Softball Rankings, Final (2006)

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BY LORI GRIFFIN / Lincoln Journal Star

State champions Papillion-La Vista, Elkhorn and Columbus Lakeview lead final rankings.

Class A

1. Papillion-La Vista (28-5)

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2. Lincoln East (30-12)

3. Millard North (22-8)

4. Omaha Westside (29-6)

5. Papillion-La Vista South (33-8)

6. Norfolk (24-17)

7. Millard South (19-15)

8. Bellevue West (20-17)

9. Omaha Burke (19-8)

10. Kearney (20-14)

Class B

1. Elkhorn (30-2)

2. Ralston (21-13)

3. McCook (27-5)

4. Norris (20-9)

5. Blair (27-7)

6. Beatrice (24-6)

7. Cozad (19-11)

8. Omaha Gross (18-12)

9. Fairbury (18-7)

10. Scottsbluff (19-6)

Class C

1. Columbus Lakeview (24-2)

2. Yutan/Mead (23-5)

3. Twin River (25-6)

4. Falls City (16-10)

5. Milford (24-5)

6. Gothenburg (16-8)

7. Bennington (20-13)

8. Tekamah-Herman (20-12)

9. Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan (18-8)

10. North Bend/Scribner-Snyder (18-9)

Class A

Why No. 1:  Papillion-La Vista again takes over the reigns as the top team after beginning that way in the preseason. The Monarchs rode a 14-game winning streak into the state tournament, before being the only team to go undefeated at state. Lincoln East came through the loser’s bracket, defeating the top three ranked teams at state to finish second. Millard North remains third mostly because of its 1-0 winner’s bracket win against Westside. Papillion-La Vista South falls to sixth after bowing out the first day of the state tournament. Norfolk moves in at No. 6, largely because of its 8-7 win aginst Millard South at the state tournament. Omaha Burke drops five spots, but stays in because its two district losses were both to No. 2-ranked Lincoln East. Lincoln Southwest falls out of the rankings because three of the Silver Hawks’ last eight losses were to state tournament participants. The Silver Hawks also ended district play with a 12-2 loss to Lincoln Southeast, which finished the season with a losing record. Kearney remains No. 10, despite a 4-1 loss to Norfolk in the district tournament final.

Class B

Why No. 1: Elkhorn remains No. 1 after winning its third straight championship in Class B. Ralston advances after coming back from a 5-4 opening-round loss to Beatrice and taking the Antlers to two games in the championship. McCook moves to third after its two state tournament losses were to Elkhorn and Ralston. Fairbury drops after district losses to Aurora and Seward. Norris advances two spots after losing to McCook and Ralston, but beating Blair at state. The Bears fall four spots after an opening round loss to Norris and a 13-6 loss to Ralston. Beatrice falls after failing to advance to the championship game for the first time in nine years. Omaha Roncalli/Fort Calhoun drops out after two straight district losses.

Class C

Why No. 1: After a tumultuous year in Class C, preseason No. 1-ranked Columbus Lakeview moves back into that position after making it through the state tournament unscathed. Gothenburg jumps ahead of Bennington because Gothenburg lost its final game to then top-ranked Milford. Bennington was outsted by then No. 10 Falls City. Tekamah-Herman slips in after ousting four-year tournament participant Wayne in the districts to advance to state. Despite falling two spots, North Bend Central beats out Ashland-Greenwood for the final spot because three of their last four losses were to state tournament teams.