Red Mountain's softball prowess -- winning a fourth-straight, big-school title last month -- was too much to ignore for at least one national prep softball ranking service.

Student Sports FAB 50 ranked the Lady Lions No. 1 in its final tabulation for the 2013 season early this week (June 24). Red Mountain's 9-5 victory over Chaparral on May 14 at ASU's Farrington Stadium capped another 30-plus win campaign for coach Rich Hamilton and his staff. The Lady Lions won their final 15 games of the season and outscored their opponents at state, 39-9. Hamilton has coached Red Mountain since the 2007 season.

Three of those championship-game wins have come with standout hurler Bre Macha in the circle (freshman, sophomore and junior seasons). Each of those years there has been a mix of hitting and defense to go with Macha's gritty outings -- 5-4 over Basha in 20011, 5-2 over Basha in 2012 and the recent triumph over Chaparral.

Five Red Mountain players homered in the postseason with Alyssa Fernandez and Jordan Beck hitting two each. Five players had at least four RBI in the same stretch --  Fernandez (9), Beck (6), Macha, Marian Ruf and Alex Wiley (4 each). The streak began in 2010 with Red Mountain toppling Dallas Escobedo and St. Mary's, 2-0. During the four-peat Red Mountain posted records of 36-4, 31-8, 35-3 and 33-5. Unsettling to Red Mountain's opponents next year is that eight of the Lady Lions nine starters return for 2014. Over the past eight seasons -- beginning with 2006, Red Mountain has won five state titles and and played in six championship games.

Student Sports FAB 50 was not compiled on a weekly basis in 2013, but is an extension of a national rankings program previously part of ESPN, Rivals.com and Fox Sports. Student Sports FAB 50 incorporates strength of schedule and championship outcomes in its rankings.