After posting our 18U "preseason rankings" lists in October, we continue our look at the top club teams across the nation by unveiling this week our FAB 50 16U Rankings.

Each day this week we'll unveil 10 teams and conclude on Friday, Nov. 25 with teams ranked 10-1 and on Saturday list the Next In teams, those who are best poised to jump into the next updated FAB 50 with strong fall, winter and spring play.

The deciding factors in the ratings are team performances and results from the summer and fall along with the return of key players and the addition of talented new ones. Information was acquired by the FloSoftball staff watching teams in person as well as input provided by club and college coaches.

if we've missed anything or you would like to provide input on your favorite teams and players, send your info/insights to: Brentt.Eads@FloSports.TV.


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40 - Team NC - Baylog

William Baylog's team is poised for a big 2017 after coming back after a year with an 84-19-2 finish, including a 9-0 record as the Scenic City Super Pool bracket champs and a 6-1 record at the same event this fall. The entire team returns, which includes 11 players committed(all but one who did so this year), including the coach's daughter Gabby, who is going to Coastal Carolina. Just this week, twin lefty slappers Paige and Peyton Rivas who joined the team this fall, also committed to Coastal Carolina.

39 - Courage Weaver

Courage Weaver finished 13th at PGF 16U Premier this summer and took, 3rd at the Ohana Tigers Winter Classic. Coached by Craig Weaver and based out of Yorbal Linda, California (So Cal), the core of the team has played together for several years and this fall has been playing up at 18U to face better talent. In 2016 Courage went 54-10-2 and the deep crop of talent includes P Amelia Wiercioch (Duke) and OF/C Mikayla Ramos (Iowa State).

38 - Gametime Stars Gold - Williams

Coach Wes Williams took the Gametime Stars Gold team into its second year of 16U play after impressive finishes at the USSSA 16U Texas Nationals (2nd), Top Gun 16U Invitational (3rd) and Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks Power Pool 32 (9th). This fall, the team went 6-0 at both the Ronald McDonald and Top Gun Prodigy tournaments. Based in Oklahoma City, the Stars Gold team lost a pair of D1 players to its 18U Gold team, but returns two outstanding talents in MIF Karli Petty (2019, Oklahoma State) and P/UT Molly Rainey (2019, Central Florida) while picking up P/1B Kaylee Hewitt (2019, Texas Tech) who comes in from New Mexico.

37 - Iowa Premier

In Iowa, most of the summer is taken up by high school ball which makes the rise of Greg Dickel's program that much more impressive. At the PGF Platinum Nationals this summer, the Premier team finished 3rd, getting knocked out by eventual champion Firecrackers-Brashear 3-2 with the bases loaded and two outs in the 7th inning. This fall, the Iowa team hasn't missed a beat, going 9-0 at USA Elite Select Triumph Invitaitonal and 10-0 at the USA Elite Select Fall Showcase as part of a 56-8-2 overall record. Key returners include C Alex Honnold (2020, uncommitted and receiving Big Ten, SEC and ACC interest). She is considered one of the top catchers in the Midwest and forms a strong battery with P Ashley Peters (2019, uncommitted), a lefty who throws major heat and has great levers.

T36 - Tennessee Fury - Perry/Weekly

The Tennessee Fury is a first-year 16U team that has looked strong this fall going 10-3-2 overall with wins over top teams like Texas Glory, Jacksonville Storm, So Cal A's, Atlanta Vipers and the Birmingham Thunderbolts. Marc Weekly--son of Tennessee head coach Ralph Weekly--helped coach a Thunderbolts team last year and now pairs up with Coach Keith Perry to give the Fury team not just strong coaching, but great depth: five players came over from the Bolts team including Hot 100 2B/OF Regan Weekly (2019, Dartmouth).

