Ross Rams appear in final Cincinnati softball power rankings of 2026

Conner's Jocelyn Ortiz (11) throws a pitch during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Highlands' Peyton Brown stands in to bat during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

Conner second baseman Alexa Hamilton gathers a ground ball and fires to first base during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Highlands' Kaitlyn Dixon (22) is greeted by first base coach Terry Cain during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

Highlands' Kaitlyn Dixon checks her wristband before pitching to a Conner batter on April 27, 2026.

Conner's Kayla Ortiz (13) dances off of second base during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Conner's Averie Lightner (19) slides into second base under the tag of Highlands' Morgan Pompilio (15) during a game between the Cougars and Bluebirds on April 27, 2026.

Conner's Breanna Meredith (7) takes a swing during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Conner first baseman Bayli Bell keeps her eye on the throw from pitcher Jocelyn Ortiz (11) during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Conner left fielder Abigail Fuller gets the ball back to the infield during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Highlands' Bailee Class (5) talks to head coach Milt Horner during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

Conner's Kayla Ortiz (13) signals that there are two outs during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Highlands' Morgan Pompilio (15) watches the action from second base during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

The Highlands Bluebirds celebrate a strikeout during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

Highlands' Kate Class (8) prepares to catch a fly ball during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

Conner catcher Ryanne Carter snags a pitch during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Conner third baseman Breanna Meredith takes her defensive stance during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Conner's Riley Rosenborough focuses on the pitch during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Conner right fielder Emma Stanton tracks a fly ball during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Highlands shortstop Layla Zepf prepares to field a ground ball during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

Highlands' Cam Markus (17) hustles down the first base line during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

Conner head coach Shawn Sproles looks on during the Cougars' game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner's Jocelyn Ortiz (11) throws a pitch during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner's Jocelyn Ortiz (11) throws a pitch during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands' Peyton Brown stands in to bat during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner second baseman Alexa Hamilton gathers a ground ball and fires to first base during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands' Kaitlyn Dixon (22) is greeted by first base coach Terry Cain during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands' Kaitlyn Dixon checks her wristband before pitching to a Conner batter on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner's Kayla Ortiz (13) dances off of second base during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner's Averie Lightner (19) slides into second base under the tag of Highlands' Morgan Pompilio (15) during a game between the Cougars and Bluebirds on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner's Breanna Meredith (7) takes a swing during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner first baseman Bayli Bell keeps her eye on the throw from pitcher Jocelyn Ortiz (11) during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner left fielder Abigail Fuller gets the ball back to the infield during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands' Bailee Class (5) talks to head coach Milt Horner during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner's Kayla Ortiz (13) signals that there are two outs during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands' Morgan Pompilio (15) watches the action from second base during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

The Highlands Bluebirds celebrate a strikeout during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands' Kate Class (8) prepares to catch a fly ball during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner catcher Ryanne Carter snags a pitch during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner third baseman Breanna Meredith takes her defensive stance during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner's Riley Rosenborough focuses on the pitch during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner right fielder Emma Stanton tracks a fly ball during a game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands shortstop Layla Zepf prepares to field a ground ball during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Highlands' Cam Markus (17) hustles down the first base line during a game at Conner on April 27, 2026.

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Highlands softball defeats Conner in rain-shortened affair | Photos

Conner head coach Shawn Sproles looks on during the Cougars' game against Highlands on April 27, 2026.

Welcome to the final Greater Cincinnati high school softball power rankings of the 2026 season.

This week's edition takes a small look back at the season as a whole for each team in the top 10, while offering a sample size of what each team has to look forward to in the postseason.

All stats and records are updated through May 12.

10. Lebanon Warriors (18-9)

Last week's ranking: 10

What to know: It wasn't an ideal end to the regular season as the Warriors lost three of their final five games, but they should make their third regional tournament in the last four years.

A May 20 matchup against Springboro could be one of the best district finals in the state. Both teams have a 2025 All-Ohio honoree (Sophia Sheidler for Lebanon, Bella Miller for Springboro). The Warriors beat the Panthers in their last matchup, which came in the 2022 postseason.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Middletown in first round of postseason (May 18)

9. Talawanda Brave (21-5)

Previous ranking: 9

What to know: Talawanda earned its second win over Tri-Village in the span of two weeks, thanks to five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after giving up four runs in the top of the frame.

That kind of resilience shows how dangerous the Brave can be in the postseason. Their first win-or-go-home test comes against a pesky Wilmington team.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Wilmington in first round of postseason (May 14)

8. Ross Rams (17-7)

Previous ranking: NR

What to know: An 11-game winning streak, including nine straight wins over league opponents, gave the Rams their third straight Southwestern Buckeye League title. The last two wins were the toughest, both one-run victories over Franklin.

