martin County 11-0
3. D.H. Conley 8-3
4. New Bern 11-2
5. Washington 8-3
6. South Central 7-3
7. Havelock 8-3
8. Camden County 8-1
9. Pamlico County 9-4
10. Bear Grass Charter 8-3
11. Perquimans 10-3
12. Northside of Beaufort County 9-2
13. Rocky Mount Academy 6-1
14. Croatan 7-3
15. Roanoke Rapids 7-1 (new)

919 area code

1. Wakefield 11-1
2. Orange 8-1
3. Garner 10-1
4. Willow Spring 11-3
5. Apex 8-3
6. Apex Friendship 7-1
7. Wayne Christian 8-2
8. South Johnston 8-1
9. Cleveland 7-3
10. Clayton 8-3
11. Corinth Holders 8-4
12. Wake Forest 7-4
13. Fuquay-Varina 8-4
14. Panther Creek 4-5 (new)
15. Holly Springs 7-5

910 area code

1. Scotland 9-0
2. North Duplin 7-1
3. Laney 10-1
4. South Brunswick 11-2
5. Cape Fear 7-3
6. Topsail 9-3
7. Union Pines 9-4
8. Dixon 9-3
9. Hoggard 6-3
10. Lumberton 13-2
11. South View 10-1
12. Freedom Christian 10-0 (new)
13. Trask 8-1
14. Midway 6-2
15. Triton 9-3

336 area code

1. Northwest Guilford 12-0
2. West Wilkes 9-0
3. Oak Grove 13-0
4. Southwestern Randolph 7-2
5. Uwharrie Charter 9-1
6. McMichael 12-2
7. Randleman 8-1
8. North Davidson 8-4
9. Rockingham County 6-3
10. Southern Alamance 9-3
11. High Point Christian 10-2
12. Roxboro Community 7-3
13. West Stokes 9-3
14. Reagan 12-2 (new)
15. Ledford 10-2

704 area code

1. Mooresville 11-0
2. Marvin Ridge 9-1
3. Hickory Ridge 10-3
4. Weddington 9-0
5. Porter Ridge 8-1
6. Piedmont 9-2
7. West Stanly 9-4
8. Parkwood 7-3
9. North Stanly 10-1
10. Kings Mountain 10-0 (new)
11. South Stanly 6-2
12. East Rowan 11-2
13. Crest 9-2
14. Lake Norman 9-5
15. West Rowan 9-5

828 area code

1. South Caldwell 13-0
2. Franklin 8-0
3. Alexander Central 10-2
4. Maiden 5-1
5. Bunker Hill 9-1
6. Murphy 8-1
7. Enka 8-2
8. West Henderson 8-1
9. Robbinsville 10-2
10. McDowell 7-3
11. Bandys 8-3
12. Pisgah 8-3
13. Fred T. Foard 5-2
14. Draughn 9-4
15. Hiwassee Dam 5-4

Purchase HighSchoolOT Photos: Digital downloads, prints & more