T36 - Wagner's 3n2

One nationally prominent coach, when talking about elite 16U teams, mentioned 3n2 as "one of the top teams that gave us as tough of a time as any of the best California or South teams." Reese Kiple fielded the group at the 14U level last year and still tied for 17th at the USA Softball JO Cup against 16U competition (only 14U team that competed). Key returners include a duo going to South Florida, 1B/SS Devyne Davis (2021) and 1B Taryn Freshwater (2019), as well as 3B/OF Emily Barras (2020, Mercer) and 2B Lauren Hutcherson (2019, Florida Gulf Coast).

35 - Firecrackers - Ensey

The Firecrackers 16U team, coached by Kim Ensey, took 17th at PGF Nationals this year and compiled a fall record of 17-5. Though the squad lost half of its players to the 18U Firecrackers Ensey/Redmond team, the current 16U group returns top talent like P Taylor Ward (2018, Presbyterian College), 1B/3B Jessie Nagel (2018, College of the Holy Cross), OF Alexis Abboud (2018, uncommitted), C Amarys Miller-Godsey (2018, uncommitted) and SS Jackie Gonzalez (2019, uncommitted). The team draws players from across the country including 2019 MIF Phoebe Florian, who travels from North Carolina to play with the Firecrackers. The So Cal team has already been invited to play at the Colorado Fireworks/Sparkler tournament next summer as well as at TC/USA Nationals in Austin.

34 - Southern Force Elite - Carroll

After playing as Team Elite last year, Dave Carroll's team will be returning to the Southern Force organization for 2017. Elite finished in the Top 10 at the USA Softball Cup and tied for 25th at PGF Nationals. For the summer, Coach Carroll's team went 23-8-1 and this fall finished 12-3-1. This 16U team is much younger than last year's as it will field seven 2019 grads who will improve the team's speed and athleticism. Key returners include SS Emmy Blane (2019, Kentucky), 3B Lindsey Carroll (2018, Murray State), 2B Abby Shoulders (2018, Murray State). Six newcomers shoud make an immediate impact including P/1B Lakyn Largent (2018, Morehead State) and P/1B Karlie Keeney (2019, uncommitted), who come to the Force from the Birmingham Thunderbolts and the Illinois Force, respectively.

33 - Texas Blaze Bonola

The Texas Blaze Bonola team, coached by Nate Rodriguez, is always a threat to win any tournament because of a strong and deep pitching staff that includes Kamryn Caldwell (2019, Texas Tech), Caroline Cagle (2020, North Carolina), Kailey Brown (2019, uncommitted) and Malea Rodriguez (2019, uncommitted). Complementing the hurlers is an athletic group of position players, most of whom can play several spots. Two to watch are MIF Sydney Belvin (2019, McNeese State) and MIF Nicolette Ramirez (2019, Lamar). Scouts also say they love this team because of the energy and chemistry brought to the field.

32 - Beverly Bandits - Dorsey

Rona Dorsey's team tied for 25th at PGF Nationals and has increased team speed and power. This Bandits team took 2nd place at Scenic City this summer and also looked strong at Boulder IDT and Atlanta Legacy. Loaded with top players from Ohio, the Bandits return a core of elite players including P Hope Straight (2019, Ohio State), C/UT Lexi Carver (2019, Pitt), 3B/1B Riley Zana (2020, Ohio State) and OF Taylor Heckman (2020, Ohio State). Keep an eye on UT Ashley Fite (2019, uncommitted) who has been one of the hottest players in the Bandits organization in recent months. This fall, Coach Dorsey's team has only lost three games in drop dead play.

31 - Lady Lightning Elite - Fain

Jeff Fain's Elite squad tied for 25th at PGF Nationals and has reloaded with pitching, speed and power. Some around the Lightning program feel it is one of the best--if not the best--16U teams the organization has put together. Savannah Brown (2019, Syracuse) anchors the pitching staff and benefits from an offense that has power from a trio of sluggers: Hot 100 standout SS/3B Desiree Lewis (2019, Mississippi State), OF/IF Abby Knight (2019, Virginia Tech) and rising star C/3B Abi Stuart (2019, uncommitted). This LLG team has the talent and balance to make a top 10 run in any event.

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