MaxPreps 2017 California preseason high school softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

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1. Los Alamitos
Head coach: Rob Weil
2016 record: 26-3

The Griffins graduated five players from last year's CIF-Southern Section semifinal team, but return seven All-Sunset League players and according to Weil, a staggering 18 have either committed or signed to college programs. Of those, 14 are seniors, so there is loads of experience.

Among the top players are senior pitcher Ryan Denhart, a Maryland signee who last season won 14 games and posted a 1.18 ERA.



Other standouts include pitcher Brianna Jewett (Sunset League's Rookie of the Year in 2016), catcher Mary Iakopo (Oregon signee), second baseman Caitlin Ladd (Michigan State) and senior outfielders Alexa Schultz (Oklahoma), Allison Englant (Ohio) and Jenna Kean (Arizona).

Among others who will be playing in college are infielders Kaitlin Parsons (Tennessee) and Kennedi Houshmandzadeh (LSU) and sophomore pitcher Sarah Ladd (Michigan State). Houshmandzadeh is only a freshman.

"This team is one of the most talented teams we have ever coached," Weil said. "Team strengths would have to be our pitching, speed, and offense up and down the lineup."

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2. Mission Viejo
Head coach: Troy Ybarra and Toni Mascarenas
2016 record: 27-4 The Diablos lost only three seniors from last year's 27-4 team that won the Southern Section D-2 title and return eight of their nine starting batters. The roster features six seniors and eight juniors.

Among those is senior infielder and Oregon Statem signee Camryn Ybarra, who hit 12 home runs from her leadoff spot. The MaxPreps Junior Player of the Year led the Diablos in average (.514), homers, hits (54), on-base percentage (.617) and runs (33).



In the circle, Louisville signee Kyra Snyder won 17 games last year and batted .373, and behind the plate, Terra McGowan led the team with 33 RBIs and was second in average (.402), home runs (10) and runs (24) as a freshman. She's already committed to Arizona State.

Other top players with college scholarships secured are senior shortstop Samantha Dees (Bowling Green), senior utility player Bella Loya (Illinois), senior infielder Allison Rawls (William Jewell), junior catcher Peyton Cody (St. John's), junior outfielder Olivia Viggiano (Seattle) and junior pitcher Taylor Ward (Presbyterian College).

Ybarra said the six seniors is the most he's had in 17 years as a coach. "It brings maturity to the table which you need in crunch time," he said. "We match up to several programs. It should be an exciting season."

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3. Norco
Head coach: Richard Robinson
2016 record: 26-6

Everyone returns from last year's 26-6 team, including senior pitcher Taylor Dockins, who is recovering from liver cancer surgery she had during the summer.



"She is throwing and looks good at this time," said Robinson, who warns more scans are coming regularly. Dockins has signed with Cal State Fullerton. In three varsity seasons, she has 75 wins and was a MaxPreps All-American last season.

The Cougars have a good mix of power and speed and can score runs with the long ball or by manufacturing runs.

Other top returning players include senior outfielder Naomi Hernandez (Long Beach State signee), who hit a team-best .487 last season, sophomore Kinzie Hansen (Oklahoma), the State Freshman of the Year who hit seven homers and drove in a team-best 37 runs, senior first baseman Gianna Marquecho, junior second baseman Toni Camarillo (Bryant University), junior catcher/outfielder Bianca Gonzalez (West Point), junior infielder/outfielder Sierra Marshall (Loyola Marymount), junior shortstop Mikayla Allee (Tennessee) and sophomore outfielders Megan Forbes and Reagan Cheyne.

"This year's team is very similar to my 2012 team that won the Southern Section title," Robinson said. "We return our entire team from last year and they have another year of maturity."

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4. Orange Lutheran (Orange)
Head coach: Steve Miklos
2016 record: 30-4



With three key seniors – pitcher Maddy Dwyer, catcher Lauren Espalin and first baseman Noelle Hee – Orange Lutheran looks poised for another CIF-Southern Section title run.

There is plenty of experience back from last year's title team with 14 players returning. Add two noteworthy newcomers, freshmen Victoria Fragoso and Taryn Lennon, and depth will not be an issue.

Dwyer, a Stanford signee, went 26-4 last season and was a MaxPreps All-American. Hee, a first baseman, has signed with Washington and was the Trinity League MVP. She's a career .398 hitter. Briggs, an LSU commit, hit .387 with 33 RBIs last season as a freshman.

Other top players include sophomore shortstop Mya Rodriguez (Ohio State), junior infielder Kira La Scola (Dartmouth), senior outfielder Jenah Tittle (Vanguard) and junior outfielder Isabelle Valdez (Vanguard).

"On paper this should be the best team that I've coached at Orange Lutheran," Miklos said. "It should be a fun season."

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5. Grand Terrace
Head coach: Bobby Flores
2016 record: 29-1

The Titans lost four starters to the college ranks from last year's Southern Section D-3 championship team, which could be a concern.

But Grand Terrace, winner of 26 straight entering 2017, returns a starting lineup that features nothing but players who have secured college softball scholarships. The Titans also return 33 home runs and seven players who drove in a dozen or more runs.

Among the best are senior outfielder Eliyah Flores, an Oklahoma signee who hit .451 with eight home runs last year, senior pitcher Yesenia Morrison (Grand Canyon), who went 11-0 with a 0.52 ERA and nine saves, senior shortstop Alyssa Martinez (Mississippi), senior catcher Lilly Bishop (North Carolina State), senior first baseman Morgan Parsons (Hawaii), junior second baseman Alyssa Graham (San Jose State), sophomore outfielder Alycia Flores (Oklahoma) and junior second baseman Alexis Lemus (Connecticut).

Coach Flores' only true concern coming into the season is pitching depth, noting that behind Morrison is a talented but raw freshman.

"Not to sound arrogant, but I think we're strong in all three areas: pitching, hitting and defense," he said.



MaxPreps national softball editor Tom Mauldin contributed to this report