SBLive Sports Florida Power 25 softball rankings: Bartow finishes No. 1 in final rankings

High school softball season has wrapped across the Sunshine State. One of the tops when it comes to high-level softball, Florida features several teams that appeared in our SBLive Sports’ Preseason Power 25 Rankings at the very outset of the season.

State champions have been crowned from Class 1A to 7A, with many of our Power 25 teams facing off against one another along the way at states. When it comes to the No. 1 and No. 2 teams, it's a couple teams that have been consistent all season long. Take a look at our final Power 25 rankings as we give you our list after 13 weeks of play out on the diamond and head into the off-season.

Find the complete breakdown of the SBLive Sports Florida Softball Power 25:

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1. Bartow (29-3): The Yellow Jackets had been at the top of our rankings multiple times throughout the season, but finish out No. 1. Bartow defeated previously No. 1 Pace for the Class 6A state championship to conclude the 2023 campaign.

2. Parrish Community (24-3): Erin Spivey and her girls are finally state champions at last. The Bulls defeated Deltona 5-0 for the Class 5A state championship after edging River Ridge 1-0 in the semifinals.

3. Pace (28-2): It was a sour end to the season for the Patriots as they fell just short of winning the Class 6A state championship. Pace defeated Land O’ Lakes in the state semis 3-0 before falling to Bartow.

4. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.) (22-7): Going back-to-back was always the goal for the Warriors and they finished the story. Calvary Christian defeated Somerset Academy Silver Palms 3-0.

5. Doral Academy (24-5-1): The Firebirds looked like they were on the edge of reaching the Class 6A state championship game before allowing two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to Bartow.

6. Somerset Academy Silver Palms (29-3): The Stallions had a 14-game winning streak heading into the Class 3A state championship before losing to Clearwater Calvary Christian.

7. Spanish River (17-8-1): In what became one of the most improbable runs to a state championship in quite some time, the Sharks defeated Plant for the Class 7A state championship.

8. Lake Brantley (24-4): One of the biggest upsets of the entire season was the Patriots being upended by Spanish River 13-9 in the Class 7A state semifinals.

9. Coral Springs Charter (25-1-2): The Panthers were undefeated heading into the Class 3A, Region 4 final before losing 1-0 to Somerset Academy Silver Palms.

10. Plant (27-5): Plant went into the Class 7A playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the state before falling to the upset-minded Spanish River Sharks 3-2 in the state championship game.

11. Viera (19-6): Losing to Melbourne in nine innings during the regular season was tough, but was able to knock off the Bulldogs in the district championship and playoffs. The Hawks lost to eventual 6A champion Bartow.

12. Melbourne (21-5): Every game against Viera came down to the final innings and the last game played out no different. The Bulldogs fell to the Hawks 2-1 in the Class 6A playoffs.

13. Wellington (20-3-1): The Wolverines won the Class 7A, District 12 championship and were a team expected to make a deep playoff run. Wellington’s season ended in the state semifinals in a 2-1 loss to Plant.

14. Land O' Lakes (19-12): Mitch Wilkins always has his girls ready to compete with just about anyone around the state and stood toe-to-toe with Pace. The Gators fell 3-0 to Pace in the Class 6A state semifinals.

15. Lake Wales (21-11): There were two state champions to come out of Polk County and the Highlanders were the other team besides Bartow. Lake Wales upended Wakulla 7-2 for Class 4A championship.

16. River Ridge (20-9): The Royal Knights were on the cusp of reaching the Class 5A state championship game, but fell 1-0 against eventual champion Parrish Community.

17. University Christian (23-2): With only two losses to its name all season long, the Christians were able to culminate the season with a Class 2A state championship. University Christian defeated Evangelical Christian 3-2 for the title.

18. Deltona (22-5): Up against one of the top teams in the state all season long, the Wolves fell short of winning the Class 5A state championship and fell 5-0 to Parrish Community.

19. Wakulla (20-7): Knocking off a strong Baker County team in the region final round and then defeating Key West in the state semis were solid wins. The War Eagles lost to Lake Wales 7-2 in the Class 4A state championship game.

20. Baldwin (25-5): The Indians’ season ended in the Class 3A state semifinals in a 7-4 loss to eventual state champion Clearwater Calvary Christian.

21. Montverde Academy (23-7): Beating South Sumter and Hernando was were solid wins heading into the Class 3A state semifinals for the Eagles. Montverde Academy eventually lost 3-2 against Somerset Academy Silver Palms.

22. Lemon Bay (17-8): After a season of ups and downs for the Manta Rays, they were able to make a surprising run to the Class 4A state semifinals before losing 5-0 to eventual state champ Lake Wales.

23. South Fork (17-6-1): The Bulldogs made an impressive run to the Class 5A state semifinals before falling to Deltona 5-1.

24. Evangelical Christian (22-6-1): The Sentinels ended up being the top team to come out of Southwest Florida in 2023. Evangelical Christian fell 3-2 to University Christian in the Class 2A final.

25. Key West (19-4): Conch Nation made the long track over to Clermont for the Class 4A state semifinals after defeating Plantation American Heritage 1-0 in the Class 4A, Region 4 final. The Conchs lost 5-2 to Wakulla in the semifinals.

On the bubble: Academy of the Holy Names, Alonso, Auburndale, Bishop Verot, Bloomingdale, Charlotte, Dixie County, East Lake, Eustis, FSU High, Fort Myers, Gulf Breeze, Hagerty, Hernando, Jay, Jupiter, Keystone Heights, Lake Howell, Lake Region, Liberty County, Marianna, Mitchell, Newsome, North Fort Myers, Osceola, Oxbridge Academy, Palatka, Park Vista, Robinson, South Lake, Steinbrenner, Trinity Christian Academy, West Nassau, Western, Westminster Christian, Windermere, Winter Springs

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.