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

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1. Ooltewah
2016 record: 41-6
Head coach: Jon Massey The Owls went 41-6 last year, but didn't reach the state final 16. With eight of nine starters back look for that to change. Key returnees are Kayla Boseman (.589 batting average with 89 RBIs and 43 extra base hits, including 21 home runs), Mabry Carpenter (.420 average and 45 RBIs), Aubbie Collake (.387 average, 40 RBIs), Shelby Sutton (.412 hitter with 56 runs) and Tyler Sullivan (47 RBIs). Add Marissa Forrester (batted .383 as a sophomore) and sophomore Addy Keylon (.379) and runs will be plenty. Boseman (Mississippi commit) also pitches: 19-4 with a 2.04 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 127 innings.

Boseman, who was MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year in 2015, drove in two or more runs in a game 25 times last season. She also pitched 11 shutouts. Sophomore Mackenzie Patterson was 9-0 as a freshman and will get her share of innings this season.

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2. King's Academy (Seymour)
2016 record: 41-6, division state champs
Head coach: Marc Weakly

The Lions lost one player to graduation and all returnees received All-State, All-County or All-District recognition. Leading the list of returnees are All-State players Regan Weekly (Dartmouth commit) and Taylor Weekly (Toledo signee), Hayden Jenkins and Maddie Webber (Tennessee commit).

In the last two years, the Lions have beaten eights teams in various divisions that have reached state title games. In the last two seasons, they are 87-11. Pretty good for a program that started in 2013-2014 with no field.

Webber, a MaxPreps freshman all-American, batted .486 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs. Jenkins was District Player of the Year after hitting .547 with eight homers and 54 RBIs. Taylor Weekly batted .405 with 15 doubles and Regan Weekly hit .481. In addition to their All-State returnees, Other future college players include Katelyn (Fuzzy) Norris (Charleston Southern pledge), Rachel Baker (Mercer commit) and Sarah Grace Knight (Maryville College pledge). And a pair of newcomers who will make an immediate impact – freshman pitcher Kaylan Cole and eighth grader Cayden Baker.

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3. Stewarts Creek (Smyrna)
2016 record: 33-20
Head coach: Tory Atwood

Pitcher Kendall Mills (20-11, 1.60 ERA, 281 strikeouts in 188 innings and 28 complete games) will share the spotlight with big bopper Loryn Sherwood (22 home runs, 61 RBIs, and a .449 batting average). Brianna Brady (.45 RBI with a .371 average) and Morgan Smith (.333) add to the offense. Sherwood was a MaxPreps Underclass All-American as a sophomore.

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4. Christian Academy of Knoxville
2016 record: 36-7
Head coach: Dayna Carter

The Warriors return a lot from their 2016 state title winning D1-AA team. And three of their losses were by one run. The key returner is MaxPreps All-American Allison Zimmerman who did it all in 2016: she batted.565, hit 18 home runs, 15 doubles and had 92 RBIs and 33-7, 1.80 ERA. Returning players accounted for 42 home runs, 67 doubles and a .407 average a year ago. Emma Webb (24 extra base hits, .556 batting average, 69 runs), Kayla Domon (.532 batting average, 69 runs, 43 RBIs) and Caroline Cavin (11 homers, 56 RBIs and a .422 batting average) also are back. Three other returnees batted over .300 in 2016.

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5. Meigs County (Decatur)
2016 record: 40-4
Head coach: Jeff Davis

The 4A state winners graduated three seniors, but return 16 from their state championship roster. The most prominent returnee is junior pitcher Ashley Rogers (Tennessee commit) and State Class A Player of the Year. As a sophomore, Rogers was 28-3 with a 0.69 ERA and 409 strikeouts. She also homered 15 times and drove in 56 teammates. The Tigers will still be young this season with only three seniors. Other key returnees are Madison Crabtree, Lindsey Ward and Kaylie Moore.