Herbert Hoover High School Athletics

Herbert Hoover’s Missy Smith Named 2018 MaxPreps National Softball Coach of the Year

Coach Missy Smith and family members. (left to right: mother Regina Anderson, brother Andy Anderson, niece Emma Anderson and father Nip Anderson). Photo Courtesy of Beth Strawn.

By: Mark Burdette | July 1, 2018 at 7:27 p.m.

Herbert Hoover High School Coach Missy Smith. Photo Courtesy of Beth Strawn.

CLENDENIN, W.Va. – Herbert Hoover softball coach Missy Smith and her Lady Huskies officially hit the national stage with their victory over Hurricane earlier this season according to MaxPreps softball sports writer, Tom Mauldin. Mauldin reached out to The Clendenin Leader on Friday after multiple failed attempts to contact Coach Smith to share the exciting news that MaxPreps was officially naming Smith the 2018 National Softball Coach of the Year. After successfully connecting Mauldin and Smith to do an interview we could hardly contain ourselves to share in this honor that was bestowed on Coach Smith and to hear her reaction firsthand.

I waited until the next day to give Coach Smith some time to let the news sink in after her interview with Mauldin. Admittedly, I was a little nervous prepping for the interview because after hearing the news myself I knew just how big this was going to be for Coach Smith, her team and the entire Elk River community. This is a very big deal! Mauldin said it best, “There are more than 20,000 public high schools in the U.S. and thousands of private schools. Coach of the Year honor doesn’t get any bigger than this.”

(left to right) Taylor Carpenter, Megan Seafler, Coach Missy Smith and Rebekah Woody. Photo courtesy of Beth Strawn.

Coach Smith and the Lady Huskies’ community impact

Needless to say my first question to Coach Smith was to capture the impact this award had on her personally in being recognized as National Softball Coach of the Year. Smith said, “It’s nice and I always appreciate it, but I like it better when the girls get recognized. A good coach is one thing but you don’t win these awards or get recognized unless you have great players and great people behind you. It’s really not just my award, it is everybody’s.”

Since the 2016 flood that devastated the Town of Clendenin, Elkview and the surrounding area, the Lady Huskies have brought home back-to-back state championships. Their third title in five years. This team has been a beacon of light and hope for a community that has endured so much over the past two years. The one thing I noticed in talking with Delani Buckner and Coach Smith is their poise in handling their success, while keeping the bigger picture in perspective knowing they are not only playing for themselves, they are playing for the entire community.

Smith added, “I think it allows us to understand that we (community) are bigger than just us. We are a small school in West Virginia but we have great players and great support in our area. You don’t have to be from a huge school in another state to be recognized for the great things that you do. I feel like we are a rallying point for everyone. I said the same thing when we won in 2014 and again in 2017 and 2018, the state championship belongs to the whole community, not just the girls on the field. It’s for anyone that has ever worn the Hoover uniform, for anyone that has been to a Hoover game, or help coach, or drug a field, or threw a batting practice. It belongs to everyone, no matter how small, that has helped the Hoover program.”

Volunteers Helping Clean-up and Repair Michael Chandler Field after 2016 Flood. Photo courtesy of Kellie Baker.

The announcement of her award comes just two years after the 2016 floods that completely destroyed Herbert Hoover High School. The entire athletic complex was flooded. The clean-up and repairs took several months to get the sports facilities ready for the upcoming school year. As reported by Charleston Gazette-Mail reporter Derek Redd in his June 22, 2017 article ‘Herbert Hoover showed resiliency, found success in face of tragic floods“, you can gain a sense of how the odds were stacked against the entire community. Elkview Middle School became the new Herbert Hoover High School in the afternoons, while the middle school students went during the morning. It took over a year

Herbert Hoover High School with Elkview Middle School in the background.

Herbert Hoover High School with Elkview Middle School in the background. Photo by Mark Burdette.

before portables were built in the parking lot of the middle school, which is now the temporary home of Herbert Hoover High School. Amidst the chaos which had become a constant for them, and against all odds – sharing space with the middle school because they lost their school and some lost so much more – I asked Coach Smith how her team found a way to stay focused and achieve this level of success, while the world surrounding them was completely destroyed. Smith said, “They are resilient. Whatever you create for your new normal you adapt to. Hoover softball has been Hoover softball since Mike Chandler started the program and the expectations have been the same. It may be a different venue or a different time but the expectations were the same and they knew they could count on their sponsor, their coach, their teammates to help them through whatever they need to get through.”

Hoover stuns Hurricane

Herbert Hoover Softball Coach Missy Smith Congratulating Her Players. Photo courtesy of Beth Strawn.

The Clendenin Leader is new to the community and even though we know or know of the people we interview it still takes time to build rapport and to get up to speed with all the backstory. The Lady Huskies have kept the local media on their toes with their amazing undefeated run this past season. It was important to me with this opportunity to interview Coach Smith and reflect back to the turning point in the season when Hoover stunned Hurricane on a Thursday night in May. Smith added, “The longer that game went on and we were able to stay ahead and keep Hurricane off the base path and play good defense, you could see our confidence building. We had a good record going into that game and everybody knew that we were good, but that was really a confidence boost for us that we could finish it out and be undefeated.” Smith went on to explain that some believed their winning streak was due to a weaker strength of schedule, but the win over Hurricane gave the team the additional confidence they needed.

The Huskies shutout the Redskins, the defending Class AAA state champion five out of the last six years, who only managed just three hits against undefeated pitcher, Delani Buckner. Buckner struck out nine and walked one to lead her team to a 3-0 victory. According to Mauldin, beating Hurricane was when Hoover started to show up on his radar at the national level. After the shutout win Buckner said, “It was wild. We knew it was going to be a tough game. Hurricane knew us very, very well and we knew we had to come in focused. It felt pretty good

Herbert Hoover High School Pitcher Delani Buckner. Photo courtesy of Beth Strawn.

but we knew that we weren’t giving up just yet.” Meaning there was more work for them to do to defend their Class AA crown. They ended up doing just that, repeating as Class AA champions for the second year in a row by defeating Chapmanville at the state tournament, and finished No. 5 in the nation in MaxPreps final poll.

Coach Smith on Delani Buckner

As reported earlier by Mauldin with MaxPreps and the follow-up story I did on MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Delani Buckner, Coach Smith had these words to say about her star pitcher, “I’m happy for Delani being recognized but I don’t want to lose sight of all the girls because I’m proud of each and every one of them, the coaching staff, the community and the administration. One of things about Delani is that she doesn’t realize how good she is and she is always very supportive of her teammates. We can’t do it without her and she knows we can’t do it without them. One of the things I appreciate about our whole team is that they recognize that they need each other.”

