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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20 - Athletics-Mercado/Stancil

David Mercado has quickly built the Athletics Academy into a force with several teams at each age division that are competitive. This team is one to watch after going 38-10 last year. The A's won the USSSA Far West National Championship and took 3rd at the Colorado Fireworks/Sparkler NIT. The team has key returners in OF Damaria Cannon (2018, uncommitted) and IF Ashley Carter (2018, uncommitted) and has a dozen players who are on the radar of multiple college coaches including new adds P/IF Shelby Maier (2019, uncommitted) and C/3B Cassandra Mittman (2018, uncommitted).

19 - Texas Blaze White

Fresh off the 2016 Texas Gold Cup 16U Division Championship where the Blaze White went 7-0, Mike Prinzo's team finished 22-3-1 this fall behind a stellar pitching staff led by Ole Miss commit Taylor Bachmeyer (2019) and Lamar verbal Regan Dunn (2018). Alison Royalty (2020, uncommitted) should also be picking up a lot of innings as she had a 0.19 ERA with a high strikeout ratio this fall and, collectively, the pitchers combined for 145 Ks in 112 innings pitched. Two other young players to watch include 2019 catcher Bailey "BooBoo" Vannoy, who batted nearly .500 with 17 steals this fall, and 2020 shortstop Skylar Brooks, ranked #18 in the Hot 100 and a highly coveted recruit who is one of the leading hitters on the Blaze with a .650 average.

18 - TN Fury Platinum '18/'19

Sam Thomas has the luxury of returning all but three of his players from last year's team that took 1st at Atlanta Legacy, 2nd at Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks Super 48, 3rd at Scenic City and 7th at USA Softball JO Cup. The team didn't miss a beat this fall, losing only three games in its first trio of tournaments behind several excellent committed players including Hot 100 OF Jenna Johnson (2019, Alabama), who is a speedy lead-off hitter; SS/C Josie Willingham (2019, Tennessee), who has an elite arm and OF/SS Shyanne Sheffield (2018, Purdue), a 3-hole hitter who led the team in steals.

17 - Illinois Chill Gold

Gerry Quinn will field a first-year 16U team consisting of 11 players from last year's successful 14U team which will combine with three athletes in their second year at 16U. All the players will be 2019s and '20s so inexperience will be a factor, but expectations are high for the Chill squad which finished 9th at PGF Nationals and 5th at Boulder IDT. The team has great versatility, depth and chemistry with seven players verbally committed -- six to the Big Ten and one to the SEC -- including 2019 Hot 100 players C Cassie Lindmark (Kentucky) and 3B/P Angela Zedak (Northwestern. Three others are in the 2019 Next 150 in: SS/2B Fiona Girardot (Wisconsin), MIF Delaney Bowen (Purdue) and OF Maggie Finnegan (Penn State).

16 - So Cal Choppers Ziese

Jim Ziese's squad is the flagship 16U for the strong Choppers organization and finished 2nd at Boulder IDT and 17th at PGF Nationals. Four standouts from last year's team move up to the 18U Choppers including P Shea O'Leary (2018, Texas) and OF Makenna Harper (2018, Arizona State) and the team has 13 new players but the returning talent and newcomers make this a team to watch come next summer. Players returning include OF Jordyn Gasper (2018, Utah), SS Shea Graves (2018, Sacramento State) and P Alyssa Nunez (2018, Sacramento State) with new additions in 1B Kailee Powell (2018, Illinois), P Briza Blanco (2019, uncommitted), C/1B Madie Charles (2018, uncommitted) and C/3B Alyssa Benthagen (2019, uncommitted) already making an impact.

15 - Jersey Intensity KOD National

The Intensity 14U team was one of the best in the nation last year finishing 7th at PGF Nationals and the DeMarini Invitational. They won the Virginia Premier National Qualifier and organization head Kevin O'Donnell says "on paper, this year's team looks to be a better all-around team." Top returners include P Mackenzie McGrath (2018, uncommitted), who knows how to paint the corner with her spins; C Riley Coyne (2018, Miami (Ohio)), a power hitter who hit eight home runs this fall and 3B/1B Ariella Jackson (2018, uncommitted), who is called one of the best athletes in the Intensity program.

14 - Atlanta Vipers - Moore

Marty Moore's Vipers team won the USA Softball JO Cup in its hometown of Atlanta this summer and some feel the team is even stronger this year after it concluded its season with a 46-9-3 record. The Vipers have added more depth to the pitching staff and more pop to its already potent offense. Returners include C/3B Charla Echols (2019, Michigan State), P/UT Briana Butler (2018, Duke), 1B/OF Adia Polk (2018, Troy) and OF/UT Kylie Vannavong (2018, Georgia Southern). Key pickups include 1B/OF Kayla Davis (2018, Alabama), IF Trinity Ingleston (2018, Georgia State), P/1B Tracy Mosley (2018, uncommitted) and C/3B Hollyann Lott (2019, uncommitted).

13 - Firecrackers Brashear

Sean Brashear's team based in Chino, California took 1st at the PGF 16U Platinum Nationals and 5th at Colorado Fireworks/Sparkler 16U and is the flagship 16U team in the Firecrackers organization which has over 300 teams nationwide. This year's edition combines pitching, speed and defense and each player has a high softball IQ. Loaded with talent, 11 players are committed: P Ashley Daughtery (2019, Texas A&M), C Carli Klaus (2020, Notre Dame), SS Miranda Gallardo (2019, Illinois), 3B Hailey Gallegos (2019, Texas A&M), OF Alycia Flores (2019, Oklahoma), OF Jaelyn Operana (2019, Tennessee), OF Nyomi Jones (2019, Tennessee), C Jacey Bourgeois (2018, Colorado State), C Katelyn Mangrello (2020, UC Santa Barbara), 1B Kika Ramirez (2020, Cal State Fullerton) and OF Megan Delgadillo (2019, BYU).

12 - Texas Bombers Gold

Bill Jones' Sudden Impact team merged with the Texas Bombers Gold 16U team to form a young and dynamic squad that can crush the ball with the best of them. Infielders Marianna Torres, a Texas A&M commit and 2020 Hot 100 selection, and Chloe Cobb, a 2019 commit to Tech Tech, are explosive on offense and playmakers on defense. In 2016, the Bombers were National Champions at ASA 16U Gold, placed 5th at Colorado Super 32 Power Pool and placed in the Top 10 at the USA Softball JO Cup. Players to watch include 2020 Hot 100 honoree IF Crystal Davila, OF Anna Jones (2019, LSU), IF Campbell Selman (2019, Baylor), IF/OF Kayman Courtney (2019, Kansas), OF Lourdes Bacon (2020, uncommitted) and IF Mariana Torres (2020, uncommitted).

11 - Tulsa Elite - Jacks

Jeff Filali's Tulsa Elite program has had a history of producing top 16U teams including the 2012 version that was the ASA/USA 16A National Champs, the 2015 squad which finished 5th at PGF Nationals, and this year's team which took 5th at the USA Softball JO Cup. This year's team will compete almost exclusively at 18U except for PGF 16U Nationals and a few other events. This fall the Elite went 20-1 and won the 18U title by going 8-0 at the ASA Heartland Showcase. Key returners are five elite players: P/OF Mary Collins (2018, Oklahoma State), C/OF Taylor Tuck (2018, Oklahoma State), SS Jolie Fish (2018, Wisconsin), OF/P Rylie Boone (2019, Oklahoma), P/3B Paige Knight (2020, Oklahoma) along with a pickup from another Elite team MIF/OF Gracie Jarvis (2019, Oregon State).

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