The News-Gazette's softball Top 10: Panthers nearing perfect regular season

May 15—Playoff softball starts next week, which means it's time to take one final look at preps coordinator Zach Piatt's area power rankings before revisiting things when the postseason dust settles:

➜ Record: 33-0

➜ Previous ranking: No. 1

➜ Quick hit: The only things standing between the Panthers and an undefeated regular season are a road test against Westville and a solid showing at the Heart of Illinois Conference Showcase. No easy task, but LeRoy is one of the state favorites in Class 1A for a reason.

➜ Record: 27-4-1

➜ Previous ranking: No. 2

➜ Quick hit: A 9-3 win against Peoria Notre Dame clinched the Maroons' first-ever Big 12 Conference title. Surrounding that historic victory were one-run wins against Effingham, Oakwood/Schlarman and Westville. This team is proving it knows how to win the close games.

➜ Record: 25-7

➜ Previous ranking: No. 3

➜ Quick hit: Danika Eisenmenger pitched a five-inning no-hitter to beat Chillicothe IVC 10-0 and clinch an Illini Prairie Conference title for the Rockets. They're currently on an 18-game winning streak and are looking like they could make some noise in the Class 2A bracket.

➜ Record: 19-5

➜ Previous ranking: No. 4

➜ Quick hit: The Tigers were one big swing away from defeating Champaign Central but ultimately lost 1-0. Westville is still very much capable of making a run, even as the Tigers try to get back on track after Thursday's loss at Oakwood/Schlarman.

➜ Record: 20-12-1

➜ Previous ranking: No. 5

➜ Quick hit: Timera Blackburn-Kelley has become one of the area's best two-way players. At this point in the season, you can expect multiple hits out of her every game, and if she's pitching, good luck to the other side. She's played a key role in the Spartans' success.

➜ Record: 21-9

➜ Previous ranking: No. 6

➜ Quick hit: The Sages have found themselves in a bit of a rut by their standards, going 3-3 during their last six games after winning eight of nine. Sadie Walsh has been a consistent driving force, and she hit a pair of home runs in their 8-0 win against Mahomet-Seymour.

➜ Record: 14-5

➜ Previous ranking: No. 7

➜ Quick hit: Not many teams have been brave enough to pitch to Addison Lucht this season. And for good reason. In an 11-4 win against Armstrong-Potomac, the Trojans walked the Northwestern commit four times. The only time she saw a strike, she hit it for a grand slam.

➜ Record: 15-13

➜ Previous ranking: No. 8

➜ Quick hit: The Eagles have proven they belong in the same conversation as some of the best teams in the area, having beaten St. Joseph-Ogden, Monticello and now Villa Grove. But they've also been shut out by the top four teams on this list. Work to do, but the future looks bright for Rantoul.

➜ Record: 18-11

➜ Previous ranking: No. 9

➜ Quick hit: The Comets could be on the verge of something special. That was evident in Thursday's impressive 4-3 extra-inning victory against Westville that ended in walk-off fashion after nine innings. Sophia Hart and Co. are looking solid as we get ready to head into postseason play.

➜ Record: 19-12

➜ Previous ranking: No. 10

➜ Quick hit: As the regular season winds down, the Blue Devils are starting to get into more and more of a groove, similar to the one they were in two years ago when they made it all the way to the Class 1A state finals. It'll be an uphill battle, but they've won 10 of their last 11 games.