A glimpse into the 2019 season

It was no secret to those who followed high school softball in West Virginia that Coach Smith was doing something very special at Hoover. The Lady Huskies were dominating the competition in every game. I asked Coach Smith what she attributed to their dominance on the softball field over their opponents this past year. Smith said, “A lot of it is the hard work these girls put into the off-season playing travel ball and working in the batting cages all winter. When we started in March we were already in mid-season form and kept going from there. This is a very tight knit group of young ladies. They genuinely care about each other and want each other to succeed and do well. When it goes beyond team you start to play selfless because you are playing for your sister and the other team members. Makes it easy to coach a team like that.”

Teams have to be worried knowing the formula that Coach Smith described above is going to be a tall order come next season. Hoover graduated four seniors, Buckner will be a junior and there are four freshman coming up from

MaxPreps 2018 National Softball Coach of the Year. Photo courtesy of Beth Strawn.

Elkview Middle School who have a lot of promise. According to Smith, the biggest challenge going into next season will be managing that confidence, cocky kind of line. Smith added, “I want them to play with great confidence but I don’t want them to get overblown egos and start to be cocky. That is when you let a game slip through your fingers that you could win and I don’t want to be in that spot. Going into next season everybody has to get better. Nobody can be where we were at the end of last year and expect to pick back up and be successful next year. The Saturday after the state tournament we had one girl in a summer tournament and most of the girls competed the following Saturday playing and working hard in the off-season so we are ready to go come next Spring.” “From the second the last pitch was thrown at the state tournament, along with a couple of hours celebrating our victory, I’m already thinking what we need to do for next season.”

A dynasty and legacy being built right before our eyes

Smith played volleyball, basketball and softball (CF, SS) during her high school career for the Lady Huskies from 1993-1996. She graduated from Hoover in 1996. For those of you who don’t know she is a 7th grade science teacher at Elkview Middle School, as well as head volleyball coach for the George Washington High School Patriots based in Charleston, WV since 2005. Smith mentioned the tremendous support from the administration, especially Hoover’s principal Mike Kelly. She said, “Michael Kelly has done a tremendous job restoring pride and expectation to Hoover. Ever since Kelly took over we have seen great successes in the classroom and on the athletic field. As a former student-athlete at Hoover it’s been really nice to see.”

Smith is only the second head coach in Hoover softball history. Mike Chandler started the program in 1987 and coached 19 seasons, won over 400 games, made 3 state tournament appearances with one 3rd place and two runner-up finishes. Smith was an assistant coach under Chandler for two and a half seasons before taking over the reigns in 2006. Smith has amassed a 281-94 (.749 winning percentage) record along with 3 Class AA state championships (2014, 2017-2018) at Hoover. Smith reflected saying, “Chandler literally built our field from the ground up with his bare hands. He definitely laid the foundation. I couldn’t be as successful as I am without what he had done first.” Today where the Lady Huskies play their home games is aptly named, Mike Chandler Field.

When I personally congratulated Smith on her award and the success she and her team has had since winning their first state championship in 2014. She said, “It’s been a pretty good run.” Coach Smith, I concur and the many lives you have touched over the years would agree as well.

 

Herbert Hoover Huskies Region 2 Champs. Photo courtesy of Beth Strawn.

Be sure to checkout other national and local media coverage of this amazing honor for Herbert Hoover High School softball coach Missy Smith.

 

 

July 1, 2018 in COMMUNITY, Community News, Education News, Educators, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Delani Buckner Named To Sophomore All-American Team by MaxPreps

Delani Buckner winding up to deliver a pitch. Photo Courtsey of Beth Strawn.

CLENDENIN, W.Va. – Tom Mauldin with MaxPreps unveiled Thursday their 2018 national high school underclass softball All-Americans. It comes as no surprise to see our very own Delani Buckner on the list.

“Buckner (P) led the Huskies to a 33-0 record and the Class AA state championship when she compiled a 21-0 record with a 0.39 ERA. She struck out 239 batters and issued 28 walks in 125 innings. Add to that, she had a .351 batting average and 19 RBIs” according to MaxPreps.

I had an opportunity to speak with Delani to reflect back on the amazing year she and her teammates had in winning back-to-back state championships, their third in five years. When asked what it meant to be personally recognized on a national level she said, “It was a pretty out-of-this-world feeling.” Buckner went on to add, “I don’t think I would be recognized at this level if it weren’t for my team and my coaches and us being so well received.”

Delani Buckner pitching. Photo courtesy of Beth Strawn.

The impact these young athletes currently have on our community through their hard work and success is nothing short of spectacular. Buckner added, “We are very close knit and if someone gets an award or the team gets an award it’s like the community getting an award as well.” There is no doubt Delani and her teammates are very aware how much they mean to our community and how proud we are of them and their accomplishments on and off the field.

The Lady Huskies totally dominated this season and Buckner attributes her and her team’s performance this past year to confidence. Buckner said, “We never doubted ourselves, we were there for each other and picked each other up if we were having a bad day. Our coaches believed in us no matter what day it was or who we were playing.”

According to softball writer Tom Mauldin with MaxPreps, Hoover started to receive national attention after their victory over Hurricane earlier this year. After beating Hurricane, Buckner stated, “It was wild. We knew it was going to be a tough game. Hurricane knew us very, very well and we knew we had to come in focused. It felt pretty good but we knew that we weren’t giving up just yet.”

Despite being a young team there is a noticeable confidence about this team going into next year that will be on everyone’s radar. Buckner said, “We know we are going to have a huge target on our back. A lot of teams are going to be focused on getting a hit off us and wanting to beat us. Coming off a perfect season we know it will be tough to keep it going.”

As we were reflecting back on the success that she and her team had this year Delani wanted to share a few comments directed towards the Elk River community. “I want to tell the community thank you for all their endless support and staying up to 1:00 a.m. to watch us play Chapmanville in the state tournament. It truly means a lot to us and I just wanted to thank you for everything.”

Herbert Hoover Softball Community. Photo courtesy of Beth Strawn.

The future is definitely bright for Delani, but maybe not so bright for the batters that will have to face her over the next two years. We will be looking forward to next season with great anticipation and wish the Lady Huskies continued success.

To see the complete list of juniors, sophomores and freshman stars across the nation including the 2018 MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year read the full article by Tom Mauldin on MaxPreps.

June 29, 2018 in COMMUNITY, Community News, Education News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News, Students

Lady Huskies Finish Season at No. 5 in Nation in Final MaxPreps Poll

By: Tom Mauldin | Posted: June 19, 2018 | Source: MaxPreps

Madison of Virginia goes wire to wire in winning back-to-back state titles and claims National Champion honor.

