Tuscaloosa County, Hillcrest top Tuscaloosa area high school softball top 5 for week of March 27
The high school softball season started in mid-February, and with the conclusion of winter sports earlier this month, it is now in full swing. Many Tuscaloosa area teams are slated to start area play this week if they have not already.
Each week, The Tuscaloosa News will rank the top five teams in the area, regardless of classification. Here are the top-5 teams in the Tuscaloosa area, regardless of classification, for results through March 26:
1. Tuscaloosa County (16-3)
Why: The Wildcats won their second-straight Gulf Shores Classic, going 8-0 in tournament play for their consecutive Gulf Shores Classic title. They started area play last week in a 1-0 win over Vestavia Hills.
2. Hillcrest (16-6)
Why: The Lady Patriots have wins under their belt over Huntsville, a Class 7A opponent, and Russellville, the No. 6 team in Class 5A. Out of their six losses, two come from ranked opponents in Springville, the No. 1 team in Class 5A, along with Curry, the No. 2 team in Class 4A.
3. Demopolis (9-7-1)
Why: The Lady Tigers started area play 1-0 after a 2-1 win over Marbury in nine innings. Pitcher Ashton Moore also recently reached 1,000-career strikeouts in a 4-0 loss to Class 7A Fairhope.
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4. Northside (12-12-1)
Why: The Lady Rams are coming off a 5-4 victory over Brookwood in nine innings. They have started area play 2-0 with wins over Sipsey Valley (6-0) and Oak Grove (9-0).
5. Winfield (11-1)
Why: Winfield has scored in double digits in multiple games this season, with its most lopsided victory coming in a 17-0 win over South Lamar. Its one loss came from Brooks, the No. 6 team in Class 4A.
Other teams for consideration: American Christian Academy, Brookwood, Lamar County, Sulligent
Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: AHSAA softball: Tuscaloosa area top 5 rankings, week of March 27