Papillion-LaVista takes top spot in NFCA Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nebraska state champion Papillion-LaVista took over the top spot in this week’s NFCA Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll after two-time defending state champion East Coweta lost twice in the Georgia Class 7A elite eight at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Ga.

The (36-0) Monarchs ascended to the throne for the first time, ending East Coweta’s run of nine straight weeks at the No. 1 spot. Papillion-LaVista captured its second Nebraska Class A championship in the last three years two weeks ago. It was the Monarchs’ fifth consecutive appearance in the state final.

East Coweta (33-2), meanwhile, suffered as many losses last week — two — as it has had in the last two previous seasons combined. After edging Parkview, 4-3 in 10 innings, last Thursday, the Indians were shocked by eventual Class 7A titlist Mountain View, 1-0 in eight, later that night. An 8-2 loss to Peachtree Ridge on Friday closed their season and ended a three-year run during which they went a remarkable 101-4.

Wesleyan (31-2) slipped one spot to fourth after falling to Georgia Class A private champion Mount de Sales twice last week. The Wolves lost 4-2 in their elite eight opener and then 2-0 in the title contest, after winning three games to earn the rematch.

Elsewhere, Columbine (25-2) moved up to No. 5 after capturing the Colorado state 5A crown, beating two-time defending titlist Legend in the quarterfinals on Friday; No. 6 Westfield (24-2) claimed the Georgia Independent School Association tournament; and Banks County (31-3) is now 19th after winning the Georgia state Class AA championship.

Erie (16-7) returned to the rankings this week at No. 21 after outslugging Golden, 13-9, in Saturday’s Colorado state Class 4A final.

State rankings submitted by NFCA member coaches are used to compile the NFCA Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule. Five states — Colorado, Georgia, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri — play a fall fastpitch schedule, while Iowa recently completed its summer season.

NFCA Fall High School Top 25 Coaches Poll – Oct. 31, 2019

Rank

Team

2019 Record

Previous

1

Papillion-LaVista (Neb.)

36-0

2

2

East Coweta (Ga.)

33-2

1

3

Collins-Maxwell (Iowa)

27-1

4

4

Wesleyan (Ga.)

31-2

3

5

Columbine (Colo.)

25-2

12

6

Westfield (Ga.)

24-2

5

7

Assumption (Iowa)

41-2

8

8

Broken Arrow (Okla.)

37-2

9

9

Rock Canyon (Colo.)

22-2

6

10

Holy Family (Colo.)

25-2

7

11

Sequoyah (Tahlequah, Okla.)

42-3

10

12

Elkhorn (Neb.)

30-5

11

13

Silo (Okla.)

38-3

14

14

Golden (Colo.)

24-3

15

15

Loveland (Colo.)

22-3

13

16

Grand Junction Central (Colo.)

22-4

16

17

Binger-Oney (Okla.)

30-3

17

18

North Gwinnett (Ga.)

27-3

18

19

Banks County (Ga.)

31-3

22

20

Kiowa (Okla.)

40-4

19

21

Erie (Colo.)

16-7

NR

22

Chatfield (Colo.)

19-4

21

23

Prairie View (Colo.)

19-6

20

24

Beatrice (Neb.)

32-6

23

25

Raymore-Peculiar (Mo.)

25-5

25

Dropped out: Skutt Catholic (Neb.)