MaxPreps 2017 CIF Central Coast Section preseason high school softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Greatest HR-robbing catch of all time
West High outfielder Keisha White gave the world perfection with this unbelievable home run-denying grab during the Utah state softball championships.


1. Pioneer (San Jose)
2016 record: 25-3
Head coach: Ed Barclay

Holly Azevedo (UCLA signee) is back for her senior season and that makes Pioneer a threat to run the table. She was 25-3 with an 0.18 ERA and 334 strikeouts in 191 innings with 17 shutouts as a junior. She also batted .482 with 20 RBIs. With only one senior on last year's team, Azevedo has a lot of support this year. Also back are sophomore Sydney Solis (four homers, 28 RBIs and .376 batting average), senior Brooke Niewoehner (.489 average and 25 RBIs) and junior Makaylah Garcia (.329). In 28 games, Pioneer committed just 10 errors.

See the MaxPreps Central Coast Section softball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
2016 record: 21-4
Head coach: Joe Gron Sophomore pitchers Savanna Smith and Hannah Edwards return and give the Monarchs a 1-2 punch in the circle. Smith was 9-1 with a 1.59 ERA and Edwards 8-3 with a 2.30 ERA in their freshman campaigns. Senior outfielder Lauren Lopez returns after hitting .315 with four triples and eight stolen bases. Outfielder Kaylin Stewart hit .354 with 17 RBIs and three homers last season as a sophomore and catcher Julia Lucas returns for her senior season after hitting .415 in 20 games with 16 RBIs.

See the MaxPreps CCS softball stat leaders

3. San Benito (Hollister)
2016 record: 26-3
Head coach: Andrew Barragan

The defending section champ Haybalers have junior hurler Amanda Moisa back after an 18-3 campaign last season. Moisa struck out 71 and allowed only 26 walks in 137 innings pitched with a 2.25 ERA, but came up big down the stretch with wins over North Salinas in the section semifinals and Carlmont in the final. Senior centerfielder Brittnee Rossi leads the San Benito offensive returners after hitting .552 in 29 games with 26 RBIs and 13 doubles. Sophomore infielders Sara Christensen (.426 with 20 RBIs) and Dominique Monteon (.392, 14 RBIs and eight doubles) also should provide some offensive spark for the Haybalers.

See the MaxPreps CCS softball photos

4. Half Moon Bay
2016 record: 24-4
Head coach: TBA

Junior pitcher Grace Garcia, who committed to UC San Diego over the winter, leads the Cougars into 2017 after an 18-2 season capped with a Division III section title. Garcia returns after fanning 156 with a 0.90 ERA, however, without coach Claire Rietmann-Grout, who left Half Moon Bay to take the assistant director for student life and athletics at Mercy-Burlingame High School, her alma mater. With Garcia, the Cougars have plenty of the firepower that vaulted them to the section title. Sophomore Marissa Terra hit .429 with 18 RBIs, junior catcher Riley Donovan hit .380 with 32 RBIs and four homers and senior Ally Sarabia adds veteran leadership after hitting .409 with 18 RBIs.

See the MaxPreps CCS softball playoff brackets

5. Presentation (San Jose)
2016 record: 17-10
Head coach: Brian Niskanen

Sophomore pitcher Kaia McCaul was 14-8 as the Panthers lost to Archbishop Mitty in the section quarterfinals. McCaul had a 3.04 ERA and 82 strikeouts for Presentation, and she was second on the team with a .363 batting average with a team-high 23 RBIs and four homers. Junior Ava Williams hit at a .412 clip with 16 RBIs a .437 on-base percentage and a team-high 10 stolen bases. Senior captain Elizabeth Skotz had a .520 slugging percentage and drew 19 walks to only four strikeouts.