Iowa high school softball rankings: Regina, Williamsburg begin the 2023 season No. 1

Iowa City Regina starts the 2023 softball season at the same location it ended 2022.

At the top of the heap in Class 2A.

The reigning-champion Regals open as the top-ranked 2A team in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s preseason list, revealed Tuesday.

Regina (24-11 in 2022) returns nine starters and adds senior pitcher Ashley Webb via transfer from Clear Creek Amana.

Waukee Northwest, Dallas Center-Grimes, Williamsburg and Southeast Warren are the other top-rated teams.

Northwest (35-7) won the 5A title last season in its first year of existence. Six players graduated from that team, but pitcher Maddie Oetzmann is back.

Last year’s fourth-place team, West Des Moines Valley is second, followed by Southeast Polk, Linn-Mar and Pleasant Valley.

Linn-Mar tied for seventh last year and finished 36-6. The Lions must rebuild their infield, but welcomes back pitchers Jordyn Beck and Emily Koranda (a combined 31-5).

Dallas Center-Grimes (35-7) was the 4A runner-up to Winterset last season. The Mustangs are the pick over Fort Dodge, which moves down a class after reaching the last three 5A finals (including the 2021 title)

North Scott, Carlisle and Norwalk round out the 4A top five. Cedar Rapids Xavier is seventh.

Led by pitcher Peyton Driscoll, Williamsburg (34-11) has a wealth of veteran talent that has gone deep in the tournament three straight years. The Raiders were third in 2022 and 2021, second in 2020.

Perennial power Davenport Assumption opens at No. 2 in 3A, then it’s Saydel, Dubuque Wahlert and defending-champion Mount Vernon.

Regina is followed in 2A by Lisbon (35-6) — up a class after making the last four 1A tournaments — then Central Springs, Van Meter and Interstate 35.

Southeast Warren (25-5) was the 1A runner-up last year. Martensdale-St. Marys, Remsen St. Mary’s, Newell-Fonda and North Linn complete the small-school top five. Defending champion Twin Cedars is 13th.

2023 Iowa high school softball preseason rankings

CLASS 5A

1. Waukee Northwest (35-7)

2. West Des Moines Valley (27-15)

3. Southeast Polk (25-14)

4. Linn-Mar (36-6)

5. Pleasant Valley (27-13)

6. Ankeny Centennial (25-13)

7. Muscatine (37-5)

8. Johnston (32-5)

9. Ankeny (27-13)

10. Bettendorf (28-11)

11. Ames (22-19)

12. Waukee (26-15)

13. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (24-16)

14. Dubuque Hempstead (28-7)

15. Iowa City Liberty (28-14)

CLASS 4A

1. Dallas Center-Grimes (35-7)

2. Fort Dodge (37-7)

3. North Scott (30-11)

4. Carlisle (28-12)

5. Norwalk (30-8)

6. Adel ADM (31-6)

7. Cedar Rapids Xavier (21-19)

8. Indianola (28-13)

9. North Polk (16-16)

10. Winterset (37-4)

11. Burlington (20-15)

12. Creston (25-5)

13. Fairfield (29-10)

14. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (30-10)

15. Clear Creek Amana (29-10)

CLASS 3A

1. Williamsburg (34-11)

2. Davenport Assumption (36-9)

3. Saydel (32-6)

4. Dubuque Wahlert (23-18)

5. Mount Vernon (36-4)

6. Davis County (24-9)

7. Estherville ELC (27-9)

8. Benton Community (25-16)

9. Solon (20-16)

10. Sioux Center (22-11)

11. Albia (20-7)

12. Atlantic (24-15)

13. Sumner-Fredericksburg (23-6)

14. Algona (11-17)

15. Monroe PCM (16-12)

CLASS 2A

1. Iowa City Regina (24-11)

2. Lisbon (35-6)

3. Central Springs (33-2)

4. Van Meter (31-10)

5. Interstate 35 (23-7)

6. Wilton (28-7)

7. North Union (33-5)

8. Logan-Magnolia (28-2)

9. Cascade (19-12)

10. Northeast (21-11)

11. West Monona (29-7)

12. Osage (22-7)

13. Cardinal (22-13)

14. Akron-Westfield (24-6)

15. South Hardin (20-7)

CLASS 1A

1. Southeast Warren (25-5)

2. Martensdale-St. Marys (26-4)

3. Remsen St. Mary’s (27-4)

4. Newell-Fonda (36-5)

5. North Linn (33-10)

6. Sigourney (23-6)

7. Collins-Maxwell (23-3)

8. Fort Dodge St. Edmond (24-7)

9. Woodbine (21-7)

10. Highland (21-9)

11. Mason City Newman (27-9)

12. West Central Valley (28-9)

13. Twin Cedars (29-3)

14. Clarksville (19-3)

15. Saint Ansgar (20-9)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com