MaxPreps 2015 Minnesota preseason softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Lakeville South
2014 record: 22-5, Class AAA state champion
Head coach: Rob Laden
 
In their first state tournament appearance a season ago, the Cougars ran the table and took home the Class AAA state championship. The team returns nine of its 10 starters – including a designated player – and is primed for back-to-back titles. The Cougars will have to replace pitcher Kylie Stober, who is playing this year for the University of Minnesota. All-state tournament team members Bailee Jackson (senior pitcher/first baseman) and Amanda Bloomquist (junior outfielder/catcher) will be two key members. Second-year coach Rob Laden will have a deep roster after having just two seniors on last year's team.

View last season's Minnesota softball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard
 
2. Maple Grove
2014 record: 22-4, Class AAA state runner-up
Head coach: Jim Koltes
 
The Crimson will go as far as star Sydney Smith can take them. Last year, that was all the way to the state title game. Smith, an LSU commit, was named the Minnesota Gatorade Softball Player of the Year as a junior. She hit almost .600 at the plate and was dominant on the mound with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 8-to-1 and an ERA under 1.00. The Crimson have back eight of their top 10 players, including infielder/pitcher Samantha Sadler, who was an all-state tournament selection. The team will have to replace catcher Jordan Mauch, who was a solid piece behind the plate and hit over .500. Maple Grove is still in search of its first state title after placing runner-up in three (2006, '12 and '14) of its five state appearances.

View last season's Minnesota softball playoff brackets
 
3. Anoka
2014 record: 21-3
Head coach: Toni Jesinoski
 
The Tornadoes have a lot of firepower back. With eight of 10 starters returning, Anoka could be on a quest for consecutive trips to the state tournament. In their first state appearance last season, the Tornadoes came in third after falling to the eventual state champions, Lakeville South. The team's lineup will be strong, but it will have to replace a solid battery combination of pitcher Megan Lindenfelser (cleanup hitter) and catcher Dayja Rosario (leadoff hitter). Senior outfielder Taylor Chell and junior second baseman Makayla Zimmer will add some pop at the top of the lineup that scored 9.5 runs per game last season. Anoka had five freshmen on last year's team who saw significant time and will play key roles this season.

View last season's Minnesota softball stat leaders
 
4. New Prague
2014 record: 18-7
Head coach: Nat Wagner
 
Without a senior on last season's roster – including five middle-schoolers and five freshmen -- the Trojans' young squad advanced to the Class AAA state tournament. Despite losing both its games on the big stage, the program's first trip to state, everyone is back with experience on their side. New Prague pitcher Nichole Reed, who was just a freshman last season, had an ERA of 0.59 before surrendering seven earned runs in two state games. The Trojans had eight players hit over .330 last season, led by first baseman Maddie Giesen, who finished near .450.



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5. Kasson-Mantorville
2014 record: 28-0, Class AA state champion
Head coach: Jeff Fague
 
The Komets were the lone undefeated softball team in all classes in Minnesota last season. Despite being a Class AA team – the schools with mid-size enrollment -- Kasson-Mantorville was a powerhouse. Pitcher Maddie Damon is back for her final season after a dominating junior year in the circle. She surrendered just nine runs all season, five were earned. The Purdue commit will have to be on her game this season since only four of the team's starters from the state championship game are back. Battery mate Cori Kennedy also returns after earning all-state tournament honors alongside fellow senior Dana Rasmussen, who is a second baseman.