2019 MaxPreps Top 50 preseason high school softball rankings

With 10 future Division I softball players and eight others likely to have collegiate futures, the biggest obstacle facing Norco softball coach Richard Robinson is Mother Nature.

"The team is looking good just anxious to play," said Robinson, beginning his 20th year with the California powerhouse. "Every day we are scheduled to play it's rained."

The Cougars won the CIF Southern Section D-I title a year after entering the 2017 D-I title game 33-0 and ranked No. 1 in MaxPreps, only to lose on the final day of the season.

It's well known that California's Southern Section is regarded as the toughest of any district in the country.

Robinson's resume supports that: a 455-129 won-loss record, five Section titles and 10 league titles. And more than 100 players who have gone on to play collegiately.

Whether this turns into his best team ever or not remains to be seen. So far, Mother Nature is winning.

But as Robinson puts it, "We again have a good mix of speed and power offensively. We also have strong pitching and defense."

When the 2019 MaxPreps Preseason All-American Softball team is announced next week, Norco will have three players represented — catcher Kinzie Hansen (signed with Oklahoma), senior infielder Paige Smith (Mississippi) and junior pitcher Sarah Willis (Washington pledge).

Three other starters — Raegan Cheyne (Mississippi), Katelyn Olson (Fullerton), Allison Beecher (Colorado State) — also return. Add newcomers Kyleigh Sand (DePaul) and Abby Dayton and the Cougars get the early season nod as No. 1.
 
Hansen, a right-handed catcher, hit .596 with 31 hits, 35 RBIs, four home runs last year. She had a .992 fielding percentage and hit safely in 23-of-25 games. Hansen was named California's Southern Section D1 Player of the Year and has three MaxPreps' All-American honors (Freshman, Junior, At-Large).

Willis was a MaxPreps Sophomore All-American in 2018 when she was 25-3 with a 1.26 ERA and 188 strikeouts pitching against an arsenal of Orange County sluggers. She also batted .436 with 21 RBIs.

During the postseason, no one was hotter than Smith, who led the Cougars in clutch hits, driving in 41 with seven home runs.

Needless to say there is plenty of depth on a team full of future collegiate players. On a team that batted .379 against Southern California pitching, 11 players return. And sophomore pitcher Stevie Hansen (no relation to Kenzie) was 4-0 and averaged better than a strikeout per inning. She allowed just 12 base hits.
2. Marist (Chicago), 31-4
When asked what her team strengths was, coach Colleen Biebel said "our strength will be our lineup."

She probably couldn't be more accurate with a team that features as many as a dozen future college players and a pair of MaxPreps Underclass All-Americans in Lexi Voss (Michigan) and Angela Zedak (Northwestern).

Voss had monster season in 2018: 70 RBIs, 76 hits, 19 homers, 16 doubles and a .644 batting average. She notched a base hit in all but one game and finished the season on a 30-game hit streak. She either scored or drove in a run in all but one game.

Recovering from an injury, Zedak did it at the plate and in the circle when she hit .505, with 18 homers, drove in 47, while slugging .957 with 14 two-out, run-scoring doubles. She was also 15-1 with a 1.59 ERA as Marist went 32-4 on the season.

The Redhawks are loaded with future collegians suiting up — senior catcher Cassie Lindmark (Kentucky), sophomore pitcher Abby Dunning (Dartmouth pledge), junior outfielder Brianna Brown (Penn), senior Jess Balich (Iowa State), senior Kelly Walinski (Northern Illinois), junior Gabby Altobelli (Wisconsin), sophomore shortstop Easton Lotus (Louisville ), senior corner Madison Garofalo (Wisconsin Platteville)."

"We have a great mix of power and speed," said Biebel.

The Redhawks graduated two seniors in 2018 and return 14 players who combined to hit 70 homers and bat .469 as a team. Walinski, Zedak and Voss combined for 50 of those round-trippers.

3. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 35-2
Favored to win the 2018 state 6A title, the Huskies lost on the season's final day. They will attack their goal to win it all with mix of seniors, juniors, sophomores and another outstanding freshman.

