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

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1. Lakewood (Hebron)
2016 record: 29-0
Head coach: Criss Nadolson

The Lancers, last year’s MaxPreps Medium Schools Team of the Year, return six starters from a squad that finished undefeated, captured the program’s fourth state title (first since 2010) and finished third in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings. Senior pitcher Courtney Vierstra, 21-0 with a 0.69 ERA last year, has signed with Miami University. Senior infielder and Kent State recruit Brenna Brownfield returns after batting over .500 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs. Both Vierstra and Brownfield were MaxPreps Medium Schools All-Americans last season.

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2. Keystone (La Grange)
2016 record: 28-5
Head coach: Jim Piazza

The Wildcats are coming off their 15th state Final Four and 10th state final. Keystone finished runner-up for the seventh time, losing 7-4 in the final to undefeated Lakewood. Four Division I recruits return, led by senior infielder and Maryland signee Sammie Stefan, who set school records for career home runs (24), single-season home runs (13) and single-season RBIs (60) last year. A .526 career hitter, Stefan has 151 career RBIs in 272 at-bats. She had 47 runs scored as a junior. A pair of talented pitchers return in senior Lauren Shaw (Iowa recruit) and sophomore Sydney Campbell. Shaw is 58-13 with a 1.01 ERA, 467 strikeouts, 29 shutouts and four perfect games in her career. Paige Hartley (.345 career hitter, 33 career stolen bases) and Madi Cendrosky (.362 hitter, 21 RBIs as a junior) are headed to Cleveland State. Youngstown State basketball recruit McKenah Peters, the program’s all-time leading scorer, is also on the team.

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3. Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls)
2016 record: 24-5
Head coach: Bill Davis The Warriors won the program’s first Division I state title and third overall last year. It was Walsh Jesuit’s first championship since 2004 (D-II). Looking for the program’s 10th state tournament appearance, expectations are again high for a program that finished fifth in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings last season. Senior pitcher and Ohio University recruit Madi McCrady allowed just three hits and struck out 12 in last year’s state final. She also drove in two runs. Seniors Angie Bobish (two-run home run) and Allie Drake (two RBIs) had also had solid state final performances. Bobish hit seven home runs as a junior.

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4. Milford
2016 record: 21-4
Head coach: Christy Gregory

The Eagles return four first team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference players – Katelyn Reynolds (sophomore catcher), Katelyn Rheude (senior infielder), Kelsey Seitz (senior catcher/infielder) and Valerie Thompson (senior pitcher) – off a squad that finished 14-0 and conference champs last season. Seitz batted .571 with 29 runs scored and 28 RBIs, while Reynolds hit .481 with 34 runs scored, 23 RBIs and 11 doubles. Rheude hit .390 with 29 runs scored, 23 RBIs and eight doubles. Thompson was 19-3 on the mound with a 1.01 ERA, 134 strikeouts and 10 shutouts. She batted .338 with 22 RBIs. Junior Kelly Carraro (15 runs scored, six stolen bases) also returns after earning honorable mention All-ECC honors. Milford has won 67 games the last three years and is looking for a fourth-straight ECC title.

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5. Centerville
2016 record: 19-6
Head coach: Ellie Ellis

Looking for a dark horse? Try the Elks. Centerville returns six All-Greater Western Ohio Conference players including, four junior infielders (Amanda Ross, Raquel Emery, Olivia Ferrazza and Anna Demos) and seniors Lizzy Leach (infield) and Taylor White (outfield). Run production should not be a problem. Ross batted .429 with 18 RBI, 15 runs scored and eight doubles last year, while Leach hit .342 with 13 RBIs, 11 runs scored and seven doubles. White led the team in triples (three) and stolen bases (11) last year while batting .313. Ferazza was second in stolen bases (nine) and scored a team-high 17 runs. Emery batted .304 with 19 RBIs, 14 runs scored, three home runs and six doubles.