Take a look at this week’s Mahoning Matters Super 7 high school softball ranking
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Several outstanding showdowns among top state powers resulted in some shifting in this week’s mahoningmatters.com Super 7 softball poll, although Austintown Fitch held on to the top spot in the rankings. Here’s a look at the poll:
Austintown Fitch
Austintown Fitch, the two-time defending D1 state champion, maintained its No. 1 spot in the poll after posting a 20-15 win over No. 3-ranked and returning D2 state champion Canfield, 20-15.
The Falcons, who play a loaded schedule against some of the best teams from several states, are 9-1 on the season and have outscored their opponents, 139-55. They are averaging 13.9 runs-per-game.
Boardman
Boardman, which is enjoying a terrific season, is the new No. 2 in the rankings, jumping up from its No. 4 rating of a week ago.
The Spartans, who earlier this season earned a split with powerful Austintown Fitch, losing 10-9 in one contest but winning 4-3 in the remaining game, had a big week last week, defeating the Copley Indians, GlenOak Golden Eagles and Howland Tigers. It then capped off its week by posting a huge 2-1 triumph over D5 state power Warren Champion.
Boardman is 13-2 on the campaign.
Canfield
Defending D2 state champ Canfield dropped from No. 2 to No. 3 in the poll after splitting games last week.
The Cardinals fell 20-15 to powerful Fitch but capped off the week with a 9-7 triumph over the Chardon Hilltoppers.
Canfield, which has dropped from Division II to Division III this season, is 8-1-1 on the year.
Warren Champion
Warren Champion dropped one spot in the ratings after losing a close 2-1 decision to Boardman. However, the Golden Flashes also recorded three wins last week, including a sweep of Garrettsville Garfield by scores of 13-1 and 3-0 and a 13-1 rout of the Southeast Pirates.
The Golden Flashes, who have dropped from Division III to Division V this season, are 9-1 on the campaign.
Maplewood
Maplewood, which was 2-1 last week, remained No. 5 in the rankings.
The Rockets defeated the Ashtabula St. John Heralds 11-1 and the Windham Bombers 17-0 but dropped a 9-8 decision to the Rootstown Rovers.
Maplewood, which has outscored its opponents 117-21 this spring, is 10-1 on the season.
Mathews
Mathews, which enjoyed a perfect week, remains No. 6 in the rankings.
The Mustangs outscored Windham, Bloomfield and Johnstown-Monroe by a combined 40-1.
The D7 Mustangs, who are 10-2 on the season and qualified for the state tournament last spring, have only lost to a pair of teams that are larger in classification in D4 Hubbard and D1 Marysville.
West Branch
West Branch, which went 3-1 last week, rounds out the poll at No. 7.
The Warriors lost to Poland but defeated Columbiana (13-3), Eastern Buckeye Conference rival Marlington (5-0) and Carrollton (8-2) last week.