Madison (Vienna, Va.) ran the table on the 2018 season in dominating fashion: 28 wins in 28 games, trailed twice the entire season, won another state title and ran its two-year win streak to 42.

The Warhawks, who won their state championship game 9-0 over 21-7 Manchester (Midlothian) behind pitcher Alex Echazarreta’s no-hitter, are the 2018 MaxPreps High School Softball National Champions.

“It’s special,” coach Jim Adkins said. “To do what these girls accomplished really is amazing. (I’m) really proud of what they’ve done the past two seasons. It just doesn’t get any better than this.”

The Warhawks edged No. 2 Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), which finished 34-0 and won the state 5A championship, for the national crown.

“There were no down moments this season,” said Adkins, Madison’s fifth-year coach. “Team camaraderie was great, the parents were great, the administration, etc. Everything was just perfect. As a coach, you dream of a perfect season and this would be it.”

It’s the second-straight year Madison has won the Virginia 6A (the state’s largest enrollment classification) championship. In winning the state 6A title in 2017, the Warhawks went 28-1 and won their final 14 games. Their last lost was 4-3 in eight innings and happened 14 months ago. Adkins said his team had no weak spots, one through nine in the lineup could hit and the pitching of All-American Echazareta was dominating.

How dominating were the Warhawks in 2018? Consider the following:

• They won 16 games by 10 runs or more and played a single one-run game.

• They batted .413 as a team.

•  They scored 283 runs, averaging 10 runs per game, while allowing just 26.

• Eleven players scored 10 or more times.

• Nine players had 20 or more hits and four had 40 or more.

• Eight players homered led by Kristin Giery with 12 and Echazareta’s 11.

• Nine players drove in 15 or more runs.

The Warhawks had it all. They committed just 11 errors (a fielding percentage of .976) and opposing batters managed a meager 0.62 average against Echazareta and Giery. They were caught stealing just three times in 59 attempts.

Madison, which is ranked No. 5 in the MaxPreps computer poll, started the season ranked No. 1 in the Virginia/Maryland/Washington D.C. area by the Washington Post. The Warhawks were ranked No. 52 in MaxPreps Xcellent Preseason Rankings. Interestingly, Neshoba Central was ranked No. 50.

Adkins said he set the 2018 schedule to be as challenging as possible and to go unbeaten was a bit surprising. Madison, which has an enrollment of 2,000 students, defeated teams from four states and won the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand Tournament in late March by a combined 36-5 margin. All five wins were lopsided.

“We knew we had a good team coming,” he said. “We only lost one senior from a year ago, had seven seniors. We knew we had the makings of a special season.”

Five Warhawks have signed or committed to play at the next level: Echazareta (Purdue), Emily Klingaman(Stanford), Cat Arase (MIT) and sisters Kristin Giery (signed) and Nicole Giery (committed) with Boston College.

Echazareta not only went 24-0 with a 0.59 ERA and 237 strikeouts in 141 innings, but she also batted .495 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs. The older Giery hit .490 and led in homers (12) and RBIs (43). Klingaman led the team in hitting (.597) and runs (39). In all, six players batted over .400, including Nicole Adkins (.413), Nicole Giery (.522) and Kristy Williams (.400).

Though there was no in-season talk about going unbeaten, Adkins said a pivotal moment was coming back to beat highly ranked Bishop O’Connell (Arlington).

“When we came back to beat them and their All-American pitcher (Kat Sandercock), who is headed to Florida State, we knew it was a possibility,” said Atkins. “But with a schedule as tough as ours, we knew how difficult it would be.”

The only other time they trailed during the 2018 season was in the state quarterfinals when South County (Lofton) led 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth and the Warhawks scored five to win 6-4.

“We started the season with a target on our back and never talked about going unbeaten,” said Adkins. “We had no team mottos. Of course, a goal of every team is to go unbeaten, but we truly took this one day at a time. We asked the players to ‘get better every day.’ ”

And they did.

No. 2 Neshoba’s title was its seventh straight and the Rockets will enter the 2019 season with a 39-game winning streak. Californians San Marcos and Norco finished Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, and Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.) rounds out the Top 5.

Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh, Kan.), ranked No. 14, has a two-year winning streak of 50 in a row — the longest of any team in the Top 50.

Final 2018 MaxPreps Xcellent 50 National High School Softball Rankings

1. (Last week 1) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 28-0
MaxPreps National championship team includes Emily Klingaman, Alex Echazarreta, Sofia Ebersole, Wikitoria Kowalska, Sierra Shields, Olivia Myers, Kristy Williams, Hannah Case, Nicole Adkins, Devin Townsend, Nicole Giery, Lauren Oskuie, Keisha Young, Cat Arase, Kristin Giery and Abby Bolinger.

2. (2) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 34-0
The Rockets won their sixth straight state 5A title.

3. (3) San Marcos (Calif.), 28-2
The Knights won the San Diego Section Open Division title and finished the season with an 18-game win streak.

4. (4) Norco (Calif.), 29-3
The Cougars finished the season with 10 straight, including 8-2 over Gahr to win the California Southern Section Open Division title.

5. (5) Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.), 33-0
The Huskies repeated as state AA champions.

6. (6) Tualatin (Ore.), 30-0
The Timberwolves won the state 6A title.

7. (7) Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.), 33-2
The Cards closed the season with 15 wins in a row and the Kentucky state championship.

8. (8) New Palestine (Ind.), 30-1
The Dragons finished the season with 20 wins in a row and won the state 3A title.

9. (9) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 34-0
Keystone won the state D2 championship game.

10. (10) Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.), 30-2
The Panthers won the state 6A title.

11. (11) Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 25-1
The Timberwolves won the state 4A title.

12. (12) Champion (Warren, Ohio), 31-0
The Golden Flashes won the state D3 championship and have won 39 straight.

13. (13) Clovis (Calif.), 31-2
Clovis won the California Central Section D1 title.

14. (14) Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh, Kan.), 25-0
The T-Birds won the state 5A title and have won 50 in a row.

15. (15) Sun Prairie (Wis.), 29-0
Maddie Gardner allowed just one earned run in six postseason games.

16. (16) White Knoll (Lexington, S.C.), 32-2
The Timberwolves won the state 5A championship.

17. (17) Prince George (Va.), 23-1
Prince George captured the state 5A title.

18. (18) Hurricane (W. Va.), 25-3
Won its fourth-straight state 3A title.

19. (19) Bentonville (Ark.), 31-3
Bentonville captured the state 7A championship.

20. (20) Ouachita Parish (Monroe, La.), 33-4
The Lions won the state 5A title.