Ross center fielder Liv Powers scored the game-winning run as the Rams beat Franklin to clinch a third straight league title.

Kam Commins delivered the go-ahead single in a 6-5 win and Liv Powers hit an eighth-inning triple and scored the league-clinching run two days later.

Ross has possibly the toughest postseason draw in Southwest Ohio, traveling to Badin in the district quarterfinals.

Upcoming schedule: at Badin in first round of postseason (May 14)

7. Oak Hills Highlanders (19-5)

Previous ranking: 8

What to know: Oak Hills has already beat Fairfield twice this year, including a recent 9-3 win, but the two will face off in the first round of the postseason at Rapid Run Middle School.

A result that may pay dividends in the postseason is a 2-1 win over Sycamore on May 8 where the Highlanders scratched across their runs in the third inning, and pitcher Annaliese Szabo escaped jams in multiple innings.

With one regular season game left, eight players are hitting above .300 while six players have recorded at least four doubles.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Seton (May 13), vs. Fairfield in first round of postseason (May 18)

6. Western Brown Broncos (24-3)

Previous ranking: 4

What to know: Western Brown entered the postseason on a 10-game winning streak and handily dispatched Northwest in the first round. The road only gets tougher as the Broncos would face either Badin or Ross in the district semifinal should they get past Turpin.

Starting pitcher Charlee Helton hadn't played since May 2 but is back for the postseason. Senior Jayci Barnes did an admirable job in the circle in Helton's absence, throwing 24 innings. Her biggest effort came in the seventh inning against Mason with the Broncos holding a one-run lead.

Western Brown's offense is peaking at the right time as it hit 20 home runs in the final four games of the season, including a school-record seven in a win over Batavia.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Turpin in second round of postseason (May 14)

5. Badin Rams (24-2)

Previous ranking: 5

What to know: In each of the Rams' last three wins by fewer than 10 runs, they've had a big inning to pull away. The latest was a three-run seventh inning to beat Hamilton and end the regular season on a six-game winning streak.

It's been a historic season for the Rams. The only question left to answer is how far they can go in the postseason.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Ross in first round of postseason (May 14)

4. Lakota East Thunderhawks (23-5)

Previous ranking: 3

What to know: A 15-6 win over Hamilton clinched Lakota East's first Greater Miami Conference title since 2019. Haley Thompson hit her team-leading eighth home run of the year and was one of five players to drive in multiple runs.

Lakota East's Haley Thompson has eight home runs this season, and 17 for her career.

The Division I, Region 4 bracket will be crowded with big names, but if the Thunderhawks can continue to make the right plays at the best times, they can return to the state tournament for the first time since 2019.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Colerain in first round of postseason (May 17)

3. Highlands Bluebirds (26-6)

Previous ranking: 6

What to know: The Bluebirds picked up two more signature wins over the weekend, taking down Letcher County Central and West Jessamine. In each game, one hit gave them all the offense they needed. Payton Brown hit a two-run homer to beat Letcher, while Cam Markus's two-run single was the difference against West Jessamine.

Those results saw Highlands surge to No. 16 in the latest statewide coaches poll. Milt Horner's squad has allowed just six runs over its last 40 innings. It will face one last test this weekend with a trip to Harrison County, which is ranked 10th.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Great Crossing (May 13), at Ryle (May 1 4), vs. Franklin County at Harrison County (May 16), at Harrison County (May 16)

2. Milford Eagles (21-3)

Previous ranking: 2

What to know: The Eagles have plenty of time to rest up for the postseason as their game against Springfield comes 10 days after they wrapped up the regular season.

Maddie Varner was Milford's top hitter this season, hitting for a .494 average to go with 10 doubles, four homers, 30 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. She was one of five players with at least 20 runs driven in.

Look for the Eagles to make their first regional tournament appearance since 2023, when this year's graduating seniors were freshmen.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Springfield in first round of postseason (May 18)

*1. Kings Knights (24-1)*

Previous ranking: 1

What to know: Having passed a final regular-season test against Ross, the Knights turn their attention to the postseason.

They couldn't have asked for a better district draw as they will face Winton Woods, then the winner of Stebbins and Withrow.

Neely McElhaney has a 0.92 earned run average for Kings.

Grace Parkhurst's program record of 13 home runs in a season may be safe for now (senior catcher Julia Lowry currently has nine), but Kings is staring down its single-season program record of 37 homers, set just last year. The Knights currently have 35.

Upcoming schedule: vs. Winton Woods in first round of postseason (May 19)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Greater Cincinnati high school softball power rankings, May 13, 2026