The top 32 teams in Division 3 automatically qualify for the state tournament come June. Teams ranked below No. 32 can qualify with a record of .500 or better, where they will have to win the mandatory play-in game to make the first round.

These rankings do not reflect games played after 11:00 A.M. Friday.

Softball

Current Record: 10-2

Current Rank: 4/74

Movement: +2 spots

Jumping from No. 6 to No. 4 changes the entire postseason outlook for the Lady Fishermen. In the MIAA, a top-four seed is essentially the “golden ticket” — it guarantees home-field advantage through the Round of 32, 16, and 8. If the Fishermen can hold this spot, they won’t have to worry about a neutral site or a long bus ride until the Final Four. This also means that the Fishermen wouldn’t have to face anybody alongside them within the top 4 until the Final Four.

The top of the bracket is crowded with hardware. Sitting just behind Norton, a 2025 semi-finalist, and the powerhouse programs of Dighton-Rehoboth and Joseph Case — who have five state titles between them over the last three years — there is zero margin for error.

By climbing into that top four, Gloucester has earned a massive tactical edge. Securing three straight home games in front of a hometown crowd could be the deciding factor when facing programs of high caliber. The Fishermen have the roster to compete with the best in D3; now, if they stay where they are now, they have the home-field path to prove it.