21. (21) Severna Park (Md.), 27-2
The Falcons won the state 4A title.

22. (22) Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 35-7
The Eagles won the state 6A title.

23. (23) Masuk (Monroe, Conn.), 27-0
Junior Sam Schiebe pitched a two-hit shutout while striking out 14, in leading Masuk to the state L title. She walked one and allowed just two balls to be hit past the infield.

24. (24) Pinnacle (Phoenix), 31-6
Won state 6A title and 18 of its last 20 games.

25. (NR) Escanaba (Mich.), 31-3
State D2 title winner.

The Next 25

26. Decatur Central (Indianapolis), 32-4
Lead by pitchers Karli Ricketts (Butler signee) and Kenzee Smith, the Hawks won the state 4A title and their final 14 games. Smith and Ricketts combined for more than 300 strikeouts in a little over 200 innings and 16 shutouts.

27. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 33-2
The Huskies were Arizona large school state runner up.

28. Canyon (New Braunfels, Texas), 29-2
The Cougs finished second in the state 6A tournament.

29. Forney (Texas), 33-6
Won its final 25 games to claim the state 5A title.

30. South Granville (Creedmoor, N.C.), 28-0
Won the state 2A title as seniors Megan White and Brianne Coleman combined for two dozen homers and more than 100 RBIs and freshmen pitcher Brooke Bowling went 26-0 with a 1.78 ERA.

31. Huntingtown (Md.), 23-1
The Hurricanes recorded 10-0, 15-0, 5-0, 6-0 and 5-0 wins at the state 3A tournament.

32. Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 34-3
Won state D2-AA title.

33. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 27-2 
Won the non-public state title.

34. Maple Lake (Minn.), 28-1
Maple Lake won the state 2A title.

35. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 28-4
California’s San Diego Section runner-up.

36. Fairhope (Ala.), 45-7
Led by eighth-grader Alea Johnson (15-1, 155 strikeouts in 105 innings and 48 RBIs), the Pirates won the state 7A title.

37. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.), 32-4
The Lancers won the state 4A championship.

38. Sheridan (Ark.), 30-3
The Yellowjackets won their final 22 games and the state 6A title.

39. Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.), 23-5-1
Behind All-American Danielle Williams, the Dons won the California North Coast Section championship.

40. Hagerty (Oviedo, Fla.), 26-5
Won the state 8A title.

41. Rock Island (Ill.), 32-5
Captured the state large school championship.

42. Strafford (Mo.), 29-0
Won state championship and outscored opponents 337-29. Zoey Mullings homered 12 times, batted .600 and had a 0.52 ERA.

43. Great Falls (Mont.), 22-0
Won state AA championship.

44. Spanish Springs (Sparks, Nev.), 33-3
Won state large school title.

45. Bonney Lake (Wash.), 26-2
Won final 14 games and state 3A gold.

46. West (Torrance, Calif.), 30-3
Won California Southern Section D3 championship.

47. Pembroke Pines Charter (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), 26-5
Captured state 7A title.

48. Marist (Chicago), 31-4
Juniors Alexis Voss, Kelly Walinski and Angela Zedak have combined for 48 homers with Voss leading the way with 18. They have combined for 88 extra base hits and 170 RBIs.

49. Pendleton (Ore.), 25-3
Led by senior Lauren Richards (state 5A Pitcher of the Year, the Buckaroos won the state 5A title. Richards was 26-2 with 227 strikeouts.

50. Artesia (N.M.), 29-4
State 5A winner.

June 19, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Lady Huskies Jumps to No. 5 in Nation by MaxPreps

By: Tom Mauldin | Posted: June 12, 2018 | Source: MaxPreps

With last week’s No. 1 team falling, all but two teams moved up a notch in this week’s MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National High School Softball Rankings. One that didn’t was last week’s No. 2 Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), the state’s unbeaten 5A state champion.
That means Madison (Vienna, Va.) jumps to No. 1 —  the third straight week with a new top team and only one ranking left in the 2018 season.
Does that mean Madison is the MaxPreps National Champion? Or will there be a new No. 1 for the fourth straight week? Perhaps, but it’s safe to say it’s a two-team race between Madison and Neshoba.
Madison wrapped up its 28-0 season Saturday winning the Virginia 6A title (the state’s largest classification), riding the hitting and pitching of senior Alex Echazarreta (Purdue signee).

Neshoba, led by MaxPreps All-American Aspen Wesley (Mississippi State pledge), won the Mississippi 5A (the state’s second largest classification) title four weeks ago. Neshoba finished 34-0.

Madison scored 283 runs, averaging 10 runs per game, while allowing 26. Neshoba scored 274 for a 8.1 average and allowed just 31. Madison won 16 games by 10 or more runs and played a single one-run game. Neshoba took 10 games by 10 or more runs and had a pair of one-run wins.

Each defeated two teams which also won state titles in other classifications. Neshoba finished the season ranked 33 in MaxPreps Computer Rankings. Madison is ranked No. 9 in the computer poll.

The difference might fall to the fact that Madison, which has en enrollment of 2,000 students, defeated teams from four states. Neshoba, with just under 1,000 enrollment, played in-state games only.

But for this week — and perhaps only this week — Madison is No. 1.

East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), last week’s No. 1, went 4-2 at the Kentucky state Championships to finish the season 41-2, but fell from the Top 25.

Next week’s rankings will include the 2018 Top 50, including the National Champion. MaxPreps will also unveil later in June its National Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and a variety of All-American teams.
Let the debate continue.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National High School Softball Rankings
1. (Last week 3) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 27-0
The Warhawks got a no-hitter from senior Alex Echazarreta (Purdue signee) to defeat Manchester and win the state 6A championship and finish the season unbeaten.

2. (2) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 34-0
The Rockets won their sixth straight state 5A title. Season over.

3. (4) San Marcos (Calif.), 28-2 
The Knights won the San Diego Section Open Division title. Season over.

4. (5) Norco (Calif.), 29-3
The Cougars finished the season with 10 straight, including 8-2 over Gahr to win the California Southern Section Open Division title. Paige Smith hit a grand slam. Season over.

5. (7) Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.), 33-0 
The Huskies repeated as state AA champions. Season over.

6. (6) Tualatin (Ore.), 30-0
The Timberwolves won the state 6A title. Season over.

7. (12) Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.), 33-2
The Cards closed the season with 15 wins in a row and the Kentucky state championship. In a 2-1 win over Warren East, senior Kennedy Sullivan pitched a one-hit, 19-strikeout, 13-inning win.

8. (9) New Palestine (Ind.), 30-1
The Dragons finished the season with 20 wins in a row and on Saturday won the state 3A title. Season over.