"We will be strong at key positions, like pitching and catching, which is the foundation of what should be a very good defense," said longtime coach Rocky Parra. "Our lineup will be strong from 1-9 and deeper than that. We hope to keep the pace of our 35-2 record of last year."

All six Hamilton seniors have signed to play in college next year. Leading the way is senior MaxPreps All-American Macy Simmons, a catcher and a member of the USA junior national team. The Arizona signee batted .547 with 16 homers last year.

Other senior signees include Georgetown signee Lorena Vasquez-Inzunza (.500 average, nine homers), Danielle Cole (Concordia signee), versatile Washington signee Adhya Tandon (.400 average), George Fox University signee Tierney Zubchevich (.389 average).

Sophomore pitcher Loganne Stepp was a MaxPreps Freshmen All American who went 11-0 with an 0.52 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 67 innings.

Junior third baseman Teagan Dobson, who batted .500 a year ago, also plays on the Australian 19U National team.

4. Oakleaf (Orange Park, Fla.), 30-3
Some teams rebuild when six seniors graduated to the collegiate level. Oakleaf just reloads.

"We had some young depth last year who will get their chance to shine this year," said coach Christian Thompson. "I anticipate a tough year schedule wise, but I think we are primed to have a great season."

Oakleaf lost 1-0 in the state 8A title game, but return the state's 8A Pitcher of the Year in Central Florida signee Madi Davis (18-2, 1.06 ERA). Jacksonville signee Cambria Arturo (9-1, 0.87 ERA), Florida commit Katie Kistler (.485 average, 24 steals, 14 doubles), Florida signee Baylee Goddard (14 doubles, 16 steals, .346 average), UNC commit Kaylee Lambrecht (.339 average, 26 RBIs, 29 runs, 17 stolen bases) all return as well.

Adding to the reloaded lineup is transfer Jaeda McFarland, a speedy outfielder who has committed to Louisiana Tech. She batted over .500 last season and led Lansing (KS) in every offensive category. Thompson calls her "lightning fast and an immediate impact player."

5. Keller (Texas), 31-3-1
MaxPreps All-American pitcher Dylann Kaderka returns after going 24-2 in 2018 and 54-7 over the last two years. This year, she gets to share the load as talented Ashley Breeding has arrived to give Keller one of state's best one-two pitching combination.

Add another MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Alexa Langeliers, who hit .522 as a freshman, and combine that youthful trio with LSU pledge Hayden Brown (.508 average), Texas Tech pledge Riley Love (.436 average) and senior outfielder Amanda DeSario, who has signed with Texas Tech and Keller, the large school runner-up, is the Lone Star State's best. DeSario batted .506 a year ago and was a MaxPreps Freshman All-American in 2016.

6. Huntington Beach (Calif.), 21-8
The Oilers lost 6-5 to Norco in the Southern California D-I quarterfinals. Guess what goal their goal is for 2019?

Coach Jeff Forsberg and his team might just have a shot as he said his team strengths are "Experience, pitching, speed and chemistry."

Led by Washington signee and USA Junior Olympic team member Jadelyn Allchin, the Oilers also return pitcher Grace Uribe (Texas A&M pledge), Devyn Greer (NC State pledge), Shelbi Ortiz (Utah), Ameryn Humble (Drexel), Laren Cox (Vanguard), Valerie Rudd (Abilene Christian), Reanna Rudd (North Dakota St), Kelly Ryono (Illinois), Megan Ryono (Columbia) and Katelyn Mangrello (UC-Santa Barbara).

Allchin has hit over .400 in her high school career, with an OPS over 1.200 each of the last two seasons. She also earned All-Southern California honors multiple times. As a junior, she had 21 extra-base hits in 28 games, included double-digit doubles.

Forsberg says newcomers Jaylene Duarte and Anna Carreon will make an immediate impact.

7. Foothill (Pleasanton, Calif.), 24-4
After allowing just 40 runs in 27 games, Foothill lost 2-0 in the North Coast Section D-I finals.

