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See a title game grab in Utah last season that still makes jaws drop.2017 California preseason Softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Los AlamitosHead coach: Rob Weil
2016 record: 26-3
The Griffins graduated five players from last year's CIF-Southern Section semifinal team, but return seven All-Sunset League players and according to Weil, a staggering 18 have either committed or signed to college programs. Of those, 14 are seniors, so there is loads of experience.
Among the top players are senior pitcher
Ryan Denhart, a Maryland signee who last season won 14 games and posted a 1.18 ERA.
Other standouts include pitcher
Brianna Jewett (Sunset League's Rookie of the Year in 2016), catcher
Mary Iakopo (Oregon signee), second baseman
Caitlin Ladd (Michigan State) and senior outfielders
Alexa Schultz (Oklahoma),
Allison Englant (Ohio) and
Jenna Kean (Arizona).
Among others who will be playing in college are infielders
Kaitlin Parsons (Tennessee) and
Kennedi Houshmandzadeh (LSU) and sophomore pitcher
Sarah Ladd (Michigan State). Houshmandzadeh is only a freshman.
"This team is one of the most talented teams we have ever coached," Weil said. "Team strengths would have to be our pitching, speed, and offense up and down the lineup."
See the MaxPreps California softball Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard2. Mission ViejoHead coach: Troy Ybarra and Toni Mascarenas
2016 record: 27-4
Camryn Ybarra, Mission Viejo
File photo by Heston Quan
The Diablos lost only three seniors from last year's 27-4 team that won the Southern Section D-2 title and return eight of their nine starting batters. The roster features six seniors and eight juniors.
Among those is senior infielder and Oregon Statem signee
Camryn Ybarra, who hit 12 home runs from her leadoff spot. The MaxPreps Junior Player of the Year led the Diablos in average (.514), homers, hits (54), on-base percentage (.617) and runs (33).
In the circle, Louisville signee
Kyra Snyder won 17 games last year and batted .373, and behind the plate,
Terra McGowan led the team with 33 RBIs and was second in average (.402), home runs (10) and runs (24) as a freshman. She's already committed to Arizona State.
Other top players with college scholarships secured are senior shortstop
Samantha Dees (Bowling Green), senior utility player
Bella Loya (Illinois), senior infielder
Allison Rawls (William Jewell), junior catcher
Peyton Cody (St. John's), junior outfielder
Olivia Viggiano (Seattle) and junior pitcher
Taylor Ward (Presbyterian College).
Ybarra said the six seniors is the most he's had in 17 years as a coach. "It brings maturity to the table which you need in crunch time," he said. "We match up to several programs. It should be an exciting season."
See the MaxPreps California softball stats leaderboard3. NorcoHead coach: Richard Robinson
2016 record: 26-6
Everyone returns from last year's 26-6 team, including senior pitcher
Taylor Dockins, who is recovering from liver cancer surgery she had during the summer.
"She is throwing and looks good at this time," said Robinson, who warns more scans are coming regularly. Dockins has signed with Cal State Fullerton. In three varsity seasons, she has 75 wins and was a MaxPreps All-American last season.
The Cougars have a good mix of power and speed and can score runs with the long ball or by manufacturing runs.
Other top returning players include senior outfielder
Naomi Hernandez (Long Beach State signee), who hit a team-best .487 last season, sophomore
Kinzie Hansen (Oklahoma), the State Freshman of the Year who hit seven homers and drove in a team-best 37 runs, senior first baseman
Gianna Marquecho, junior second baseman
Toni Camarillo (Bryant University), junior catcher/outfielder
Bianca Gonzalez (West Point), junior infielder/outfielder
Sierra Marshall (Loyola Marymount), junior shortstop
Mikayla Allee (Tennessee) and sophomore outfielders
Megan Forbes and
Reagan Cheyne.
"This year's team is very similar to my 2012 team that won the Southern Section title," Robinson said. "We return our entire team from last year and they have another year of maturity."
See the MaxPreps California softball photos page4. Orange Lutheran (Orange)Head coach: Steve Miklos
2016 record: 30-4
With three key seniors – pitcher
Maddy Dwyer, catcher
Lauren Espalin and first baseman
Noelle Hee – Orange Lutheran looks poised for another CIF-Southern Section title run.
There is plenty of experience back from last year's title team with 14 players returning. Add two noteworthy newcomers, freshmen Victoria Fragoso and Taryn Lennon, and depth will not be an issue.
Dwyer, a Stanford signee, went 26-4 last season and was a MaxPreps All-American. Hee, a first baseman, has signed with Washington and was the Trinity League MVP. She's a career .398 hitter. Briggs, an LSU commit, hit .387 with 33 RBIs last season as a freshman.
Other top players include sophomore shortstop
Mya Rodriguez (Ohio State), junior infielder
Kira La Scola (Dartmouth), senior outfielder
Jenah Tittle (Vanguard) and junior outfielder
Isabelle Valdez (Vanguard).
"On paper this should be the best team that I've coached at Orange Lutheran," Miklos said. "It should be a fun season."
See the MaxPreps California softball playoff brackets5. Grand TerraceHead coach: Bobby Flores
2016 record: 29-1
The Titans lost four starters to the college ranks from last year's Southern Section D-3 championship team, which could be a concern.
But Grand Terrace, winner of 26 straight entering 2017, returns a starting lineup that features nothing but players who have secured college softball scholarships. The Titans also return 33 home runs and seven players who drove in a dozen or more runs.
Among the best are senior outfielder
Eliyah Flores, an Oklahoma signee who hit .451 with eight home runs last year, senior pitcher
Yesenia Morrison (Grand Canyon), who went 11-0 with a 0.52 ERA and nine saves, senior shortstop
Alyssa Martinez (Mississippi), senior catcher
Lilly Bishop (North Carolina State), senior first baseman
Morgan Parsons (Hawaii), junior second baseman
Alyssa Graham (San Jose State), sophomore outfielder
Alycia Flores (Oklahoma) and junior second baseman
Alexis Lemus (Connecticut).
Coach Flores' only true concern coming into the season is pitching depth, noting that behind Morrison is a talented but raw freshman.
"Not to sound arrogant, but I think we're strong in all three areas: pitching, hitting and defense," he said.
MaxPreps national softball editor Tom Mauldin contributed to this report