9. (10) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 34-0
Keystone won the state D2 championship game. Season over.

10. (13) Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.), 30-2
The Panthers won the state 6A title. Season over.

11. (12) Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 25-1 
The Timberwolves won the state 4A title. Season over.

12. (14) Champion (Warren, Ohio), 31-0
The Golden Flashes won the state D3 championship and have won 39 straight. Season over.

13. (15) Clovis (Calif.), 31-2 
Clovis won the California Central Section D1 title. Season over.

14. (16) Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh, Kan.), 25-0 
The T-Birds won the state 5A title and have won 50 in a row. Season over.

15. (NR) Sun Prairie (Wis.), 29-0
Maddie Gardner scattered seven hits and drove in two runs to lead the Cardinals to a 7-1 win over Burlington on Saturday for the state large school championship. Gardner, who came into the state tournament with a 0.41 ERA, allowed one earned run in six postseason games. Season over.

16. (18) White Knoll (Lexington, S.C.), 32-2
The Timberwolves won the state 5A championship. Season over.

17. (NR) Prince George (Va.), 23-1
Behind the pitching of Laura Thompson, Prince George captured the state 5A title. Season over.

18. (20) Hurricane (W. Va.), 25-3
Won its fourth-straight state 3A title. Season over.

19. (21) Bentonville (Ark.), 31-3 
Bentonville captured the state 7A championship. Season over.

20. (22) Ouachita Parish (Monroe, La.), 33-4
The Lions won the state 5A title. Season over.

21. (23) Severna Park (Md.), 27-2
The Falcons won the state 4A title. Season over.

22. (24) Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 35-7
The Eagles won the state 6A title. Season over.

23. (NR) Masuk (Monroe, Conn.), 27-0 
Junior Sam Schiebe pitched a two-hit shutout while striking out 14, in leading Masuk to the state L title. She walked one and allowed just two balls to be hit past the infield. Season over.

24. (NR) Pinnacle (Phoenix), 31-6
Won state 6A title and 18 of its last 20 games. Season over.

25. (25) Canyon (New Braunfels, Texas), 29-2
The Cougars finished second in the state 6A tournament. Season over.

Dropped out: Stevens Point (Wis.), Barrington (Ill.), St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), East Carter (Grayson, Ky.).

June 12, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Herbert Hoover’s Buckner state’s Gatorade softball player of the year

Garrett Cullen, WVMetroNews.com
Delani Buckner of Herbert Hoover was named the Gatorade Softball Player of the Year in West Virginia.
By: MetroNews Staff | Posted: June 11, 2018 at 4:01 p.m. | Source: WV MetroNews

CLENDENIN, W.Va. — Herbert Hoover sophomore standout Delani Buckner this past week was named the Gatorade High School Softball Player of the Year in West Virginia.

Buckner went 21-0 this past season with a 0.39 ERA, also contributing at the plate with a .351 batting average and 19 RBIs. She finished the year striking out 239 batters in 125 an one-third innings.

Herbert Hoover last month won its second straight Class AA softball state championship, completing a perfect 33-0 season.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes…

CONTINUE TO READ FULL STORY

June 11, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Lady Huskies Continue to Rise in National Poll by MaxPreps

By: Tom Mauldin | Posted: June 5, 2018 | Source: MaxPreps

East Carter (Grayson, Ky.) is getting another stellar season from seven-year varsity pitcher Montana Fouts and moves to the No. 1 spot in this week’s MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 national high school softball rankings.
Fouts, a 6-foot-2 senior who has signed with Alabama, continues to make a loud statement to be MaxPreps National Player of the Year. For the season, she is 33-0 with an 0.07 ERA and 417 strikeouts in 196 innings. She has pitched 27 shutouts, a dozen being no-hitters and eight perfect games. She also is batting .604 with12 home runs, 66 RBIs and 18 doubles.

As a result, East Carter is 37-0 going into the Kentucky State Softball Tournament beginning Thursday.

Fouts first pitched for the Raiders’ varsity before she was a teen as a sixth-grader. Since her debut in 2012, Fouts has won 144 games with 1,900 strikeouts in 993 innings. She has lost 14 games during that span, but four have come during the last two state tournaments.

Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), which won the Mississippi 5A title three weeks ago, concluded its season at 34-0, but has been relegated to the sidelines watching scores from the No. 2 spot in the Top 25.

Unbeaten Madison (Vienna, Va.) jumped four spots to No. 3, while Californians San Marcos and Norco are fourth and fifth, respectively.

St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) not only crashed the Top 25, but vaulted all the way to No. 8 after ending Donovan Catholic’s perfect season to win the state’s Non Public championship. St. John Vianney is 27-0.

The Top 10 also includes unbeatens Tualatin (Ore.) and Hoover (Clendenin, W.Va.) recently ended their perfect seasons with state titles.

There’s nothing like the postseason to shake up the Top 25 as eight teams fell from the rankings. It’s the highest number of teams to fall from the Top 25 during a single poll in the last seven years.
Canyon (New Braunsfels, Texas), which was ranked No. 1 for five weeks, dropped to No. 25 this week after losing the state 6A title to Atascocita and finished 29-2. Atascocita takes over at No. 24.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national high school softball rankings
1. (Last week 2) East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), 37-0
The Raiders are owning the early rounds of the postseason with five straight lopsided wins, including four by shutout. They open state tournament play on Thursday against 26-5 Butler, a team they beat earlier this season 6-5. The five runs by Butler are the most scored against East Carter this season.

2. (4) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 34-0
The Rockets won their sixth straight state 5A title. Season over.

3. (7) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 27-0

The Redhawks blanked Battlefield and McLean for their 12th and 13th shutout wins of the season. They take on 19-6 South County (Lorton) in the state large school quarterfinals on Tuesday.

4. (5) San Marcos (Calif.), 28-2
The Knights won the San Diego Section Open Division title. Season over.

5. (6) Norco (Calif.), 29-3
The Cougars finished the season with 10 straight, including 8-2 over Gahr to win the California Southern Section Open Division title. Paige Smith hit a grand slam. Season over.

6. (8) Tualatin (Ore.), 30-0
The Timberwolves rallied from a two-run deficit to complete the perfect season, getting a 4-3 walk-off victory over Clackamas. Tualatin became the first big-school program to go undefeated in Oregon since Churchill went 23-0 in 1992. Season over.

7. (9) Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.), 33-0
The Huskies repeated as state AA champions. Season over.

8. (NR) St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 27-0
Behind the pitching of sophomore Julia Parker, St. John Vianney knocked off previously unbeaten and highly ranked Donovan Catholic, 2-0, then edged Mount St. Dominic, 2-1, to win the state non-public state title. Season over.

