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

1. Sherwood (Sandy Spring)
2015 record: 22-0
Head coach: Ashley Barber-Strunk

Sherwood has won four straight 4A state titles and appears in position for a fifth with a dozen returnees who also have a goal of stretching Sherwood's 83-game win streak. The last time Sherwood lost was in 2011. Overall, the Warriors battered their 2015 opponents by a run differential of 272-11 as six players averaged more than an RBI per game. Four return for 2016, including Kara Carney, who had 40. Back is unbeaten pitcher Jaime Schmier, who was 22-0 a year ago. She has plenty of support in Carney, McKenzie Bina, Brittany Mathis and future collegians Amanda Berkley (Mt. St Mary's University) and Marisa Mancini (Swarthmore College).

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2. Leonardtown
2015 record: 21-3
Head coach: Kimberly Schrader



The big question is can the Raiders end Sherwood's streak? Maybe with junior Kaitlin Beasley-Polko (Coastal Carolina commit) taking the field again. In 2015, she had 357 strikeouts (13 times with 16 or more in a game with a single-game high of 24), 20-3 record (14 shutouts), and two of her three losses were by 1-0 margins, the last two to state champion Sherwood. Allison Mills (.280) is another key returnee.

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3. St. Mary's Ryken (Leonardtown)
2015 record: 23-2
Head coach: Jim Sewell

The team hit .420, averaged 9.6 runs and four extra-base hits per game. Fordham signee Madison Aughinbaugh (.584, 50 hits in 24 games, 29 RBIs, 22-1, 0.84 ERA, 212 strikeouts in 141 innings and allowed only 15 walks). The Knights scored in double digits on 15 occasions last season. Also back are seniors Mackenzie Owens (.361, 32 RBIs), Lindsay Keller (.409) and Moriah Hunter (.300), and juniors Katie Prebble (.460, 33 runs) and Emma Thompson (.398).

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4. Northern (Owings)
2015 record: 22-2
Head coach: Robert Earl Radford



The 2015 3A state winners should pick up where they left off, as they return all but one senior from a team that batted almost .400. The Knights have won eight straight state titles and have won 115 games and lost just four in the last five seasons. The Knights finished the season with 16 straight wins. Senior and Maryland signee Kassidy Cross (.595, 47 hits, 36 runs, 24 RBIs) and Mount Saint Mary's signee Kaylee Cross (17-2, 1.21 ERA) should play key roles if the streak continues. Other key returnees are seniors Natalie LaPlaca (Navy signee who hit .333, 20 RBIs), Delaware State signee Micaela Cummings (.413, 36 RBIs, five homers) and outfielder Rachel Daugherty (Morgan State).

See last season's Maryland softball stat leaders

5. Northwest (Germantown)
2015 record: 20-4
Head coach: Mike Horton

The key returnee is pitcher Bridgette Barbour, who set a school record for strikeouts and led the team in batting and RBIs in 2015. She also threw a pair of no-hitters and a perfect game as a junior. Other key returnees are shortstop Karlie Stanford, who played errorless ball and senior first baseman Kat McCutcheon (.400). Look for transfers Alexis Mack (Gaithersburg transfer) and Alexa Bowen (Montgomery transfer) and freshmen Alex Karamihas and Lauren Walker to contribute significantly this season.