MaxPreps 2016 North Carolina preseason high school softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Enka
2015 record: 29-0
Head coach: Jennifer Kruk

Enka has won 40 of its last 42 games, including all 29 in 2015. Along with that perfect season came the 3A state championship when the team averaged 10 runs per game. Enka was at its best during the playoffs, winning eight times and outscoring its opponents 66-10. And during the regular season, it routed 4A perennial power North Davidson, 9-3. The nucleus of that powerful team returns with pitcher Courtney Pearson (Queens commit and 15-0 a year ago), who was honored as the 3A West Pitcher of the Year. Also returning are all-state teammates Brittany Fletcher and Alabama sophomore commit Kloyee Anderson. Add senior Addison Harris and juniors Danielle Harris and Payton Trantham and Enka is the overwhelming No. 1 preseason favorite.

See last season's North Carolina softball computer rankings

2. North Davidson (Lexington)
2015 record: 26-7
Head coach: Mike Lambros



The 4A state runner-up committed just 27 errors last season and ended Alexander Central's 95-game win streak. The 2016 team will be led by shortstop Hailey Cole (UNC commit, .411, 28 runs), senior pitcher Carson Pace (Appalachian State signee and the 4A West POY after going 16-4, 1.24 ERA, 141Ks/107 IP), junior infielder Lydia Berkley (.357, team-high 28 RBIs) and senior Erica Mock (.351).

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3. South Central (Winterville)
2015 record: 20-5
Head coach: Cotton Nicholson

South Central lost just one starter from last year's team that reached the round of 8 in the state 4A Playoffs (losing to Apex) and returns three all-state players – junior pitcher Abigayle Rowell (20-4, 2.03 ERA) and sophomore infielders Ensley Berry (.412) and Cameron Davis (16 extra-base hits, 45 RBIs, .488). Also back are junior Lauren Conway (.437, 18 RBIs), senior Lindsay Sutton (.396), Lindsey McCallum (.345), Cameron Criswell (.314, 22 RBIs) and senior Braelin Mizelle (. 338). A year ago, the team batted .369 and averaged more than nine runs per game. Four of the five losses were to 4A's four semifinalists.

See last season's North Carolina softball playoff brackets

4. Lee County (Sanford)
2015 record: 21-4
Head coach: Miles McCaskill



The 3A power lost two senior starters from a team that hit .425 and averaged 9.9 runs per game. Lee County returns six all-state players, including seniors Savannah Patterson (.453, 23 RBIs), Morgan Pedley (Barton College, .457, 33 RBIs, 7-2, 1.47 ERA), Caroline Wilson (.352), and juniors Jacie Arrington (.568, 33 RBIs), Tessa Wilson (.421, 7 HR, 39 RBIs), and pitcher Whitney Sanford (Wingate commit, .463, 5 HR, 14-2, 2.30 ERA, 123 strikeouts in 82 innings). Sanford was the 3A East POY. Add senior Zizi Hammond (.520), and this team might improve upon last year's 9.9 runs per game.

See last season's North Carolina softball stat leaders

5. South Granville (Creedmoor)
2015 record: 25-2
Head coach: Walter Day

The reigning 2A state champion is loaded with five all-state performers returning from a team that batted .467 and committed just 15 errors. Top returnees include senior Hunter Mundy (Radford signee), who is a three-time all-state selection and MVP of the 2015 NCHSAA 2A state championship after hitting two home runs in a 4-3 win. She was named to the Raleigh News & Observer All-Metro Team last season after hitting .494 with nine homers, 14 doubles and 52 RBIs. Other key returnees are senior Savannah Tilley (.477, 28 RBIs) and junior pitcher Miranda Barker (24-2, 0.87 ERA, averaging a strikeout per inning and 16 shutouts). Barker hits, too (.534, 31 RBIs). And finally, junior Abbi Colclough (.456) and sophomore Megan White (57 runs, 10 HRs) come back as well.