No. 1 spot changes in the WNC high school softball power rankings as state playoffs approach
It's the last week of the North Carolina high school softball season. The NCHSAA playoffs will begin next week.
With the postseason looming, here are the final WNC high school softball power rankings for the 2024 regular season.
1. Robbinsville (17-2)
Robbinsville reclaims the top spot after then-No. 1 West Henderson and then-No. 2 Enka lost last week. The Black Knights are peaking at the right time, winning their last 11 games.
Last week: No. 3. This week: vs. Hiwassee Dam (Monday), vs. No. 8 Murphy (Tuesday), at No. 8 Murphy (Thursday)
2. Franklin (14-2)
Franklin has won four straight and avenged its last loss to North Henderson with a resounding 11-2 win last week. Senior Avery Moffitt went 2-4 with a home run and four RBIs while senior Meyaeh Tran went 2-for-4 with a double and five RBIs. The Panthers can avenge their only other loss this season when they West Henderson on Tuesday.
Last week: No. 4. This week: vs. No. 3 West Henderson (Tuesday), at Roberson (Thursday)
3. West Henderson (15-2)
West Henderson's 13-game win streak was snapped in a 3-2 loss to Pisgah last week. With a win over No. 2 Franklin this week, the Falcons can secure the Mountain 7 Conference championship outright.
Last week: No. 1. This week: vs. Reynolds (Monday), at No. 2 Franklin (Tuesday), vs. Tuscola (Thursday)
4. Enka (13-4)
The momentum Enka generated during a six-game winning streak evaporated after back-to-back losses to McDowell and Pisgah last week. It can get some of it back by avenging a loss to North Buncombe on Monday.
Last week: No. 2. This week: vs. North Buncombe (Monday), vs. Smoky Mountain (Wednesday), at Asheville (Thursday)
5. Owen (16-2)
Owen is another WNC team peaking at the right time. The Warlassies have won 12 in a row, thanks to shortstop Mia Roland and pitcher Sophie Neal. They need to keep the win streak alive as they are in a tightly contested battle with Draughn for the Western Highlands conference championship.
Last week: No. 6. This week: at Madison (Tuesday), vs. Madison (Thursday)
6. Pisgah (11-5)
Pisgah leaped over McDowell and Murphy after an impressive week. It won over No. 3 West Henderson and No. 4 Enka while falling to No. 2 Franklin. Pitcher Sadie Messer struck out 14 batters against the Sugar Jets.
Last week: No. 8. This week: vs. Tuscola (Monday), at East Henderson (Tuesday), vs. North Henderson (Thursday)
7. McDowell (12-5)
McDowell jumped back into the conversation for a Mountain Athletic Conference championship after knocking off No. 4 Enka 2-1 last week. Pitchers Layla Presnell and Kinsley McKinney held the Sugar Jets to just one run while striking out six. However, it fell to Bandys in a non-conference matchup two days later.
Last week: No. 7. This week: vs. Erwin (Monday), at Draughn (Wednesday), at Reynolds (Thursday)
8. Murphy (12-3)
Murphy tumbles down the rankings after other teams picked up impressive wins and its losses to Swain County and now-No. 2 Franklin. The road doesn't get any easier this week. The Bulldogs close the season against No. 1 Robbinsville.
Last week: No. 5. This week: at No. 1 Robbinsville (Tuesday), vs. No. 1 Robbinsville (Thursday)
9. Brevard (13-5)
Brevard has won four in a row after falling to now-No. 6 Pisgah. Junior Claire Wilson has collected 10 hits, five doubles, a home run and eight RBIs during the winning streak.
Last week: No. 9 at Patton (Tuesday), vs. Patton (Thursday)
MOTTOS POWERING MCDOWELL: How McDowell softball's mottos are carrying it toward its first MAC championship
10. North Buncombe (9-6)
North Buncombe has had an up-and-down season but has picked up impressive wins against No. 4 Enka and No. 7 McDowell during the past mont, thanks to star pitcher Sadie Jo Hunter.
Last week: No. 10. This week: at No. 4 Enka (Monday), at Asheville (Tuesday), vs. Erwin (Thursday), vs. R-S Central (Friday)
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @zacharyahuber. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times and Times-News.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC high school softball power rankings in Week 10: No. 1 spot changes
