The first ASWA high school softball rankings feature three defending state champions at No. 1.

Class 6A Wetumpka won its second championship last season while Class 4A Orange Beach captured the Class 4A title after two straight championships in Class 2A and Plainview won its second Class 3A title since 2021.

The remainder of the top-ranked teams are Class 7A Thompson, Class 5A Springville, Class 2A Wicksburg, Class 1A Skyline and AISA Edgewood. All except Skyline and Wicksburg have won previous championships.

Last year’s other defending champions are Class 7A Hewitt-Trussville, Class 5A Brewbaker Tech, Class 2A Hatton and Class 1A Brantley in AHSAA. AISA winners were Macon East in AAA, Hooper in AA and Lowndes Academy in A.

ASWA SOFTBALL RANKINGS

CLASS 7A

1. Thompson (21-2)

2. Hoover (15-3-1)

3. Hewitt-Trussville (11-3)

4. Central-Phenix City (17-3-1)

5. Tuscaloosa County (16-3)

6. Vestavia Hills (8-5-2)

7. Daphne (12-1)

8. Spain Park (11-8)

9. Austin (17-7-1)

10. Enterprise (9-6)

Others nominated: Auburn (10-2), Baker (9-7), Bob Jones (7-7), Chelsea (8-10-3), Dothan (8-6), Fairhope (11-8), Mary Montgomery (10-7), Prattville (6-6-2), Sparkman (6-10-1).

CLASS 6A

1. Wetumpka (22-2)

2. Helena (23-4)

3. Saraland (21-3)

4. Hazel Green (15-6-1)

5. Hartselle (12-6-1)

6. Athens (8-5)

7. Muscle Shoals (17-4)

8. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (15-5)

9. Spanish Fort (10-9-1)

10. Gardendale (9-4-1)

Others nominated: Brookwood (12-10-1), Calera (15-14), Cullman (12-9), Mortimer Jordan (10-6), Oxford (7-7), Pelham (12-8), Pell City (12-11).

CLASS 5A

1. Springville (11-3)

2. Alexandria (13-5-1)

3. Jasper (14-4)

4. Gulf Shores (13-3)

5. Brewbaker Tech (9-6)

6. Russellville (13-6-1)

7. Southside-Gadsden (14-4-1)

8. Moody (10-10)

9. Ardmore (8-7)

10. Rehobeth (8-4)

Others nominated: Boaz (15-2-1), Brewer (9-7), Lawrence County (9-11), Leeds (11-2), Scottsboro (8-8), West Point (9-5).

CLASS 4A

1. Orange Beach (13-0)

2. Curry (17-3-1)

3. Houston Academy (12-1)

4. Satsuma (21-2-1)

5. West Limestone (18-5-2)

6. Brooks (11-4-1)

7. Hamilton (16-4)

8. Madison County (16-3)

9. North Jackson (16-2)

10. Northside (10-12-1)

Others nominated: American Christian (9-2), Ashville (9-6), Cherokee County (12-2), Etowah (13-8), Handley (11-3), Munford (12-1-1), Mobile Christian (10-7), New Hope (7-8), Prattville Christian (6-3), Priceville (16-7), Slocomb (12-1), T.R. Miller (12-3), White Plains (12-6).

CLASS 3A

1. Plainview (8-2)

2. St. James (14-0)

3. Madison Academy (11-2)

4. Opp (13-1)

5. Piedmont (7-2)

6. Winfield (8-1)

7. Lauderdale County (9-4)

8. Mars Hill Bible (6-6)

9. Glencoe (8-12)

10. Ohatchee (14-3)

Others nominated: Beulah (3-4), Danville (7-4), Hokes Bluff (8-5-1), Randolph County (7-5-2), Straughn (6-2).

CLASS 2A

1. Wicksburg (16-5)

2. West End (10-0)

3. Zion Chapel (17-2)

4. Hatton (5-14)

5. Lamar County (9-7)

6. Winston County (13-4)

7. Pleasant Valley (6-5)

8. Sumiton Christian (7-5)

9. Sand Rock (5-9)

10. North Sand Mountain (6-6)

Others nominated: Ider (5-5), Pisgah (7-5), Sulligent (10-6-1), Vincent (9-7).

CLASS 1A

1. Skyline (11-2)

2. Brantley (9-5)

3. Leroy (9-8)

4. Waterloo (12-2-1)

5. Kinston (12-6)

6. Spring Garden (8-3)

7. Hackleburg (10-4-1)

8. Sweet Water (9-10)

9. Verbena (9-6)

10. Billingsley (10-11)

Others nominated: Cherokee (10-7), Decatur Heritage (8-6-1), Meek (11-6), Ragland (3-4), Red Level (8-4).

AISA

1. Edgewood (21-6)

2. Lee-Scott (14-7)

3. Bessemer Academy (20-5)

4. Macon East (16-6-1)

5. Clarke Prep (16-3-1)

6. Hooper Academy (14-5)

7. Glenwood (13-14)

8. Abbeville Christian (7-6)

9. Lowndes Academy (9-8)

10. Chambers Academy (11-13)

Others nominated: Patrician Academy (9-4-2), South Choctaw (10-3).