The sting may still be there, but eight starter players are aiming for a different outcome in 2019.

Heading the list is MaxPreps Underclass All-American pitcher Nicole May (Oklahoma pledge) and seniors Hope Alley (Pittsburgh) and Ellen Ebbers (Morgan State), and juniors Courtney Beaudin and Hailey Hayes (Boise State pledge).

May earned her postseason honors going 21-2 with an 0.68 ERA, struck out 209 in 128 innings and walked 24. She also batted .404. May was also a MaxPreps' All-American as a freshman when she led Foothill to the CIF North Coast Section DI championship. She struck out 293 and finished with a 0.84 ERA. She was selected by the All-Bay Area News Group to its first team All-Star team.

Coach Matt Sweeney said the team strengths "are our eight returning starters, who are great workers and very competitive. They are extremely battle tested over the past three seasons."

8. Los Alamitos (Calif.), 24-3
Year in and year out, the Griffins play as tough a schedule as any team in the country and 2019 will be no different. But optimism is — once again — extremely high with four senior college signees — Ali Belarde (Utah), Samantha Denehy (UC-Santa Barbara), Erin Mendoza (Oregon State) and pitcher Sarah Ladd (Michigan State).

The left-handed Ladd went 18-2 with a 1.20 ERA to help Los Alamitos earn a share of the Sunset League title.

Other key returnees are Tyler Denhart, Emma Sellers, Jamie Sellers and Sophia Nugent (.412 average 31 RBIs, no errors). Nugent, Ladd and Belarde earned MaxPreps postseason honors.

And if that contingent isn't enough, the Griffins have a plethora of newcomers to give them added pitching and speed on the bases.

9. Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.), 24-5
The Mustangs lost 1-0 to Oakleaf in state semifinals a year ago, but return a roster full of future collegiate players looking for a showdown repeat.

Lakewood Ranch is led by Florida commit first baseman Avery Goelz (.541 average, 31 RBIs, 19 extra base hits), Connecticut commit Payton Kinney (0.81 ERA, .358 average), North Carolina pledge Brooklyn Lucero (.442 batting, 5-1 record), East Carolina commit Taylor Woodring (.381 average, 30 RBIs) and senior Maddie Koczersut (.409  average, 37 runs).

Add senior Kayla Howald (Campbell signee) who played little in 2018 due to injury, but still struck out 38 in 24 innings, and Oakleaf will hear footsteps.

10. Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.), 26-5
It's very likely No. 10 could be too low for the Lancers.

They return all nine starters from last year's 26-win team, led by MaxPreps All-American Ciara Briggs (LSU signee) and Ohio State-bound Mariah Rodriguez — both four-year starters.

Briggs is a multiple-time MaxPreps All-American and she hit .490 with 12 doubles, four triples, 30 RBIs, 10 steals and eight home runs. She was the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament Most Valuable Player. Rodriguez hit .422 with 37 RBIs. 

The Lancers also return their top two pitchers from last year's squad — Mia Bagatorian (Dartmouth) and Taryn Lennon (BYU), who combined to go 26-5. 

Other college signees of commitments are Jaeden Barajas (Utah Valley), Brenna Begin (Arizona State), Victoria Fragoso (Kentucky), Tayler Holcroft (Nevada-Reno), Miranda Stoddard (Kentucky), Sarah Taylor (Mercer) and
Paloma Usquiano (Arkansas). Stoddard and Begin are transfers who will make an immediate impact.

11. Forney (Forney, Texas), 35-6
The reigning state 5A champion Jackrabbits enter season with 27-game winning streak. Leading the way are Kansas pledge Savanna DesRochers, who as a sophomore was 28-4 with a 1.02 ERA while hitting .584 with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs.

Texas A&M pledge Trinity Cannon has Player of Year caliber talent after hitting 22 home runs and 87 RBIs in her first two years of high school. Last season, she hit .567 and scored 50 runs.

12. Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.), 30-5
A ton of experience returns in Kendall Mangel (27-3), Brooke Johnson (.430, 11 homers, 30 RBIs), Kayla Chavez (.348 average, four homers, 26 RBIs), Mykenzie Hanna (.360, five homers, 25 RBIs) and Makena Brocki (.385, 20 steals).

College signees and commits include Mangel (Maryland pledge), Johnson (DePaul signee), Brock (San Diego State commit), Estrada (Arkansas pledge) and Barnes (St. Francis-NY signee).

Newcomers Maddie Barnes, Mia Escujuri, Tatum Johnson and Kiki Estrada are ready for prime time.

13. O'Connor (Phoenix), 30-5-1
The big loss was four-year all-stater Grace Lyons (now starting for Oklahoma), but the returners have what it takes to win a state title, starting with Kaylee Erickson (BYU signee), Rylee Holtorf (Washington commit), and pitchers Danielle Wilson and Maddy Youngblood.

14. Gahr (Cerritos, Calif.), 24-6
Jazmine Hill (Arizona signee), Gisele Tapia (Duke) and Shasiel Fregoso (Louisiana Lafayette) give Gahr a lot to work with.

15. The Woodlands (Texas), 24-8-1
Seven starters return from last year's 24-win team including seniors Abby Jones (signed with Tulsa), Skylar Stockton and Tennessee commit Amanda Curran (11-2, 1.29 ERA, 11 homers). There's plenty more talent with super sophomore Kayla Falterman (29 steals, .472 average, 34 runs) and junior Skylar Sirdashney (.389 average, four homers, 29 RBIs).

16. Fort Myers (Fla.), 28-3

17. Cienega (Vail, Ariz.), 29-6
18. Atascocita (Humble, Texas), 35-7

19. Bonney Lake (Wash.), 26-2
The defending state 3A champs open on a 14-game win streak are led by MaxPreps All-American pitcher Brooke Nelson and six other returning starters.

Nelson, who has signed with Washington, put up big numbers in 2018 with a 21-2 mark with a 0.51 ERA and 289 strikeouts in 138 innings. She fired five no-hitters, including two perfect games, and recorded 30 strikeouts in a row over two games. Nelson batted .654 with 17 home runs, 46 runs scored, 51 RBIs and a 1.457 slugging percentage.

20. Jackson (Mill Creek, Wash.), 25-1
Defending 4A champs are loaded and are heavy favorites to repeat with Iyanla (Ice) Pennington in circle. She batted .507, homered eight times and was 22-1 with a .0.35 ERA. She averaged more than two strikeouts per inning and pitched 15 shutouts, including three in four games at the state tournament. But the Timberwolves aren't a one-dimensional team with five other starters returning.

21. Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.), 41-11
The Jaguars reached the state finals last year and did so without a senior. This season they have five — Maddie Majors (Auburn), Bailey Bowers (Alabama-Birmingham), Kate Campbell, Caroline Wooley and Caroline Kendrick (Hofstra). All were major offensive contributors. And Campbell teamed with sophomore ace Annabelle Widra for 38 wins. Widra also batted .468.

22. Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.), 31-3

23. Champion (Warren, Ohio), 31-0
The Golden Flashes  are back-to-back state D3 champions that enter the season on a 39-game win streak. They committed just 14 errors a year ago and strikeout less than three times per game. With stellar junior pitchers Allison Smith and Sophie Howell returning, keep a close eye on that win streak. They combined to strike out 344 in 189 innings and twirled 19 shutouts as sophomores. Smith also had 15 homers and 55 RBIs.

24. Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 30-2
Senior pitcher Abby Herbst (21-1, 0.56 ERA and team-high .583 average) returns, as do six other players who homered on a team that batted .401. Center Grove committed 17 errors last season and struck out an average of only twice a game. Herbst has signed with Wisconsin and Piper Belden has signed with Indianapolis.

25. Keystone (La Grange, Ohio), 34-0

26. Hoover (Clendenin, W. Va.), 33-0
The 2018 Huskies hit .407 as a team, scored 273 runs and allowed 25. The team ERA was 0.58 and pitchers Delani Buckner and Presley McGee combined to strike out 338 batters as sophomores.