9. (11) New Palestine (Ind.), 29-1
The Dragons have won 19 in a row and play Saturday against 25-5 South Bend for the state 3A title.

10. (14) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 34-0
Marlie McNulty’s RBI triple in the 12th inning gave Keystone a 3-2 victory over Beloit West Branch (27-4) in the state D2 championship game. Season over.

11. (16) Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 25-1
The Timberwolves won the state 4A title. Season over.

12. (NR) Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.), 27-2
Senior Kenndy Sullivan is averaging better than two strikeouts per inning and has a 0.20 ERA. She also leads the Cardinals with 13 homers and 50 RBIs. The Cards have won 10 in a row as they open state tournament play on Thursday.

13. (20) Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.), 30-2
The Panthers won the state 6A title. Season over.

14. (22) Champion (Warren, Ohio), 31-0
The Golden Flashes have won 39 over two seasons and repeated as state D3 champions with a 9-4 win over Cardington Lincoln. Season over.

15. (17) Clovis (Calif.), 31-2
Clovis won the California Central Section D1 title. Season over.

16. (NR) Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh, Kan.), 25-0
The T-Birds completed their second straight perfect season to run their win streak to 50 over two seasons. As a result, Shawnee Heights has won back to back state 5A championships. Season over.

17. (NR) Barrington (Ill.), 33-3
The Fillies won sixth straight and move into the state 4A super sectionals on Monday against 28-5 Palestine.

18. (19) White Knoll (Lexington, S.C.), 32-2
The Timberwolves won the state 5A championship. Season over.

19. (24) Stevens Point (Wis.), 22-0
The Panthers have opened the postseason with 14-0, 17-2 and 6-1 wins.

20. (NR) Hurricane (W. Va.), 25-3
The Redskins won their fourth-straight state 3A title. Season over.

21 (21) Bentonville (Ark.), 31-3
Bentonville captured the state 7A championship. Season over.

22. (NR) Ouachita Parish (Monroe, La.), 33-4
The Lions won the state title five weeks ago and won their final 17 games. Season over.

23. (NR) Severna Park (Md.), 27-2
The Falcons won the state 4A title by outscoring its opponents 41-1 in four state tournament games. Season over.

24. (NR) Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 35-7
Seven losses is a lot for a Top 25 team, but winning the state 6A title is impressive. The Eagles knocked off previously ranked No. 1 Canyon (New Braunsfels) 5-3 for the title. Atascocita senior outfielder Lauren Bazan was the game’s Most Valuable Player. Freshman Katie Cismuz finished the season with 11 homers, 16 doubles and 48 RBIs.

25. (1) Canyon (New Braunfels, Texas), 29-2
The Cougars, who were ranked No. 1 often this season, lost 5-3 to No. 24 Atascocita in the state 6A finals. Their other loss was 1-0.

Dropped out: Freedom (Oakley, Calif.), Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), Maple Lake (Minn.), Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.), Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.), Los Altos (Hacienda Heights, Calif.), Chino Hills (Calif.) and South Caldwell (NC).

June 5, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Prep softball: Champion Herbert Hoover gets three first-teamers on Class AA All-State

Herbert Hoover pitcher Delani Buckner is one of three Huskies named to the Class AA All-State first team. Craig Hudson, Gazette-Mail

By: Ryan Pritt, Prep Sports Writer | Posted: May 30, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

Chapmanville and Herbert Hoover took two different routes to the Class AA softball championship game.

(more…)

May 30, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Class AA high school softball all-state teams

Kenzie McCann is named captain of the Class AA softball all-state team. Eddie Ferrari, WVMetroNews.com

By: MetroNews Staff | Posted: May 30, 2018 | Source: WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 2018 Class AA West Virginia high school softball all-state teams, as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

 

FIRST TEAM

P – Delani Buckner, Herbert Hoover, So.

P – Kenzie McCann, Chapmanville, Sr. (captain)

P – Holly Brehm, Wyoming East, Jr.

P – Taylor Bonnett, Poca, Sr.

IF – Jenna Thomas, Sissonville, Jr.

IF – Emily Riggs, Bridgeport, Jr.

IF – Brooke Clark, Shady Spring, Sr.

IF – Kirsten Belcher, Herbert Hoover, Sr.

IF – Ashleigh Sexton, Independence, Jr.

OF – Rachel Pennington, Lincoln County, Sr.

OF – Grace Hefner, Braxton County, Sr.

OF – Megan Seafler, Herbert Hoover, Jr.

C – Amber Frame, Braxton County, Sr.

C – Bella Posey, Lewis County, Jr.

UTIL – Olivia Mace, Roane County, Sr.

UTIL – Carly Cooper, Petersburg, So.

UTIL – Alivia Rosnick, Weir, Jr.

UTIL – Madison Anderson, Keyser, Sr.

 

SECOND TEAM

P – Bella Savilla, Nitro, Fr.

P – Aubrey Smith, Keyser, Jr.

P – Madison Corbin, East Fairmont, So.

P – Logan Shanholtz, Liberty-Harrison, Sr.

IF – Jenna Burgess, Petersburg, Fr.

IF – Haleigh Ferris, Lincoln, Sr.

IF – Peyton Wiseman, Shady Spring, Sr.

IF – Rebekah Woody, Herbert Hoover, Jr.

IF – Kerry Vanmeter, Petersburg, Sr.

OF – Tiara Snyder, Robert C. Byrd, Jr.

OF – Kara Browning, Chapmanville, Sr.

OF – Paige Humble, Bridgeport, Fr.

C – Hannah Walker, Oak Glen, Jr.

C – Rileigh Parsons, Wayne, Sr.

UTIL – Presley McGee, Herbert Hoover, So. (captain)

UTIL – Leah Cochran, Point Pleasant, Sr.

UTIL – Lydia Sweat, Nitro, So.

UTIL – Isabella Aperfine, Weir, Fr.

