By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
The six-time reigning state champion Calvary Baptist Academy softball team is all but certain to add another prestigious title to its resume soon.
National champions.
It would be the first national crown hoisted by Calvary and one of a handful claimed in any sport around north Louisiana high schools.
Calvary won its sixth consecutive state title early last month, capturing the Select Division III crown beating Parkview Baptist 5-2 after a 12-2 semifinal romp over D’Arbonne Woods.
The Lady Cavs (37-1) held on to the No. 1 ranking in the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings this week even after three top-10 ranked Texas teams, including No. 2 Lake Creek (40-1) and third-rated Barbers Hill (41-5), closed their seasons by capturing state championships.
A handful of states still have championships to be settled, with playoffs including eight of MaxPrep’s Top 25. The highest-ranked team still active is No. 6 South Warren from Bowling Green, Ky., which plays today. Two more top 10 squads, No. 7 Kenton Ridge (Ohio) and No. 9 Destiny Christian of Sacramento, Cal., are still going.
But the five top-rated teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 have hung up their cleats for the year, making it unlikely anyone can vault up to the top slot and unseat Calvary.
Lady Cavaliers coach Tiffany Frazier Wood was bursting with pride anticipating the final rankings, presumably next week.
“Five years ago, I never thought we’d be here, but now to see us at the No. 1 spot and it’s probably going to play out, it’s such a testament to the hard work of our players and coaching staff. It’s just a cool thing,” she said.
Calvary’s unbeaten (36-0) 2025 championship team finished No. 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25.
The Lady Cavaliers’ 2026 schedule gave them an opportunity to impress, and they did.
Calvary beat seven state champions from three different states. LHSAA title winners North Pineville (Select Division I), Hahnville (Non-Select Division I), North DeSoto (Non-Select Division II), Riverside (Select Division IV) and Quitman (Class B) were topped by the Lady Cavs in regular-season matchups, along with Bentonville (Arkansas Class 6A), Bullard (Texas 4A Division I). Their only loss was 3-2 on April 6 at eventual Non-Select Division I state semifinalist West Monroe.
“To be able to hang a national championship sign and banner, with everything that goes along with being a part of this season, is just unreal,” Wood said.
In the country’s other most recognized high school softball poll, the National Federation of Softball Coaches Association rankings, Calvary is second to Orange Beach, which also has completed its season with a 46-1 record and the Florida Class 4A crown. Orange Beach is No. 5 in the MaxPreps rankings.
Wood said she has reached out to Orange Beach, hoping to put together a matchup – likely a neutral site game – next spring.
Calvary returns all but two seniors – three-time All-State pitcher Kynzee Anderson, who is headed to Super Regional participant Georgia as last year’s Miss Louisiana Softball and the 2025 Class 2A Outstanding Player, along with all-district outfielder Abby Sims. Eight more first-team all-district players are expected back for the 2027 season.
The Class 2A All-State team for this season is due for release by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association online this afternoon and in print editions (including the Shreveport-Bossier Journal) Friday.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com