The three state champions in The Prep Zone coverage area occupy the first three spots in the final all-classification regional rankings.

It clearly was the Year of the Tigers as Columbia (Lake City) and Trenton won the FHSAA Class 4A and Rural state titles, respectively. They were unanimously the top two teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.

Columbia defeated Lake Wales, 3-2, in the 4A state championship game and had a walk-off 6-5 win against Seminole in the state semifinals.

The Tigers (29-3), who won their first state title in 13 years, finished with a 16-game winning streak and received five of the nine first-place votes.

They also edged Trenton, 176-175, in total voting points for the final No. 1 ranking.

Trenton (25-3) won its third straight state title with a 13-1 win in five innings against Liberty County (Bristol) in the Rural championship game.

The Tigers (25-3) defeated Madison County, 1-0, in the state semifinals behind University of Florida commit Addison Allaire’s 16 strikeouts. They received the other four first-place votes to finish No. 2.

In their two meetings head-to-head, Trenton defeated Columbia at home, 4-1, in the season opener on Feb. 17, but Columbia evened the series with a 3-2 win at home on March 12.

Class 1A state champion University Christian (Jacksonville) is No. 3.

The Christians (21-4) defeated Geneva (Casselberry), 4-1, in the 1A title game and Schoolhouse Prep (Miami), 12-2, in the semifinals. It was their second state title in the last four years.

Class 3A state runner-up Eustis is No. 4.

The Panthers (22-7) defeated Wakulla (Crawfordville), 14-7, in the state semifinals but lost to Coral Springs Charter (Coral Springs), 6-3, in the 3A state championship game. They upset previous No. 4 Santa Fe (Alachua), 4-1, in the region final.

Rounding out the top five is No. 5 East Ridge (Clermont).

The Knights (27-3) advanced to the Class 7A final four in Longwood but lost to Western (Davie), 4-0, in the 7A state semifinals.

Baker County (Glen St. Mary), which lost at Columbia, 6-2, in the 4A-Region 1 Final, and Montverde Academy, which lost to eventual state runner-up Cornerstone Charter Academy (Belle Isle), 3-2, in the 2A-Region 2 Semifinals, are tied for sixth.

Santa Fe (24-4) dropped from fourth to eighth following the loss to the previous No. 10 Panthers, while Madison County (19-4) and 2A region finalist Baldwin (21-7) finished ninth and 10^th, respectively.

In addition to Trenton, Columbia, and Santa Fe, who all split games against each other this season, other teams who are ranked in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area include No. 13 Gainesville High, No. 14 Branford, and Williston, which is receiving votes.

For the second consecutive year, GHS got within a game of the final four. And for the second straight year, the Hurricanes (16-7) lost at eventual state champion Winter Springs, falling 5-0 in the 5A-Region 2 Final.

Wins against Wesley Chapel, 9-1, in the regional semifinals and previously receiving votes (RV) Deltona, 6-0, in the regional quarterfinals helped the ‘Canes move up five spots from No. 18.

Branford just missed a fourth straight final four appearance with a 3-2 loss in nine innings at Madison County in the Rural-Region 3 Final. The Buccaneers (19-9) moved up one spot in the final rankings.

Williston (13-11), which lost at Trenton, 2-1, in the Rural-Region 4 Final, is receiving votes.

Previous No. 18 Belleview was the only team to fall out. The Rattlers (21-5) lost their final two games of the season, 4-2 at home to Deltona in the district semifinals, and 5-0 at Sebring in the 5A-Region 2 quarterfinals.

Trinity Catholic (Ocala) moved into the rankings after getting within a game of the Class 2A final four.

The Celtics (16-12) upset No. 1 The First Academy (Orlando), 6-3, in the 2A-Region 2 semifinals before losing at eventual state runner-up Cornerstone Charter Academy (Belle Isle), 7-4, in the region final.

The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, basketball, baseball & softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters, and it is powered by Be Well Fitness.

THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2026 SOFTBALL POLL #5 (FINAL)

(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final record, and total voting points)

Teams in bold are inside the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area

1. Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (5) (29-3) – 176

2. Trenton (Rural) (4) (25-3) – 175

3. University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (21-4) – 156

4. Eustis (3A) (22-7) – 145

5. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (27-3) – 140

6T. Montverde Academy (2A) (19-6) – 124

6T. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (24-3) – 124

8. Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (24-4) – 120

9. Madison County (Rural) (19-4) – 111

10. Baldwin (2A) (21-7) – 96

11T. Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) (6A) (24-3) – 77

11T. Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville) (7A) (19-8) – 77

13. Gainesville (5A) (16-7) – 72

14. Branford (Rural) (19-9) – 69

15. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (19-8) – 52

16. Paxon (Jacksonville) (3A) (17-8) – 50

17. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (20-7) – 34

18T. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (2A) (19-6) – 20

18T. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (2A) (16-12) – 20

20. Springstead (Spring Hill) (5A) (19-3) – 18

Also receiving votes: Crystal River (3A) (19-9) – 14; Bolles (Jacksonville) (2A) (17-9) – 7; Williston (Rural) (13-11) – 6; Belleview (5A) (21-5) – 4; Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (3A) (21-6) – 2; Ponte Vedra (5A) (17-9) – 1.