 

SPECIAL HONORABLE MENTION

Jada Freeman, Chapmanville

Chelsea Napier, Logan

Whitney Sansom, Wayne

Randa Watts, Lincoln County

Grace Belcher, Scott

Emilie Walker, Man

Sydney Houck, Winfield

Elyssa Medley, Winfield

Tori Gibeaut, Poca

Mallori Chapman, Herbert Hoover

Cortney Fizer, Herbert Hoover

Sophia Mikula, Weir

Hannah Patterson, Oak Glen

Lexi Boothe, Wyoming East

Kari Walker, Wyoming East

Bradlea Hayhurst, Shady Spring

Savannah Holbrook, Oak Hill

Nicole Kester, Independence

Savannah Bragg, Independence

Katie Hoffman, Berkeley Springs

Ashlyn Spears, Roane County

Payton Merica, Bridgeport

Grace Rock, Liberty Harrison

Gracey Lamm, Lincoln

Madi Andrick, Lincoln

Alexis Hudson, Lewis County

Emma Kennedy, Philip Barbour

Haley Smith, Elkins

Anna Runyan, Fairmont Senior

Ashton Malnick, North Marion

Cara Minor, North Marion

Kelsie Byus, Point Pleasant

 

HONORABLE MENTION

Natalie Fouts, Lincoln County

Charlee Mullins, Chapmanville

Baylee Pullen, Lincoln County

Kerigan Moore, Nitro

Mercedes Bush, Poca

KK Short, Winfield

Jessica Canterbury, Herbert Hoover

Allison Phillips, Weir

Samantha Kaczmarek, Weir

Alexa Andrews, Oak Glen

Autumn Miller, Wyoming East

Kaylen Parks, Independence

Katie Griffith, Wyoming East

Hannah Trump, Liberty Raleigh

Maddy Maynard, Liberty Raleigh

Kyndl Johnson, Wyoming East

Kiersten Roberts, River View

Alexis Nicholas, Nicholas County

Katie Richardson, PikeView

Allison Mace, Roane County

Kyla Smith, Clay County

Kassidy Heavner, Braxton County

Kate Stanley, Bridgeport

Allie McAllister, Liberty Harrison

Daisy Gibbons, Liberty Harrison

Hannah Ferris, Lincoln

Ashley Hawkins, Robert C. Byrd

Paije Bragg, Lewis County

Payton Campbell, Lewis County

Lauren Wilmoth, Elkins

Shay Swiger, East Fairmont

Saylor Atha, East Fairmont

Anna Runyon, Fairmont Senior

Tanner King, Point Pleasant

Peyton Jordan, Point Pleasant

May 30, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

2018 All-Kanawha Valley baseball team

By: Rick Ryan, Prep Sports Writer | Posted: May 29, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail

All-Kanawha Valley baseball team

Player of the year: Jake Allen, Hurricane

Coach of the year: Bill Mehle, Charleston Catholic

Freshman of the year: Jacob Hufford, Charleston Catholic

 

First team

Pos–Player, School, Year                                              Stats

C — Jake Allen, Hurricane, Sr.                         .419, 32 RBIs, 22 walks

IF — Nate Dunham, Hurricane, Sr.                   .357, 35 RBIs, 45 runs

IF — Corey Lanier, South Charleston, Jr.          .434, 21 RBIs, 20 steals

IF — Brett Morris, Winfield, Sr.                        .457, 8 HRs, 30 RBIs

IF — Noah Cummings, St. Albans, So.              .460, 46 RBIs, 23 walks

OF — Mike Stone, Nitro, Sr.                            .427, 30 RBIs, 4-0 record

OF — Alex Jarrell, South Charleston, Sr.           .341, 79 Ks, 0.77 ERA

OF — Jake Carr, St. Albans, Jr.                        .419, 31 RBIs, 29 walks

Util — Jacob Hufford, Charleston Catholic, Fr.    .478, 7-1 record, 1.00 ERA

Util — Aidan Johnson, George Washington, Jr.   .427, 7 HRs, 331/3 IP

Util — Nick Loftis, St. Albans, Jr.                     .333, 40 RBIs, 1.04 ERA

P — Caden Carpenter, Sissonville, Sr.              .386, 8-4 record, 2.27 ERA

P — Tyler Cox, Hurricane, So.                         .369, 6-1 record, 1.91 ERA

 

Second team

C — Dom Martin, Charleston Catholic, Sr.          .385, 29 RBIs, .990 fld pct

IF — Michael Pinkerton, Sissonville, Sr.              .372, 27 RBIs, 26 walks

IF — Tyler Atkinson, South Charleston, So.        .385, 26 runs, 20 SBs

IF — Grant Wells, George Washington, Jr.          .365, 20 runs, 16 SBs

IF — Derek Chapman, Herbert Hoover, Sr.         .358, 26 RBIs, 362/3 IP

OF — Josh Adkins, Nitro, Sr.                             .433, 4 HRs, 33 RBIs

OF — Logan Spurlock, Capital, So.                    .357, 22 runs, .964 fld pct

OF — Chris Buchanan, Riverside, Jr.                  .325, 28 RBIs, 5-4 record

Util — Brandon Combs, Charleston Catholic, Sr.  .392, 38 RBIs, 5-3 record

Util — Ethan Payne, Poca, Fr.                            .528, 4-2 record, 1.73 ERA

Util — Nick Edwards, Winfield, So.                     .397, 6-1 record, 0.63 ERA

P — Jonathan Blackwell, Hurricane, Jr.               5-2 record, 1.47 ERA, 75 Ks

P — Chayce Matheny, St. Albans, Sr.                 7-2 record, 2.22 ERA, 71 Ks

May 29, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News

Lady Huskies Rise to No. 9 in the Nation by MaxPreps

By: Tom Mauldin | Posted: May 29, 2018 | Source: MaxPreps

Canyon (New Braunsfels, Texas) has been No. 1 for five weeks now and it is the only one of four ranked Texas teams to survive last weekend’s fifth round of the playoffs.

As a result, pitching strong Canyon remains atop this week’s MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 national high school softball rankings.

Just how pitching strong is Canyon?

Brooke Vestal and Aliyah Pritchett combined for a no-hitter Friday as the Cougars blanked Warren 2-0 in the Region IV-6A final to advance to the state Final Four. Vestal, who has signed with Oklahoma, also homered.

Vestal and Pritchett have combined for 25 wins against just a 1-0 loss and get much of the publicity, but freshman Hunter Vestal is 3-0.

The Cougars are more than just pitching strong. A dozen players are hitting over .300 and six are batting above .400. Thirteen of their wins are by run-rule margins. Pritchett leads the team with a .500 average and the Vestal sisters are each hitting .450. As a team, Canyon averages nine runs per game.

Canyon faces 26-11 Oak Ridge (Conroe) in Thursday’s semifinal game with the winner meeting either 26-4 Plano or 33-7 Atascocita (Humble) in Friday’s finale.

Six new teams join the Top 25 this week as five of the six who fell from the Xcellent 25 were ranked in the Top 10. One of those was defending MaxPreps defending National Champion Los Alamitos (Calif.). Last week’s No. 2 Katy (Texas) also saw its season end with a loss.

East Carter (Grayson, Ky.) moves to No. 2 this week as senior Montana Fouts (Alabama signee) continues to make her argument for National Player of the Year. Fouts is hitting .589 with 57 RBIs, 18 doubles and eight home runs. In the circle, she is 30-0 with 11 no-hitters and 383 strikeouts in 178 innings. She has allowed just one earned run this season with a paltry 0.04 ERA.