27. Pinnacle (Phoenix), 31-6
Morgan Smith (12-3, 3.53 ERA, 13 homers, .489 average) will take center stage in the circle as the defending state champions go after a repeat.

28. Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh, Kan.), 25-0
Returnees include all-state players Paige Petefish, Abbey Fischer, Aniya Holt and Jaycee Ginter as the back-to-back state champs begin the year with a 50-game winning streak.


30.Oshkosh North (Oshkosh, WI), 27-2
All-American Syd Supple (Northwestern) wants to forget a first-round playoff loss and has strong supporting cast in quest for state title.

31. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), 30-4
With Kasey Widmyer (SC-Upstate) in the circle, the Rebels can beat anyone. She as 22-0 with a 0.40 ERA and opponents batted .122 against her.

32. South Granville (Creedmoor, N.C.), 27-0
Seven starters return from team that ran the table in 2018 and one of those is sophomore pitcher Brooke Bowling, who was 24-0 with a 1.78 ERA.

33. Klein Collins (Spring, Texas), 35-6
Three All-Staters — Mia Cantu (Louisiana-Lafayette), Kenedy Hines (Texas-Arlington) and Katy Schaefer (Houston Baptist) — return. They combined to drive in 100 runs and bat almost .500. Hines was also 14-0 with a 1.46 ERA.


35. Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.), 32-4-1
Alyssa Aguilar (14-3, 1.27 ERA, strikeout per inning) returns for defending 4A champs along with five players who batted over .400 a year ago.
36. Dripping Springs (Texas), 25-9
Future collegians Logan Hulon (Houston), Camille Corona (Texas), Ryann Campbell, Bailey Hudgeons (Texas Lutheran) and Kyndall Womack give the Tigers experience and versatility for a deep postseason run.

37. Ironwood Ridge (Tucson, Ariz.), 27-10
Seven players who hit over .300 a year ago return.

38. Ashley Ridge (Summerville, S.C.), 23-3
The State 5A runner-up Swamp Foxes return seven starters, including senior pitcher Katie Freeman (Charleston).

39. Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), 21-7
Tessa Magnanimo (Wisconsin) makes the Eagles contenders on a daily basis.

40. Severna Park (Md.), 27-2-1
The Falcons got the 4A title a year ago and with nine returnees — including pitcher Kylie Dingess and Gatorade winner Campbell Kline — a repeat is not a long shot.

41. Hurricane (W. Va.), 25-3
MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Harley Vannater led the Redskins to the state 3A title (their fourth in five seasons). Vannater went 21-3 with a 1.19 ERA, 200 strikeouts and four no-hitters.

42. Pembroke Pines Charter (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), 26-5
Seven starters return from title-winning 7A team.

43. South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.), 29-4
Sophomores Ciara Hanson, Jasmine Hall and Reagan Weisner return along with pitchers Jenna Pittman and Anna King.

44. Rock Island (Ill.), 32-5
All-state pitcher Ashley Peters (Purdue signee) wants another state-title finish.

45. Sheridan (Ark.), 30-3
The Yellowjackets won their final 22 games and the 6A state title and return their three top pitchers.

46. Fairhope (Fairhope, Ala.), 45-7
The Pirates won the 2018 7A title with an eighth-grader in the circle. Well, Alea Johnson is back for four more years.

47. Huntingtown (Md.), 23-1
The Hurricanes have won 25 of their last 26.

48. Masuk (Monroe, Conn.), 26-0
Five future collegians — led by pitcher Madison Procyk — put Masuk atop the state preseason list.

49. Sun Prairie (Sun Prairie, Wis.), 30-0
Maddie Gardner (Wisconsin pledge) returns for her junior season. She was unbeaten as a sophomore.

50. Marist (Eugene, Ore.), 25-4
MaxPreps All-Americans Ariel Carlson (Oregon signee) and Abby Doerr highlight a team with nine starters returning.