Following its second state title in four years, the Eustis softball team begins the 2025 season at the top of The Prep Zone Power Poll.
Eustis, which won the FHSAA Class 4A state title last year but dropped down to 3A this year, was one of three state champions in North Central Florida, along with two state runners-up and two other state semifinalists.
The Panthers, who were 26-2 last season, received seven of the eight first-place votes in the all-classification regional poll, which ranks the top 20 teams across 26 counties in Florida.
They opened the season with a 15-0 win at Taylor (Pierson) and a 15-3 win at Master’s Academy (Oviedo) to start the year at 2-0.
The win at Taylor marked the first career victory for new head coach Tyra Bowers, who took over the program following the departure of Brittany Beall.
Defending 3A state champion Montverde Academy, which dropped down to 2A, is ranked second. The Eagles, who were 28-4 last year, won at South Lake (Groveland), 21-0.
They received the other first-place vote.
Trenton (23-2), which won the Class 1A state title with a 6-5 win in eight innings against Branford and had a 3-2 walk-off win against Holmes County (Bonifay) in the state semifinals, is ranked third.
It was the third state title since 2019 for the Tigers (23-2), who defeated current No. 7 Middleburg, 5-1, to open the season.
Trenton has a new coach (assistant Kevin Benson), but they return seven starters, including 1A Player of the Year Addison Allaire (13-2, 1.21 ERA, record 251 Ks, .370 average) & Emma Brideson (11-0, 1.69 ERA, .369 average).
Class 4A state runners-up, Baker County (Glen St. Mary), who lost 1-0 to Eustis in last year’s state title game, is ranked fourth.
The Wildcats, who finished 21-6 in 2024, are top contenders in their classification with Rylee Walker (10-1, 1.81 ERA) and Chloe Woods (11-4, 1.20 ERA) back in the circle.
Baker County has wins at No. 14 Columbia (Lake City), 9-7, and at Keystone Heights, 5-4.
Rounding out the top five is Episcopal (Jacksonville).
The Class 2A Eagles (25-4) were 3A regional finalists last year, losing to current No. 6 Baldwin, 4-2, in last year’s 3A-Region 1 Final.
They are 2-0 to start the season with wins last week against Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville), 7-5, and at Providence (Jacksonville), 16-12.
Following No. 6 Baldwin in the top 10 are 5A regional semifinalist Middleburg (22-5), University Christian (Jacksonville), Creekside (St. Johns), and 10th-ranked Branford.
Middleburg (2-1) defeated Trinity Catholic (Ocala), 3-1, and No. 6 Baldwin, 10-7, and lost at No. 3 Trenton, 5-1, on Saturday.
Other teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area who are ranked besides No. 3 Trenton and No. 10 Branford include No. 12 Fort White, No. 13 Santa Fe (Alachua), No. 14 Columbia (Lake City), No. 17 Gainesville High and No. 19 Williston.
GHS, Trenton and Branford softball have high hopes this year after making the state championship game last year.
However, the Class 5A state runner-up Hurricanes (24-5) are 0-2 with losses at No. 14 Columbia (Lake City), 6-5, and at No. 19 Williston, 11-4. They may be without star pitcher Leanna Bourdage (0.57 ERA) this season, who is out indefinitely due to an injury.
Newberry (17-6), which lost in the first round of the 1A state playoffs last year but moved up to 2A this year, is receiving votes. The Panthers (3-0) have eight starters returning along with some key transfers from Santa Fe.
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 Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2025 SOFTBALL POLL #1
(School, followed by classification, 2024 final record, first-place votes, current record through 2/23, & total voting points)
Teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area are in bold
1. Eustis (3A) (26-2) (7) (2-0) – 158
2. Montverde Academy (2A) (28-4) (1) (1-0) – 147
3. Trenton (Rural) (23-2) (1-0) – 143
4. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (4A) (21-6) (2-0) – 134
5. Episcopal (Jacksonville) (2A) (25-4) (2-0) – 121
6. Baldwin (2A) (29-2) (2-1) – 118
7. Middleburg (5A) (22-5) (2-1) – 104
8. University Christian (Jacksonville) (1A) (19-8) (3-0) – 102
9. Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (21-6) (2-0) – 85
10. Branford (Rural) (24-7) (2-1) – 75
11. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (6A) (18-9) (2-0) – 73
12. Fort White (Rural) (13-6) (2-1) – 66
13. Santa Fe (Alachua) (3A) (23-5) (2-0) – 65
14. Columbia (Lake City) (4A) (13-12) (2-1) – 56
15. Crystal River (3A) (22-6) (2-0) – 45
16. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (20-4) (1-1) – 44
17. Gainesville (5A) (24-5) (0-2) – 35
18. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (19-8) (3-0) – 34
19. Williston (Rural) (16-11) (2-1) – 21
20. Matanzas (Palm Coast) (5A) (19-5) (2-0) – 18
Also receiving votes: West Nassau (Callahan) (3A) (17-9) (0-1) – 10; Fleming Island (Orange Park) (5A) (19-8) (2-0) – 10; Deltona (5A) (18-6) (0-0) – 9; Newberry (2A) (17-6) (3-0) – 7.