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Here are the WNC high school softball power rankings after two rounds of the NCHSAA playoffs

evan gerike, asheville citizen times
·2 min read

After a full week of the NCHSAA softball playoffs, only five Western North Carolina teams remain.

Most of the top 10 from the final regular-season power rankings fell in the first two rounds, while two teams not previously ranked survived.

Here are the remaining Western North Carolina high school softball power rankings.

1. Robbinsville (22-2)

The Black Knights are No. 1 for the third consecutive week and had no issue taking care of their first two opponents. They beat No. 29 Corvian Community 15-0 in three innings then beat No. 13 Murphy for the third time this season, 12-6. Freshman catcher Dreylee Webster has five RBIs in the playoffs, and Tennessee commit Zoie Shuler needs two runs to set a single-season NCHSAA record.

Last week: No. 1. This week: vs. No. 5 seed Cherryville (Monday)

2. Owen (20-2)

Freshman Mia Roland has been the star for the Warlassies all season, and the playoffs have been no different. Tied in the bottom of the seventh with No. 12 Bunker Hill, Roland hit a walk-off grand slam to send Owen on to the third round with a 6-2 win. Owen is continuing its postseason run after winning the Western Highlands Conference for the first time in 13 years.

Last week: No. 3. This week: at No. 4 seed Southwestern Randolph (Tuesday)

3. McDowell (16-6)

McDowell dominated No. 9 Myers Park on Friday, scoring 11 runs in the fourth inning to end the game due to the mercy rule. Junior Addison Staton hit two solo home runs and senior Emma Washburn drove home four, including the de facto walk-off run in the fourth. The Titans now get their biggest test yet against the No. 1 team.

Last week: No. 8. This week: at No. 1 seed South Caldwell (Monday)

4. Reynolds (12-11)

The No. 25 seed Rockets have pulled off two upsets in the 3A West playoffs while proving they can win on both sides of the ball. Reynolds knocked off No. 8 North Buncombe, 1-0, behind Aubrey Treadway's masterful two-hitter. On Friday, the offense showed up to win a 14-13 shootout over No. 9 Ashe County.

Last week: Unranked. This week: at No. 1 seed Oak Grove (Tuesday)

PATRIOTS MARCH ON: How Madison softball practiced under pressure, pulls off 2 upsets, goes to NCHSAA 3rd round

5. Madison (13-7)

While the top eight seeds in the 2A playoffs have advanced, the No. 23 seed Patriots have played spoiler twice. Madison took down No. 7 Brevard in dominant fashion, winning 13-1 after scoring six in the first inning.

Last week: Unranked. This week: at No. 2 seed North Stanly (Tuesday)

Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC softball power rankings after two rounds of the NCHSAA playoffs