It’s time for the latest edition of the Greater Cincinnati high school softball power rankings.
Just three schools remain in the same spot as last week as teams are putting together lengthy winning streaks and conference races are starting to take shape.
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All stats and records are updated through April 14. Upcoming schedules are subject to change due to weather.
Next in line: Cooper, Ross, Campbell County, Oak Hills, Lakota West, Bishop Brossart, Williamsburg
Analysis: The Brave couldn’t complete the season sweep of Ross, falling at home in extra innings, but they bounced back with a 6-3 win over Lakota East by scoring all their runs in the first three innings. Kaylee Griffin has joined the pitching rotation with a 2.38 earned run average and 12 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Monroe (April 15), at Monroe (April 17), at Preble Shawnee (April 20), at Seton (April 21)
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Analysis: You can’t blame the Cougars for an 8-0 defeat to a one-loss DuPont Manual team, but following it up with a 8-7 district win over Cooper shows their poise and potential this season. Averie Lightner and Abigail Fuller powered the offense with homers and Jocelyn Ortiz hit two doubles in addition to earning the win.
Upcoming schedule: at Boone County (April 15), vs. Walton-Verona (April 16), at Scott County (April 18), vs. Ryle (April 20), vs. Beechwood (April 21)
Analysis: The Eagles have given up eight runs during a six-game winning streak, and five of those came in one game. Shortstop Lanie McCoy is coming back at just the right time after missing the first 10 games of the season. Even in her absence, six players recorded more than six RBIs.
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Upcoming schedule: vs. West Clermont (April 15), at Kings (April 16), at Loveland (April 17), vs. Lebanon (April 20)
Analysis: Hamilton gave up two late runs in a loss to Lakota West before blasting four home runs to win a game against Sycamore that was resumed from an earlier date. Peyton Eversole is second in the league with four homers and tied for fourth with 13 RBIs. Emili Schappacher leads the league with a .654 batting average, is tied for second with six pitching wins, and is third with a 2.09 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
Upcoming schedule: at Fairfield (April 15), vs. Harrison (April 16), at Lakota East (April 20)
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Analysis: Highlands finally earned a win over a top-25 ranked team, beating Greenup County, 7-3. The Bluebirds parlayed that into a three-game wining streak, but now face a stretch of five games in six days. Four of those games are easily winnable; the other is a home contest against No. 6 Ballard.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Pendleton County (April 16), vs. Ballard (April 17), at New Richmond (April 18), vs. Newport Central Catholic (April 20), at Dayton (April 21)
Analysis: The Thunderhawks are on a roll, winning 10 of their last 11, punctuated by a 4-2 win over Mason. Junior Yorie Schulte proved her worth in that game with three RBIs. The April 20 home tilt against Hamilton could play an early role in determining the Greater Miami Conference race.
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Upcoming schedule: vs. Sycamore (April 15), at Fairfield (April 17), vs. Hamilton (April 20), vs. Princeton (April 21)
Analysis: The Rams took their first loss of the season to one of the top teams in the state in Greenville. They could put together another long winning streak before ending the season against a handful of large schools.
Upcoming schedule: at Chaminade Julienne (April 15), at Roger Bacon (April 17), vs. Carlisle (April 18), vs. Cincinnati Christian (April 18)
Analysis: Lebanon had won four straight games by run rule before a setback against Kings where they put runners in scoring position but couldn’t dent the plate in clutch situations. The next challenge will come on April 20 at Milford.
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Upcoming schedule: at Turpin (April 15), at Little Miami (April 16), vs. Winton Woods (April 17), at Milford (April 20)
Analysis: After scoring 10 or more runs in six of the first eight wins, the Broncos are averaging 5.2 runs over their last four wins. But the defense has held opponents to two runs per game. It’s been relatively clean defense, too, as they’ve committed just two errors in that stretch after 10 mishaps over their first 10 games.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Wilmington (April 15), at Shawnee (April 16), vs. Fayetteville (April 20)
Analysis: The Knights put the “power” in power rankings. Their 15 team home runs are the second-most in the city, only behind Goshen. They hit two home runs in the seventh inning of a recent win over Lebanon, proving they can rely on the long ball in a pinch.
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Upcoming schedule: double-header at Walnut Hills (April 15), vs. Milford (April 16), vs. Turpin (April 17), at Olentangy (April 18), double-header vs. Winton Woods (April 20), at Anderson (April 21)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Enquirer high school softball power rankings, April 15
