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

1. Brookville (Lynchburg)
Head coach: Gary Ferguson
2015 finish: 22-2

The Bees won the 3A state title last season on a walk-off double from Danielle Calloway, their second in a row. A third is probable thanks to four first-team all-state players coming back. Class 3A Player of the Year and Virginia Tech commit Jordan Dail is back for her junior year as a star pitcher, and batterymate Megan Dray is back at catcher for her junior year after first-team honors. Calloway was all-state as a sophomore and comes back in the outfield, and Hannah Wright was all-state as a junior first baseman last year.

See last season's Virginia computer rankings

2. Southampton Academy (Courtland)
Head coach: Jeb Bradshaw
2015 finish: 20-2

Bradshaw was the VISAA Division III Coach of the Year last season after leading his squad to a state title. Though Player of the Year Brooke Mizelle has moved on, there are still all-state players coming back. First-team VISAA D-III choices senior Ashten Hinkle (.461, 13 stolen bases) and junior Mason Pope (.465, 19 RBIs) will return, and Kelly Ferguson (hit .391 as a freshman last year) and junior Allison Matthews (.536, 12 doubles) were honorees on the second team.

See last season's Virginia softball photo galleries

3. Brentsville District (Nokesville)
Head coach: Amy Beard
2015 finish: 23-2

A trip to the state tournament was the highlight last season but the Tigers will want to fight for the ultimate prize this season. Two juniors will look to lead the way to the promised land. Star pitcher Leah Shipp is back for her junior year after first-team 3A all-state honors (.514 average, 5 HR, 23-2 pitching record), and she's joined by fellow all-stater Erin Jones, an outfielder who hit .385 as a sophomore.

See last season's Virginia playoff brackets

4. Bishop O'Connell (Arlington)
Head coach: Tommy Orndorff
2015 finish: 27-3

The Knights were VISAA Division I champions last season and that is no surprise. They have won the title every year except for three instances since 1993. They return the Coach of the Year for VISAA Division I in Orndorff and the Player of the Year in junior pitcher Patty Maye Ohanian and senior infielder Olivia Giaquinto also comes back for the title defense after an all-state junior season.

See last season's Virginia softball stat leaders

5. Turner Ashby (Bridgewater)
Head coach: Laura Moore
2015 finish: 24-1

A loss in the regional semifinal ended the Knights' perfect season. Now they will look to keep rolling in 2016 behind a pair of first-team all-state 3A players. Senior designated player/flex Kierstin Roadcap (.507, 6 homers) and junior outfielder Cana Davis (.533, 8 HR, 42 RBIs) will bring thunder back to the plate. Natalie Helmick returns for her senior year as the top pitcher (18-1, 0.92 ERA) after a second-team selection.