Lincoln Way East (Frankfort, Ill.) jumped to No. 3 this week and finds itself very deep into the national title conversation. Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.) sits at No. 4 this week. Central, which won the Mississippi 5A title two weeks ago, concluded its season unbeaten. No. 5 belongs to San Marcos (CA). Both figure in the title talk as Central didn’t lose and San Marcos beat its share of Top 25 teams in 2018.

Don’t count out No. 9 Herbert Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.), the 2018 feel good story of the year. Two years ago, they lost everything to the 1,000-year flood that ravaged portions of West Virginia killing 23 people. This year, they won all 33 games to repeat as state 2A champions.

Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.) returned to the Top 25 this week after winning the Washington state 4A title. New to the Top 25 this week are South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.), Champion (Warren, Ohio), Maple Lake (Minn.), Stevens Point (Wis.) and Chino Hills (Calif.).
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national high school softball rankings

The Cougars defeated 27-6 Warren 2-0 and advanced to the Texas 6A semifinals. It was their third straight playoff shutout and 12th of the season.

2. (3) East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), 34-0
The Raiders take on 16-16 Ashland Blazer (Ashland) in regional play on Monday.

3. (9) Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.), 25-1
East ended the regular season with 22 wins in a row. Season over.

4. (4) Neshoba Central (Philadelphia, Miss.), 34-0 
The Rockets won their sixth straight state 5A title. Season over.

5. (7) San Marcos (Calif.), 28-2
The Knights knocked Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) from the Xcellent 25 rankings with a 4-0 win in the San Diego Section Open Division. Senior Payton Tidd won her 18th straight game and pitched her seventh shutout in eight games in out dueling All-American Megan Faraimo (UCLA signee). It was the Knights’ 21st win in a row.

6. (12) Norco (Calif.), 27-3
The Cougars, winners of eight straight, take on 28-2 Los Altos (Hacienda Heights) in the California Southern Section large schools semifinals.

7. (13) Madison (Vienna, Va.), 23-0
The Redhawks, who’ve allowed 15 runs this season, take on 21-3 Battlefield (Haymarket) on Tuesday in the 6D regional semifinals. Alex Echazarreta is 18-0 and has hit nine home runs; teammate Kristin Giery has 35 RBIs and 10 homers.

8. (14) Tualatin (Ore.), 28-0
The Timberwolves are two games away from running the table on the 2018 season. They face 24-5 Oregon City on Tuesday in the state 6A semifinals. Tualatin won the first game between the two teams, 7-2.

9. (16) Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.), 33-0
The Huskies routed Chapmanville Regional 11-1 to repeat as state AA champions. Delani Buckner did what she did nearly the whole tournament — hang zeroes. In 19 innings in the state tournament, the sophomore hurler gave up just two runs, struck out 29 and walked one. Season over.

10. (19) Freedom (Oakley, Calif.), 21-1
Vanessa Strong has pitched three-straight shutouts, including a 2-0 no-hitter with a dozen strikeouts over College Park (Pleasant Hill) in her last outing.

11. (18) New Palestine (Ind.), 26-1
The Dragons have won 16 in a row and in their last five games have outscored their opponents 64-1. They play 22-6 Edgewood (Ellettsville) in the opening round of the state 3A tournament on Tuesday. Ashley Prange has 16 homers and 64 RBIs to lead the Dragons.

12. (20) Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 28-1
Since losing, Center Grove has won five straight. Senior Jordyn Rudd and junior Abby Herbst have combined for 90 RBIs.

13. (17) Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.), 25-0
The Griffins advance to Tuesday’s sectional semifinal. Karina Gaskins has 13 home runs and 50 RBIs.

14. (15) Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 32-0
Keystone defeated Oak Harbor 4-1 and Defiance 8-2 to advance to Thursday’s state D2 semifinal against 15-10 Fairfield Union (Lancaster). Senior Madi Nunez has 11 homers and 65 RBIs and a .567 batting average. Junior Autumn Acord leads with a .648 average. Junior pitcher Sydney Campbell is 27-0 with a 0.23 ERA.

15. (23) Los Altos (Hacienda Heights, Calif.), 28-2
Led by senior pitcher Savannah Diederich (Mississippi signee), the Conquerors play No. 6 Norco on Tuesday. Diederich is 25-2 and Los Altos has won 19 in a row.

16. (NR) Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 25-1
The Timberwolves defeated Monroe 6-3 to win the state 4A title. They also blanked three other teams in going 4-0 at state and closing out the season with nine wins in a row. Six of the final wins were shutouts thrown by junior Iyanla “Ice” Pennington, who finished the season with 22 wins, an 0.35 ERA and 282 strikeouts in 139 innings. Season over.

17. (24) Clovis (Calif.), 31-2
Clovis defeated crosstown rival Buchanan 6-3 in the finals of the California Central Section D1 tournament to conclude the season with 15 wins in a row. Season over.

18. (NR) South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.), 28-2
The Spartans carry a 25-game win streak into Friday’s state 4A championship series with 23-5 Jack Britt (Fayetteville).

19. (21) White Knoll (Lexington, S.C.), 32-2
The Timberwolves won the state 5A championship. Season over.

20. (25) Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs, Fla.), 30-2
The Panthers closed the season with 15 straight wins and the state 6A title. Season over.

21. (22) Bentonville (Ark.), 31-3
Bentonville captured the state 7A championship. Season over.

22. (NR) Champion (Warren, Ohio), 29-0
The Golden Flashes have won 37 in a row over two seasons and in 29 games this season have allowed 16 runs. They face 25-2 North Union (Richwood) in Friday’s state 3A semifinals.

23. (NR) Maple Lake (Minn.), 22-0
Batting .410, Maple Lake ended the regular season unbeaten and averaging 11 runs per game.

24. (NR) Stevens Point (Wis.), 19-0
The Panthers, who have a .400 team batting average, opened the state large school playoffs with a 14-0 win over Eau Claire. Up next: 19-6 Superior.

25. (NR) Chino Hills (Calif.), 30-4
Known for their hitting, the Huskies have won five of their last season by shutout. Freshman pitcher Kendall Mangel is 26-2 with a 1.27 ERA. She beat Pacifica (Garden Grove) with a three-hitter Thursday for her third-straight shutout.

Dropped out: Katy (Texas), Los Alamitos (Calif.), Fort Myers (Fla.), Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.), Keller (Texas) and Cathedral Catholic (San Diego).

May 29, 2018 in Community News, Herbert Hoover High School Athletics, Local News, NEWS, Sports News