MaxPreps 2017 CIF Northern Section preseason high school softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Greatest HR-robbing catch of all time.
Keisha White of West had one of the best catches of the season in 2016.


1. Foothill (Palo Cedro)
Head coach: Russ Weatherbee
2016 record: 29-1

The Cougars posted one of the section's best records ever, going 29-1 with a Division III championship. Jessica Seely returns for her senior year after going 24-1 in the circle with 242 strikeouts. Seely also had a huge year at the plate, batting .510 with 42 RBIs and eight home runs. Three other starters return, including Tayler Walker (.453), junior Shelby Lloyd (.352) and junior Meridian Enriquez (.307).

See last season's Northern Section softball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Lassen (Susanville)
Head coach: Rietta Amador
2016 record: 31-6-1

The Grizzlies will be without coach Paul Moore, who retired after leading Lassen to a Division IV championship over Sutter. The Grizzlies return one of the section's top players in Carli Lewis, who had a 20-3 pitching record with 224 strikeouts, and also batted .346. Five of the team's top eight hitters return from last year, led by junior Dani Nevis (.537) and Christina Torres (.417).

See the MaxPreps Northern Section softball pro photo galleries

3. West Valley (Cottonwood)
Head coach: Don Howard
2016 record: 23-9 The Eagles, who reached the Division IV semifinals, return every win from last year's pitching staff. Junior Taylor Galyean went 21-3 with 232 strikeouts and a 1.33 ERA and was also one the section's top hitters with a .490 batting average, 33 RBIs and eight home runs. Three of the team's other top hitters return from last year, including Tara George, who batted .371.

See last season's MaxPreps Northern Section softball playoff brackets

4. Paradise
Head coach: Lennie Dean
2016 record: 18-10

The Bobcats return one of the section's best pitchers in Savannah Berkowitz, who posted a 12-8 record with a 1.62 ERA and 108 strikeouts last year. The Bobcats also return three juniors who were among the team's leading hitters as sophomores, including outfielder Jenna Sobrero (.330), second baseman Jenna Griffith (.375) and outfielder Melanie Burnett (.266).

See last season's MaxPreps Northern Section softball stat leaders

5. East Nicolaus (Nicolaus)
Head coach: Neil Stinton
2016 record: 23-7

The Spartans won the Division V section championship with a team that consisted of five freshmen who made major contributions. Preslie Hewitt, now a sophomore, batted .495 while sophomore Savhanna Angland batted .342 and sophomore Makenzee Goyet batted .329. Angland is the top returning pitcher with an 8-3 record. The Spartans will have to replace All-Section pitcher Haley Brogard.