Lebanon opens the season as the top 2016 softball team in Ohio.
File photo by Scott Reed
2016 Ohio Preseason Softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. LebanonHead coach: Brian Kindell
2015 record: 39-1
The Warriors lost just five seniors off their 18-person roster from a team that lost in the state Division I finals to Teays Valley, 1-0. Among the returners are junior shortstop and pitcher
Brittany Ellis and junior pitcher and first baseman
Alexis Strother. The Warriors outscored opponents 344-48 last season.
See last season's Ohio softball computer rankings
2. Bloom-Carroll (Carroll)Head coach: Aaron Alvelo
2015 record: 27-5
The Bulldogs lost just four seniors off their 13-person roster from 2015 and return right-handed pitcher and middle infielder
McKenna Coffman, who finished second on the team with eight home runs and 31 RBIs while hitting .381. Bloom-Carroll hit .353 as a team last year. The Bulldogs lost in the state Division III title game to Champion.
See the MaxPreps Ohio softball pro photo galleries
3. Champion (Warren)Head coach: Cheryl Weaver
2
015 record: 30-4
The Golden Flashes won the state Division III championship last year and return eight players, including pitchers
Jackie Mulvain and
Mckenzie Zigmont, both sophomores, and freshman
Megan Turner.
See the MaxPreps Ohio softball playoff brackets.
4. Brecksville-Broadview Heights (Broadview Heights)Head coach: Rex Mack
2015 record: 27-4
The Bees lost six seniors off their 17-person roster from 2015, but return
Morgan Fadel, who hit .413 last season and had 31 hits and 29 RBIs. Another top hitter is
Stephanie DelRoso (.403, 31 hits, 25 RBIs). They also return their top pitcher,
Kelly Geringer, who went 22-4 with a 1.92 ERA.
See last season's Ohio softball stat leaders
5. Edison (Milan)
Head coach: Dale Dawson
2015 record: 18-3
The Chargers lost just two seniors off their 2015 15-person roster and return starting pitchers
Erica Reber (11-5, 2.52 ERA) and
Lauren Wolf (5-0, 1.07). With so many young players returning, the Chargers figure to make a big jump from last year's Division II quarterfinal elimination.
