Clippers open season at No. 1 in 3A

DES MOINES -- Clear Creek Amana is ranked No. 1 in the Class 3A preseason softball ratings by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The Clippers return eight starters from a team that finished 39-7 and placed fourth at the state tournament last year. Caitlin Wnek and Fran Strub were first-team all-staters.

CCA was an undefeated state champion in 2009. The Clippers are followed by Chariton, Dallas Center-Grimes, West Delaware and Keokuk. Defending state champion Carlisle is No. 7.

Des Moines East heads the 4A list after finishing second at state in 2010. The Scarlets were 29-12 last year and welcome back seven starters. Muscatine is No. 2, followed by Iowa City West, West Des Moines Dowling and defending champ West Des Moines Valley. Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Xavier are 11th and 12th.

Bondurant-Farrar (28-7 in 2010) is No. 1 in 2A. The Bluejays did not advance to state last year.

Four teams from the Cedar Valley Conference are ranked in 2A. Mid-Prairie is No. 2, Durant is fifth, Iowa City Regina eighth and Wilton 11th.

Alta-Aurelia and Central Springs are third and fourth.

Defending 1A champion Akron-Westfield (37-1) is the top team in the small class. The Westerners have nine starters back. Martensdale-St. Marys is second, followed by Hinton, Preston and North Sentral Kossuth/Armstrong-Ringsted.