FAB 50 16U Club Rankings – Vol. 1 (1/29)

FAB 50 16U Club Rankings – Vol. 1 (1/29)

Jan 29, 2015 by Brentt Eads
FAB 50 16U Club Rankings – Vol. 1 (1/29)

We kick off coverage of the 16U teams today and, admittedly, this was tough as many players have moved up and some teams did too (or stopped altogether)!

No. 4 ranked OC Batbusters - Briggs, coming off a big tourney win last week.
No. 4 ranked OC Batbusters – Briggs, coming off a big tourney win last week.

There are a lot of familiar team names, but it may come as a surprise that the No. 1 team leading off our preseason rankings is NOT a California team.

We’ll update the rankings periodically and know that this just the first planting of the flag in the sand!

If you have input on teams below or others not included, feel free to send your info/arguments to Brentt@FullCountSoftball.com!


Jaimie Hoover, ace pitcher for her dad's team, Georgia Elite.
Jaimie Hoover, catcher/third baseman for her dad’s team, Georgia Elite.

1. Georgia Elite – Hoover
Comments: The No. 1 preseason team has seven players who’ve been with Coach Australia Hoover since 2008 and have two Top 10 finishes at PGF and a win at the 2014 TC/USA Nationals.

2. Beverly Bandits DeMarini
Comments: Maybe a surprise to some, this team went 40-1 in the fall and P Meghan Beaubien (Michigan), a lefty with speed and spins, has had an incredible fall. The team can hit and run too.

3. So Cal A’s – Myers/McNee
Comments: Last year’s PGF 16U National Champs returns key players like IF Chelsea Purcell (Notre Dame) but lose ace sr. pitcher Makayla Martin (Auburn).

4. OC Batbusters – Briggs      
Comments: Talented team made up of three standout Batbuster teams from 2014, it impressively won a loaded Best in the West tournament last weekend including five wins on Sunday by 24-4 margin.

5. Birmingham Thunderbolts – Roberson
Comments: Loaded with talent including the addition of a leadoff hitter going to Alabama and a centerfielder going to Tennessee.

6. Georgia Impact- Gibson   
Comments: As a 1st year team finished 7th at PGF 16U Nationals and took 5th at Longmont, Colo. Added a fourth pitcher to a loaded bullpen that already has two Hot 100 hurlers.

7. OC Batbusters – Smith       
Comments: A strong, deep team that is well-coached with good fundamentals. Arizona commit Hanah Bowen (P/IF) leads the charge.

8. Explosion – Greg    
Comments: This team has it all….speed, power, defense and plenty of pitching….also has depth off the bench….definitely a team to watch out for.

9. Corona Angels – Slye          
Comments: Big in number of players (22) and talent (10 are committed so far to D1 schools). The team is deep at pitching and if gels can surpass the 3rd place PGF finish from 2014.

Malia Quarles of the So Cal A's - Quarles team.
Malia Quarles of the Ohana Tigers.

10. Ohana Tigers
Comments: As much talent as any team, including two who have come back from the A’s-Richardson 18U team: 3B Malia Quarles (UCLA) and OF Alexa Schultz (Oklahoma), and if pitching comes through could be a championship team.

11. Sorcerer – Williams          
Comments: The Sorcerers are led by two of the elite 2018 players in the nation: IF Grace Green (Oklahoma) and P Danielle Williams (Missouri) and from top to bottom know how to win.

12. Wichita Mustangs  
Comments: The Mustangs finished tied for 13th at PGF 16U Nationals last year and look strong for 2015 with speed and offensive skill.

13. Firecrackers – Brashear   
Comments: Coach Sean Brashear always reloads and his team has good hitting balanced with pitching and defense.

14. Texas Glory – Naudin         
Comments: Coach Ed Naudin always does a great job and has seven D1 commits with really solid pitching, great speed and strong depth.

15. Tulsa Elite 98          
Comments: Finished 2nd at ASA 16 Gold and TC/USA 16U Nationals and returns everybody including a pair of commits to both Oklahoma State and Arkansas.

16. Atlanta Vipers – Vallery    
Comments: One of the top 14U teams last year, the Vipers have moved up and impressed in the fall win some wins over big-time programs.

17. Tampa Mustangs – TJ         
Comments: Finished 2nd at ASA Nationals as a 1st year 16U team, went 73-15 in 2014 against top competition including 18 Gold teams.

