MaxPreps 2016 Southern Section preseason high school softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Note: Mission Viejo and Yucaipa are featured in the California overall Fab 5 and thus not on the section level

1. Pacifica (Garden Grove)
Head coach: Mark Campbell
2015 record: 22-6-1

The Mariners may have lost all-CIF player Faith Canfield but they are reloaded as usual, with at least eight players who are signed or committed to Division 1 colleges. Hannah Boos was the Empire League Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore and catcher Dejah Mulipola was a first-team all-league pick as a junior. The same goes for first baseman Jaymee Campbell. Alison Seng was all-league as an outfielder and will be a junior this season. There's more talent than that, and they'll all bond together looking to do better than a Division 1 quarterfinals finish.

See last season's Southern Section computer rankings



2. Los Alamitos
Head coach: Rob Weil
2015 record: 25-7

The Griffins have 10 Division 1 commits or signees, but star pitcher and Sunset League Pitcher of the Year Katya Duvall has graduated. They do have all-CIF Division 1 selection Jenna Holcomb coming back in the outfield after she was named the league's co-MVP. Mary Iakopo was an all-league shortstop as a sophomore and three other sophomores made the second team: Jenna Kean, Caitlin Ladd and Alexa Schultz.

See last season's Southern Section softball photo galleries

3. Grand Terrace
Head coach: Bobby Flores
2015 record: 26-4

Eight Division 1 signees are coming back for the reigning Division 3 runners-up, led by all-CIF and Oklahoma commit Melanie Olmos at pitcher (18-3, 1.46 ERA). Morgan Parsons (.398 average, 8 HRs, team-high 40 RBIs) was also all-CIF as a sophomore in the infield, and Eliyah Flores cranked an impressive 15 homers as a sophomore with a .495 average. Olmos also hit .429, so she's a multi-talented threat. Only one senior was on last year's roster, so expect another deep playoff run.

See last season's Southern Section playoff brackets



4. Norco
Head coach: Richard Robinson
2015 record: 27-8

The defending Division 1 champions are still loaded, with Coach of the Year Richard Robinson back at the helm. The Cougars did lose D-1 Player of the Year Abigail Lockman at catcher but they have at least six Division 1 college commits. Taylor Dockins won 26 games in the circle last season, and she's back for her junior season.

See last season's California statistical leaders

5. Etiwanda
Head coach: David Masucci
2015 record: 24-9

The Eagles were bounced in the second round of the Division 1 playoffs but come back with thunder in the middle of the batting order. Three first-team All-Baseline League Team honorees return for their senior years: Megan Stevens (.462 with 11 home runs), Vanessa Taukeiaho (.456 with 11 home runs) and Briana Wheeler (17-3, 1.31 ERA).