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

Video: Karley Kopaska's highlights Marshalltown
See the Valley senior from last season, when she clubbed seven home runs.


1. Valley (West Des Moines)
Head coach: Tom Bakey
2016 record: 40-3

The Tigers will look to senior Mackenzie Ward, who was an All-State selection after going 21-1 in the circle with a 1.39 ERA. She fanned 75 in 141 innings. Ward will likely share pitching duties with junior Claire Stalzer, who was 16-1 with 66 strikeouts in 121 innings.
Offensively, freshman Alex Honnold hit .388 with 45 RBIs, four homers, four triples and 15 doubles as an eighth-grader for Valley, which finished third in the 5A tournament. Senior Karley Kopaska hammered a team-high seven long balls last season.

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2. Johnston
Head coach: Todd Merical
2016 record: 39-4

The Dragons are the defending 5A champions and have made four straight championship appearances. Johnston returns senior shortstop Brooke Wilmes, an All-State selection last season. She averaged .600 with six home runs, 34 RBIs and swiped 28 bases.
The Dragons will have to replace pitchers Haylee Towers (27-2) and Olivia Goodale (12-2), and that duty looks to fall on Emily Flint's shoulders. See the MaxPreps national softball stat leaders presented by the Army National Guard

3. Winterset
Head coach: Steve Corkrean
2016 record: 30-9

The Huskies will be led by All-State selection Macy Johnson, who hit a whopping .674 with 91 hits last season. The Drake University signee scored 57 runs, drove in 36, hit six home runs, eight triples and added 13 doubles. She will be joined by junior Danny Barker, a second team All-State pick, who hit .362 with 36 RBIs and 15 doubles.
Junior Sophie Stover likely will carry the pitching load after going 13-4 with a 1.48 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 99 innings.

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4. Benton (Van Horne)
Head coach: Eric Stenberg
2016 record: 40-2

The Bobcats lose All-State hurler Amber Fiser, but are stockpiled with 11 returning players from last year's 3A state title team.
Junior Shelby Hulsebus, a second team All-State selection, hit .400 with 42 hits and 11 RBIs last season. She will be joined by sophomore and fellow second team All-State pick Angie Gorkow, who hit .385 with seven homers, 13 doubles and drove in 43.
The pitching load looks to fall on senior Anna Stenberg, a third team All-State selection. She was 5-0 in the circle with a .033 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 21 innings. She also batted .388 with three home runs and 27 RBIs.

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5. Van Meter
Head coach: James Flaws
2016 record: 33-7

The Bulldogs are the defending 2A champions and will look to sophomore Haley Forret in the circle. She was 12-3 last season and also hit .348 with 31 RBIs.

Sophomore sisters Meagan Blomgren and Mackenzie Blomgren will help pace the Van Meter offense. Meagan hit .363 as a freshman with seven home runs and stole 46 bases on 47 attempts. Mackenzie hit .355 with 19 RBIs and stole 22 bases.