Fresh off its sixth straight state final appearance, Rockridge was picked as a favorite to win its ninth straight softball conference championship in WRMJ’s TRAC West preseason coaches poll.
The Rockets finished four points ahead of Sherrard, the runner-up pick. Riverdale (third), Mercer County (fourth), Orion (fifth), and Monmouth-Roseville (sixth) rounded out the poll. Rockridge received four first-place votes, while Sherrard and Riverdale also each picked up one first-place vote.
All six coaches in the TRAC West participated. They were asked to rank the teams in the conference, excluding themselves, 1-5. A first-place vote received five points, a second-place vote received four points, and down the line.
The poll results are below. The number in parentheses represents how many first-place votes a team received.
2025 Preseason TRAC West Softball Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockridge (4) | 24 |
| 2 | Sherrard (1) | 20 |
| 3 | Riverdale (1) | 19 |
| 4 | Mercer County | 13 |
| 5 | Orion | 9 |
| 6 | Monmouth-Roseville | 5 |
Team Capsules
Rockridge Rockets
Head Coach: Scott Durbin (2nd season)
2024 Record: 32-4-1, 10-1 TRAC West
Postseason: Won 2A third-place game over Auburn 4-0
Sherrard Tigers
Head Coach: Josh Starkweather (2nd season)
2024 Record: 21-10, 8-3 TRAC West
Postseason: Lost in 2A regional semifinal to Kewanee 9-8
Riverdale Rams
Head Coach: Randy Creen (10th season)
2024 Record: 20-15, 6-6 TRAC West)
Postseason: Lost in 2A sectional final to Rockridge 11-2
Mercer County Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Dustin Murray (3rd season)
2024 Record: 19-10, 13-6 LTC
Postseason: Lost in 2A regional semifinal to Brimfield 10-0
Orion Chargers
Head Coach: Cammie Heald (2nd season)
2024 Record: 7-21-1, 2-8 TRAC West
Postseason: Lost in 2A regional quarterfinal to Kewanee 11-5
Monmouth-Roseville Titans
Head Coach: Jarrod Hippen (7th season)
2024 Record: 2-18, 0-10 TRAC West
Postseason: Lost in 2A regional quarterfinal to Alleman 13-3