Gabby Sprang of Georgia Impact - Jeffries.
Gabby Sprang of Georgia Impact – Jeffries.

18. Georgia Impact – Jeffreys  
Comments: The team returns 12 of 13 players and has added two. Gabby Sprang (Tennessee) leads a deep pitching staff.

19. Washington Ladyhawks – Nelons           
Comments: One of the top teams in 2014, this Northwest team had a nice run at PGF 16U Nationals and looks poised to be competitive with anyone in ’15.

20. NJ Intensity – Hannigan     
Comments: The Intensity team has great athleticism and skill talent including an outfield that has players going to Penn State and UConn.

21. Beverly Bandits – Tyrell   
Comments: Also well coached and poised for a deep playoff run, the Bandits have added speed, are good defensively and have solid pitching. However ace P Lauren Rice (Missouri) has left for the East Cobb Bullets – Schnute Gold team.

22. Lil Rebels – Gordie 
Comments: A sleeper team that is battle-tested after playing many top SoCal teams, it has the talent to upset anybody in any given tournament.

23. So Cal Choppers – Ziese    
Comments: The Choppers finished in the top 13 at the PGF Nationals last year and have two solid pitchers in Roni Lynch (Boise State) and Brooke Yanez (UC Davis).

Cristiona Caccamise of Power Surge - Berndes
Cristiona Caccamise of Power Surge – Berndes

24. Power Surge – Berndes     
Comments: This San Diego team is playing — and often beating — some of the top teams in Southern California with talent like C Cristiona Caccamise (LSU), IF Summer Hargett (Northwestern) plus new IF Silent Rain Espinoza (Washington).

25. Illinois Chill
Comments: For a team started from scratch in 2013, the results have been impressive: 17th at Boulder IDT and 33rd at PGF 16U Nationals. The team has excellent speed and athleticism.

NEXT 25:

26. Carolina Elite – Fusetti
27. Lady Lightning Gold
28. AZ Suncats
29. Texas Impact Gold – Elder
30. Tennessee Fury 98
31. Ohio Outlaws Premier
32. Texas Mizuno Impulse
33. Indiana Magic
34. Gold Coast Hurricanes – Arcuri
35. Cal Cruisers – AE
36. Firecrackers AZ – Hinkle
37. NorCal Firecrackers – Miller
38. Mizuno Hawks – Judge
39. Firecrackers – Redmond
40. Irvine Sting
41. Reno Heat
42. Lemont Rockers
43. Firecrackers DFW – Greenwell
44. Texas Bombers
45. Batbusters-Fox
46. Germantown Red Devils
47. Gold Coast Hurricanes – Fisher
48. Texas Blaze
49. Louisville Lady Sluggers
50. Nebraska Gold – Mizuno

NEXT 50 IN (listed alphabetically):

  • Aces Express
  • All-American Mizuno – Walker
  • AZ Mizuno Storm
  • Beverly Bandits Premier – Allen
  • Cal Breeze
  • Cal Lite
  • Cal Nuggets
  • Cal Riptide
  • CC Athletics – Smith
  • Combat Panters
  • EC Bullets – Legere
  • Firecrackers – Blanco
  • Firecrackers – Lutterlough
  • Firecrackers – Young
  • Firecrackers AZ – Henry
  • Firecrackers DFW – EH
  • Florida Power Black
  • Georgia Elite Premier – Laukka
  • Georgia Impact – Daniels
  • Georgia Impact – Pauly
  • Idaho Sliders
  • Illinois Force
  • Indy Dreams
  • Intensity – Conover
  • KC Glory
  • KG Hitters – Kiko
  • Lady Sharks Elite
  • Louisiana Pride
  • Minnesota Force
  • Minnesota Renegades
  • Minnesota Sting
  • NC Lady Blues
  • NW Bullets
  • New Lenox Lightning
  • NW Batbusters
  • NW Blaze
  • OC Batbusters – Carbajal
  • OC United
  • Ohio Lasers Blue
  • Oklahoma Twisters
  • Oregon Panthers
  • So Cal Athletics – Datan
  • Southern Force
  • TC Stars – Cavallaro
  • Team Mizuno – Merrill
  • Team Seattle
  • Texas Impact Gold – Raley
  • TNL
  • TX Sudden Impact
  • USA Athletics – Mora
  • Williamsburg Starz Gold