Morning Journal Releases Softball Top of the Crop for April 1

Amherst and Elyria Catholic lead the rankings as the high school softball season gets underway in Northeast Ohio.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 6:56pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a high school softball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors, conveying the dynamic energy and multiple perspectives of the sport.The Morning Journal's softball rankings showcase the diverse talent and competitive spirit of high school programs across Northeast Ohio.Lorain Today

The Morning Journal has released its latest softball Top of the Crop rankings for the Northeast Ohio region. Amherst and Elyria Catholic hold the top two spots, with Rocky River, Avon, and North Ridgeville rounding out the top five. The rankings take into account each team's early-season performance, including out-of-state matchups and conference play.

Why it matters

The Morning Journal's softball Top of the Crop is a closely watched ranking that helps set expectations for the high school softball season in Lorain County and the surrounding area. These early-season rankings provide insight into which teams are off to strong starts and which programs may be poised for deep playoff runs.

The details

Amherst (3-0) has surpassed Elyria Catholic (3-0) for the top spot after winning three straight games out of state. Elyria Catholic, the defending North Coast Conference champion, has had some close calls in conference play, trailing both Streetsboro and Lake Catholic. Rocky River (3-1) has bounced back from an extra-inning loss to Cuyahoga Heights and a 7-0 deficit against Mayfield to beat Avon Lake and Olmsted Falls. Avon (1-0) has only played one game so far, a 4-0 win over Willoughby South. North Ridgeville (0-1) suffered its lone loss to Austintown-Fitch, who is 5-0 on the season.

  • The Morning Journal released its softball Top of the Crop rankings on April 1, 2026.
  • The rankings reflect each team's record as of March 31, 2026.

The players

Amherst

A high school softball team in Amherst, Ohio that currently holds the top spot in the Morning Journal's Top of the Crop rankings with a 3-0 record.

Elyria Catholic

The defending North Coast Conference champion high school softball team, currently ranked second in the Morning Journal's Top of the Crop with a 3-0 record.

Rocky River

A high school softball team in Rocky River, Ohio that is ranked third in the Morning Journal's Top of the Crop with a 3-1 record.

Avon

A high school softball team in Avon, Ohio that is ranked fourth in the Morning Journal's Top of the Crop with a 1-0 record.

North Ridgeville

A high school softball team in North Ridgeville, Ohio that is ranked fifth in the Morning Journal's Top of the Crop with a 0-1 record.

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What they’re saying

“With three games played out of state, Amherst surpasses Elyria Catholic at the top spot with three straight wins.”

— Mark Perez-Krywany, Morning Journal Reporter

“The Panthers are also undefeated, with close calls with Midview and NDCL. In delayed games, the defending North Coast Conference champion trails Streetsboro and Lake Catholic. The Cougars are in position to hand the Panthers their first NCC loss.”

— Mark Perez-Krywany, Morning Journal Reporter

The takeaway

The early-season rankings provide a snapshot of the top high school softball programs in the Lorain County and Northeast Ohio region. While Amherst and Elyria Catholic have established themselves as the teams to beat, several other squads like Rocky River, Avon, and North Ridgeville are also off to strong starts and will be looking to make their mark as the season progresses.