MaxPreps 2015 Texas preseason softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Deer Park
2014 record: 39-6
Head coach: Carrie Austgen

The Deer are well-armed for a run at a third state championship in four years with left-handed ace pitcher Payton McBride in the circle once again. McBride, the MVP of last year's 8-2 title game victory over The Woodlands, was 19-3 with a 1.24 ERA as a sophomore in 2014. In 129.2 innings, the Texas A&M pledge fanned 166. McBride proved herself at the plate as well with a .404 average and 34 RBIs. Also returning is last season's leading hitter, Rhonda Jarvis. The versatile third baseman/shortstop/catcher and Baylor signee batted .485 with 23 extra-base hits. Jarvis and fellow senior second baseman Tyler Galena were RBI co-leaders with 40 apiece. Sophomore outfielder/pitcher Erin Edmoundson batted .345 and had a pitching record of 11-2 with a 1.07 ERA. Senior shortstop Miranda Rodarte batted .328 as a junior. To make a run for a title, Austgen must replace key contributors lost to graduation.

View last season's Texas softball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. The Woodlands
2014 record: 39-4
Head coach: Paula Miller



Coming within one victory of a state title in 2014 should serve as extra motivation for the Highlanders. With a strong returning cast that includes pitching ace Abby Langkamp, The Woodlands might be able to improve on its Class 5A state runner-up finish in 2014. Langkamp, a 6-foot lefthander, is 57-6 with a 1.53 ERA in her varsity career. The Baylor signee is solid at the plate with a .391 average. Langkamp's only loss in 27 decisions last season came in the state title game, an 8-2 defeat to Deer Park. In 157.2 innings last season, she struck out 184. Shortstop Aubrey Leach, a University of Tennessee signee, batted .586 with 48 RBIs last season. Younger sister Kelcy Leach, a catcher, led the team in home runs with 10 as a freshman last spring. Senior third baseman Kaitlyn Stavinoha batted .439 and her 48 RBIs tied for the club lead. Shelby Dublin batted .369 and led the team in doubles. The Woodlands, a state champion in 2011, knows what it takes to win it all.

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3. Aledo
2014 record: 33-4
Head coach: Jeff Lemons

Ten games into the 2014 season, coach Jeff Lemons' Ladycats began a 27-game winning streak that carried the team through district play, the playoffs and eventually netted a Class 4A state championship. Senior pitcher Lauren Craine heads a solid group of returnees intent on bringing a third state title to Parker County. The righthander, a University of North Texas signee, went 30-3 as a sophomore in 2013 and helped Aledo reach the state semifinals. In the title run last year, Craine was 26-1. Another UNT signee, second baseman Rhylie Makawe, the championship game MVP, leads a strong list of returning senior hitters that includes catcher Allie Ramsey (UT-Tyler), shortstop Allie Arneson and third baseman Riley Sartain (Texas A&M). Junior Kadyn Kirkpatrick is back in the outfield for her third season as a starter.

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4. Kingwood
2014 record: 25-10
Head coach: Lauren Hendrix



Coming off a deep playoff run in 2014, the Mustangs are geared for even bigger things this spring. High expectations start in the circle with senior pitcher Ashley Johnson, who last year posted a 24-7 record with a 2.31 ERA. In 170 innings, the Belmont University signee struck out 168 and helped Kingwood reach the Class 5A Region II championship series. Rockwall denied the Mustangs a trip to the state Final Four with 2-1 series victory. Coach Hendrix can surround her pitcher with proven players, starting with junior shortstop Lindsay Gregory, a .408 batter and the club RBIs leader a year ago with 31. First baseman Georgie Gonzales batted .409 with 29 RBIs and a club-leading 10 doubles. Designated hitter Allie Gonzalez batted .360. Outfielder Arianna Zernial's .456 average was highest among regulars and left fielder Brittney Bryson, a St. Edwards' signee, batted .382 with a team-high four home runs. Outfielder Sydney Dennis, a signee of Quinnipiac University, had a .439 on-base percentage.

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5. Flower Mound
2014 record: 30-8-1
Head coach: Mark Larriba

The Jaguars were denied a trip to the state tournament due to a one-run loss in the decisive third game of the Region I playoff series. A large number of key players return this spring intent on writing a different ending. Heading the list is senior pitcher Annelise Oswalt. The Texas Tech signee owns an 18-4 career record and swings a very productive bat, as a .505 career average indicates. Junior first baseman Sydney Springfield, an LSU commit, led the club in home runs last season and still managed to hit for average. Kirsten Shaw, a junior outfielder, sophomore infielder Mikayla Moser and senior outfielder Mauri Jamele also carried high batting averages. Yet another junior outfielder, Kellie Wanhanen, led the team in stolen bases. Other veterans that Larriba will be counting on include senior third baseman Chandler Hoagland, junior outfielder Megan Gordon and junior pitchers Claire Lefner and Reagan Carter.