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

1. Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park)
2015 record: 33-4, Class 4A third place
Head coach: Mel Kolbusz

Coming up just one game shy of playing for the Class 4A state title, the Huskies have their eyes on the prize. The team will have to replace just two starters and returns seven valuable players. The Huskies' top two pitchers are back. Junior Chardonnay Harris was 18-3 with 176 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings and senior Emily Richardson was 15-1 with an ERA under 1.50. Both were solid hitters – Harris (.519 and 32 RBIs) and Richardson (.405 with six home runs). Cleanup hitter Maeve Nelson is coming off a strong freshman season in which she hit .508 with 23 extra-base hits. Ellie Ziegler was great near the top of the order with a shade under .400 average and a team-high eight home runs. Caitlyn Santiago was second on the team with 38 RBIs.

See last season's Illinois computer rankings

2. Washington
2015 record: 29-10, Class 3A state champion
Head coach: Stephanie Ramsey



It was a program first last season for the Panthers, as they took home the 3A state title. The team started the season 20-10 before winning its last nine games en route to the championship. Seven starters are back, including most of the big guns. Madi McCoy enters her final season after going 23-4 in the circle with 210 strikeouts in 169 innings. She also hit .383 with 40 RBIs, 25 extra-base hits, and 12 home runs. The top four hitters in Washington's lineup return as leadoff hitter Addison Baele (.328), Kayla Ford (.344, five home runs), McCoy and Sam Garcia (.378) were unstoppable. Shelby Summer hit over .350 last season as a sophomore and should provide some more punch.

See last season's Illinois softball photo galleries

3. Marist (Chicago)
2015 record: 36-4-2, Class 4A state champion
Head coach: Colleen Biebel

The RedHawks are coming off winning the Class 4A state championship and return seven starters, so expectations are sky high this season. Pitcher Zariya Gonzalez is gone after compiling a 28-4 record, but the RedHawks don't plan to miss a beat with Lizzie Annerino (Boston University commit) and Emily Reilly (Loras University) stepping into the circle. The duo was a combined 8-0. James Madison University commit Madison Naujokas is a solid shortstop and No. 3 hitter (.441 average, 63 hits, 48 RBIs). The RedHawks have five other players returning who hit over .350 last season: Amanda McLlhany (.385), Paige Egan (.430), Alexis Rogers (.413), Vanessa Villasenor (.361) and Jillian Kenny (.354). McLlhany, the team's leadoff hitter, had 55 hits, 35 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 23 stolen bases.

See last season's Illinois playoff brackets

4. Marengo
2015 record: 35-7, Class 3A state runner-up
Head coach: Dwain Nance



The Indians combined an explosive offensive (44 home runs) with a strong defense and pitching to get all the way to the 3A title game. The team returns six starters and its pitcher, first-team all-state selection Mariah Dionne. The junior enters her third year starting and is 47-9 in her career. Last season, she was 26-4 with a 1.79 ERA. Dionne also hit .455 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs. Third baseman Allison Jasinski (.338, 13 doubles, 30 RBIs) and shortstop Leah Secor (.356, 17 RBIs, five doubles) are solid on the left side of the defense. Starters Aubrey Wzientek (CF), Anna Walsweer (2B) and Amber Proberts (LF) all hit over .300 a year ago.

See last season's Illinois softball stat leaders

5. Barrington
2015 record: 32-8
Head coach: Perry Peterson

The Fillies had just three seniors a season ago when they made a run to state. Top pitcher Keenan Dolezal will be the toughest replace. She went 31-8 and pitched all but 12 1/3 innings. Sophomore Catherine McMahon went 1-0 in 11 1/3 innings and had 17 strikeouts. Senior catcher Rachel Macdonald will have to work with the young pitching staff and also provide a big bat. She hit over .450 with 20 extra-base hits (15 doubles and five home runs) in 2015. Third baseman Jenna Fingerman hit a team-leading eight home runs. Fellow senior Kelly Katis had 16 doubles.