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

Video: Bishop Carroll (KS) Softball Highlights
See highlights of the 2015 national champions, Bishop Carroll.


1. Washburn Rural (Topeka)
Head coach: Ken Berry
2016 record: 22-3

Four All-State returnees lead the way for the Blues this season. Sierra Leonetti (batted .463 with 27 RBIs), Taylor Ullery (batted .468 with 37 RBIs and 20 extra-base hits including eight home runs), pitcher Madison Roth (17-3 with a 1.84 ERA) and Sally Fairbank (team leader in hitting at .477 and drove in 36 teammates). With those four and eight other returnees, a repeat trip to the state 6A finals is a strong possibility.

See last season's Kansas softball computer rankings

2. Garden City
Head coach: Trina Moquett
2016 record: 19-3

Garden City lost four starters, but returns senior Abbie Dart, possibly the state's top pitcher after going 18-2 with a 0.58 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 120 innings. She allowed just 54 hits and tossed a dozen shutouts. She also hits – a team high batting average of .476 with 28 RBIs. Dart, who has signed with Tyler Community College, will have support as seniors Kaci Finch and Alyssa Long and junior Laura Farmer return. The trio combined to hit over .400, score 60 runs and drive in 46 in 20 games.

See last season's Kansas softball pro photo galleries

3. Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh)
Head coach: Steve Giddens
2016 record: 16-4 Three of the team's 2016 four losses were to state 6A champ Seaman and with four key players returning, that should be different this season. The key veteran players include sophomore pitcher Paige Petefish (1.81 ERA), junior Lydia Ostenson (batted .459), junior Kaleigh Bayless (batted .491) and senior Faith Rottinghaus. Battery mates Petefish and Bayless were first team All-State and Ostenson and Rottinghaus were second team picks.

See last season's Kansas softball playoff brackets

4. Frontenac
Head coach: Cassie Buche
2016 record: 18-7

Kaylee Harper hit 10 home runs last season for the 4A-II state champion Raiders. She was clutch, as she hit five home runs in five postseason games – one in the regional semifinals, two in the regional championship and two in the state championship, despite being walked eight times over that period. For the season, Harper drove in a team-high 30 runs and scored 23 times. She led the Raiders defensively as well, committing three errors in 188 total chances (.984 fielding percentage). Also returning are All-State seniors Gwen Smalley (.391 batting average, 23 RBIs, team-high 36 hits) and Kayla Meyer, plus state title game stars Shelby Blythe (hit .306, with 21 RBIs and 18 runs scored) and Madison Davis.

See last season's Kansas softball stat leaders

5. Bishop Carroll (Wichita)
Head coach: Steve Harshberger
2016 record: 22-1

The Golden Eagles lost two big hitters, but the cupboard is full once again, as seven players who batted over .400 return from a team that scored 364 runs and allowed just 29. Their lone loss came in the state quarterfinals. As a team, they combined to strike out just 18 times in 23 games. Key returnees include seniors Maddie Miller (who batted .600 with a dozen homers and knocked in 59 teammates), Newman College signee Emma Eck (.507, 38 runs, 26 RBIs), Callie Gowing (batted .375) and Meghan Gutierrez (49 runs and an on-base percentage of .538). There's a lot more with sophomores Isabel Marcotte (batted .488), Hadley Kerschen (batted a team-low .355) and Kaylin Watkins, who hit .600 with 41 RBIs and was an All-State pitcher with a 1.01 ERA and a strikeout-per-inning average. Miller has signed with Texas-Arlington.