MaxPreps 2016 New Mexico preseason high school softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Volcano Vista (Albuquerque)
Head coach: Jonathan Garcia
2015 record: 24-4

Last year's Class 6A state runner-up returns six starters from a 24-4 team and hopes to go one step farther this time. The Hawks will be led by seniors Angelica Lujan and Lauren Wilmert, who both have signed with the University of New Mexico. Lujan, a pitcher-third baseman, posted a 9-4 pitching record with a 1.50 ERA and hit four home runs. Wilmert, a power-hitting catcher, slammed 16 home runs. Senior pitcher-third baseman Celina Sullivan was 9-0 on the mound with a 1.10 ERA and belted eight homers. Freshman Brook Ledger is another top-flight pitcher.

See last season's New Mexico softball computer rankings

2. La Cueva (Albuquerque)
Coach: Ron Romero
2015 record: 24-5



New coach Ron Romero inherits eight starters and the top three pitchers from a 24-5 team which still is dominated by young players. Junior center fielder Andrea Howard batted .452 with 10 homers and drove in 47 runs last spring. Sophomore pitcher-third baseman Shannon Stein batted .488 with 13 homers and she drove in 50 runs. Junior Katherine Sanchez batted .507. Stein will be joined on the mound by junior Kendra Keahbone and sophomore Sydney Truett. Five members of this team were part of the Eastdale Little League national champions.

See New Mexico softball pro photo galleries

3. Rio Rancho
Coach: Paul Kohman
2015 record: 23-8

Veteran coach Paul Kohman notched his third large-school (6A) state championship last spring, but returns just three starters and says he will rely on several eighth-grade pitchers. However, he has a great building block in senior shortstop BreOnna Castaneda, who was named state Gatorade Player of the Year. The University of Utah signee batted .537 with 16 extra base hits, stole 25 bases in 27 tries and was an outstanding fielder. Junior infielder Venessa Gallegos batted .547 and stole 19 bases in 21 attempts. Freshman Briana Martinez batted .319.

See last season's New Mexico softball playoff brackets

4. Carlsbad
Coach: John Tigert
2015 record: 18-8



John Tigert has returned to coach the Cavemen after a couple years away, making this his 25th year at Carlsbad. He has won a state-record 11 state championships and will count on four returning starters to go with an outstanding freshman class. His top senior returnees are catcher Monika Madrid, first baseman Rylan Gonzales and outfielder Emilee Smedley. His top pitcher will be freshman Kaylie Hewitt, who missed her eighth-grade softball season due to a knee injury from volleyball. She already has committed to Texas Tech University.

See last season's New Mexico softball stat leaders

5. Centennial (Las Cruces)
Coach: Alex Maynez
2015 record: 28-6

Centennial was the Class 5A runner-up last spring and could win it all this year with six starters and its No. 1 pitcher ready to go. Senior Santana Parra compiled a 20-5 pitching record with a 1.40 ERA, struck out 122 and walked only 26 in 144 innings. She also batted .549 with 16 home runs and drove in 55 runs. Sophomore Janai Gutierrez batted .444, scored 51 runs and stole 14 bases in 14 attempts, while junior first baseman Steevi Heredia batted .303 and drove in 23 runs.