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

1. Curry (Jasper)
2015 record: 46-5, Class 4A state champion
Head coach: Phillip Smith

The Yellow Jackets are coming off their first state title in program history. With a good nucleus returning, back-to-back titles is a realistic goal this year. Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) Class 4A pitcher and player of the year Ashlee Swindle is back after a phenomenal junior season. The Auburn signee, who was a MaxPreps All-American second team honoree, was 43-5 last season with 327 strikeouts, 26 shutouts and a miniscule 0.22 ERA. Utility/shortstop Kaylee Horton will be the big bat in the Yellow Jackets' lineup. As a junior all-state recipient, the Mississippi signee hit .521 with 58 stolen bases. Another senior, Taylor Rowe, had a strong postseason and should provide some pop in the lineup.

See last season's Alabama softball computer rankings

2. Baker (Mobile)
2015 record: 50-6-1, Class 7A state champion
Head coach: Tony Scarborough



The Honeybees are coming off their first state title since 2007. The team lost a ton of talent to graduation, but has some nice pieces of its puzzle back. All-state pitcher/infielder Lacey Sumerlin is now playing at Georgia and was the Gatorade State Player of the Year with a .435 batting average and 12 home runs and a 22-1 record on the mound. Lexi Mathis was also all-state and is gone. Senior all-state selection Jordan Holifield will be the team's primary pitcher. She signed with Mississippi College after going 13-1 last season with 68 strikeouts and a 1.67 ERA. Lehigh signee Mary Hannah Smith is coming off a great year. The outfielder hit .472, stole 40 bases and had 83 hits. Junior DH Delaney Thomas and first baseman Victoria Ortiz will also be big bats in the lineup.

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3. Sparkman (Harvest)
2015 record: 40-12, Class 7A state runner-up
Head coach: Dale Palmer

After winning state titles the previous three seasons, the Senators came up one win short of their goal. However, five titles since 2006 makes Sparkman a dynasty. And dynasties only care about first, not second-place finishes. The Senators graduated their ace on the mound Bailey Moore, but second-team all-state honoree Paige Bannerman will slide into the rotation nicely. First-team all-state second baseman Kailey Stoker (.461 average, 16 doubles, 41 RBIs) will be big offensively and defensively for the Senators. Fellow junior first baseman Haley Cope and shortstop MacKenzie Nutt are coming off strong seasons.

See the MaxPreps Alabama softball playoff brackets

4. Springville
2015 record: 38-12, Class 5A state champion
Head coach: Chris Williams

Fueled by eighth-grade pitcher Abby Swaney, the Tigers captured their first state title in school history. With four years of eligibility left, Swaney could lead her team to the promised land again. She was 33-9 in the circle with 279 strikeouts and a 0.59 ERA. Springville didn't have a single senior on last year's squad and just two juniors – all-state honorees first baseman Rian Brown and outfielder Meg Sullivan. Brown, an Alabama-Birmingham signee, led Springville in home runs (11) and RBIs (51) and hit .400 with an on-base percentage of .565.



See last season's Alabama softball stat leaders

5. Buckhorn (New Market)
2015 record: 35-11
Head coach: Al Rauls

Buckhorn made a deep state run last season and returns some nice talent to do it once again. Pitcher Lauren Hayden, all-state honorable mention, had a solid sophomore campaign. Team her up with first-team all-state catcher Brooke Miller, an Alabama-Huntsville signee, and the Bucks have one of the best battery combinations in the state. The Bucks will have to replace Destiny Wright, a big bat in the lineup who is now playing at North Alabama.