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

Video: All-state shortstop with first softball MPTopPlay of the year
See our first #MPTopPlay from the softball season.


1. North Kingstown
2016 record: 22-0
Head Coach: Adam Laliberte

The Skippers have won two of the last three RIIL Division I titles and show no signs of slowing down, especially with the return of UMass commit and reigning State Player of the Year Kiara Oliver. As a junior in 2016, the righthander went 22-0 with a 0.17 ERA. In all, North Kingstown has reached the state title game in three consecutive seasons.

See MaxPreps Rhode Island softball computer rankings

2. LaSalle Academy (Providence)
2016 record: 18-5
Head Coach: Fallon Scorpino

Fallon Scorpino takes over the coaching reins this season from Stefanie Bello, who had the Rams in position to win several recent state titles, only to fall short. LaSalle figures to contend again as it brings back, among others, its starting battery of pitcher Gabby Conca (a St. John's pledge) and catcher River Glenn.

See MaxPreps Rhode Island softball stat leaderboards

3. Cumberland
2016 record: 20-4
Head coach: Marty Crowley Third baseman Maddi Leite and shortstop Taylor Fay made up perhaps the best left side of the infield of any team in Rhode Island last season. Fay has graduated but Leite is back, as is standout outfielder Samantha Jalbert. Cumberland was the runaway winner last season of the RIIL's Division I North, finishing nine games clear of the second-place team.

See the MaxPreps Rhode Island softball photos

4. Chariho (Wood River Junction)
2016 record: 13-11
Head coach: Dave Petrocelli

Sophomore pitcher and Penn State recruit Vanessa Oatley heads a large group returning players that despite its youth in 2016 still managed to win two games in the RIIL playoffs. Oatley was 9-3 with 109 strikeouts as a freshman in 2016.

See the MaxPreps Rhode Island softball playoff brackets

5. Moses Brown (Providence)
2016 record: 19-6
Head coach: Peter DeStefano

The Quakers move up to Division I this season after reaching the RIIL Division II final a year ago, only to lose in the bottom of the seventh to Woonsocket. Moses Brown had won four straight elimination games to reach the winner-take-all final. Junior pitcher Janel Gamache and sophomore catcher Celia Macari should provide a solid battery combination for the next few seasons.