The US Club Rankings has released its 2014 Preseason 18U Fastpitch Team Rankings on its website: Click Here.

The So Cal Athletics-Richardson earn the No. 1 spot for the third consecutive year followed by Firecrackers – Rico at No. 2.

Interestingly, all of the top 10 below will take the field in the June 20-22 event put on in Los Alamitos, Calif. by the A’s organization called the “So Cal A’s Invitational.”  This will be a great way to see head-to-head how the elite teams here stack up!

Here’s a look at the Top 25:

1. So Cal Athletics – Richardson (CA)
2. Firecrackers – Rico (CA)
3. Beverly Bandits – Conroy (IL)
4. Corona Angels – Tyson (CA)
5. Texas Glory – Shelton (TX)
6. Orange County Batbusters – Haning (CA)
7. Wichita Mustangs – Griggs (KS)
8. Texas Impact Gold – Burke (TX)
9. East Cobb Bullets – Schnute (GA)
10. Gold Coast Hurricanes – Cooper (FL)
11. TC Stars – Klaviter (CO)
12. OC Batbusters/Team Mizuno – Stith
13. Washington Lady Hawks – Miller (WA)
14. So Cal Choppers – Fausett (CA)
15. Atlanta Vipers – Giles (GA)
16. Texas Bombers Gold – Smith (TX)
17. Sorcerers – Mumma (CA)
18. Arizona Storm – Brun (AZ)
19. Miami Stingrays – Rebhan (FL)
20. KC Peppers – Eakin (KS)
21. Team North Florida – Whitt/Fagan (FL)
22. Cal Cruisers – Sievers (CA)
23. Rock Gold – Waye (PA)
24. New Jersey Intensity – ODonnell (NJ)
25. Aces Express – McCorkle (TX)

How it works:

The US Club Rankings has been recognized by many of the top clubs in the country as the premier rankings system for girls’ fastpitch softball.  Created in 2011, the poll uses a unique formula that combines three components: Top Programs Poll, National Point System (NPS), and College Point Index (CPI).

Top Programs Poll is a subjective vote sent to over 2,000 fastpitch teams from across the country.  Coaches vote on who they believe are the top teams.

National Point System (NPS) is an objective ranking based upon a cumulative point total recognizing results from a selected national tournaments each year.  These events are from multiple organizations including Premier, Triple Crown, ASA, and others.

College Placement Index (CPI) is an objective poll totaling the number of signed college players on the current roster and the roster from the past four years.

Each point value associated with the three components is weighted and re-calculated into the Blended Rankings. By combining the three separate systems into the Blended Ranking it allows for teams to be ranked based upon a subjective poll which is voted on by club coaches, and two rankings based upon objective criteria or points systems.