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

1. Amador Valley (Pleasanton)
2015 record: 24-3
Coach: Teresa Borchard

The Dons finished No. 17 in the final Xcellent 25 rankings and No. 10 in the MaxPreps Top 25 Computer Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard. They also won their second straight North Coast Section crown. This after going 27-0 in 2014 and losing most of their top players to graduation. The Dons reloaded with one of the state's top freshman pitchers Danielle Williams (24-3, 0.98 ERA), now a sophomore. She also led the team with a .532 batting average and 41 hits. Junior Courtney Dinelli and senior Ashley Balestrari are other key returners.

See last season's California computer rankings

2.  Yucaipa
2015 record: 31-3
Coach: David Kivett



The Thunderbirds won the Southern Section Division II championship with a 1-0 win over Mission Viejo in the finals. They allowed just two runs in five playoff games and for the season outscored opponents 216-26 to finish No. 2 in the nation, according to the final Xcellent 25 rankings presented by the Army National Guard. Yucaipa lost standout pitcher Brooke Bolinger to graduation but will likely replace her with sophomore Blayne Nelson and Alexis Avalos, who combined for eight appearances last season. Freshman Jenna Straka might also enter the mix as will Kaitlyn Alvarado. Yucaipa return top run-producers Kelly Martinez (.464, 42 RBIs) and Mallorie Cross (.319, 29 RBIs).

See last season's California softball photo galleries

3. Mission Viejo
2015 record: 30-1
Coaches: Troy Ybarra/Tony Mascarenas

The Diablos lost a stunning 1-0 game to Yucaipa in the Southern Section Division II finals, ruining a possible national championship season. Mission Viejo had defeated Yucaipa twice earlier in the year. The Diablos finished No. 3 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings, presented by the Army National Guard. With more than half of their 15-person roster returning, the Diablos should pick up where they left off, though they'll need to replace graduated pitcher Taylor McQuillin and record-setting slugger Alyssa Palomino, both current freshmen at the University of Arizona.

See last season's California playoff brackets

4. Pioneer (San Jose)
2015 record: 29-1
Coach: Ernie Garcia

The Mustangs finished No. 17 in the state last season and won 29 straight games before losing in the Central Coast Section Division II championship game 1-0 to Mitty, a team it beat earlier in the year. Overall, the Mustangs allowed just 12 runs all season and return the same dominating pitcher, Holly Azevedo, who finished 28-0 and didn't allow an earned run all season with 253 strikeouts in 170 innings. The team will need to replace top run-producers Caitlyn Weisner and Alex Luna, but top hitters Azevedo and Brooke Niwoehner should pick up the slack.



See last season's California softball stat leaders

5. East Union (Manteca)
2015 record: 30-3
Coach: Brian Goulart

The Lancers finished No. 25 in the final national computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard, after winning the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III crown, with a sweep over Pioneer, 12-1 and 17-3. The Lancers averaged more than 10 runs per game and outscored foes 326-80. They return both sophomore pitchers from last season, Delaney Pamplin and Mikayla Bongi, along with top run-producers Samantha Owen (61 RBIs) and Alexis Erich (59 RBIs). East Union graduated just one girl from its 15-person 2015 roster.