Kissimmee Klassic Preview: Where the Best Compete
 
March 31 - April 2, 2016 — The 24th Kissimmee Klassic is shaping up be the most talented high school softball tourney in the country, which is why the top games in the Blue Division on Fields 1-3 will be streamed live by FloSoftball.com.

Tune in to see No. 2 Oakleaf, No. 20 Newsome No. 14 Gainesville, and No. 11 North Fort Myers compete for top honors and prepare for their impending state tournaments. As for the other contenders, Gainesville has been ranked as high as No. 4 this year, while Lake Region (No. 43), Palmetto (No. 44), Marist (No. 51), Aquinas (No. 52), Clay (No. 60) and Downers Grove South (No. 91) are also among the best in the nation. 
 

See FloSoftball's FAB 50 National High School Rankings

Here’s a look at the two divisions with team biographies and opinions compiled by Tournament Director Roger Jones:

BLUE DIVISION:

(listed in order of tournament seeding)
Note: Records are from 2015 unless noted as current.

1. The 2016 Klassic features the defending state 8A champs from Newsome (22-5) as the No. 1 seed. Newsome has produced five seniors who signed Division I scholarships in September. Senior pitcher Cassidy Davis (Florida State), who was 10-2 last year, and senior pitcher Claire Feldman (Utah), who was 10-3, will both return to the circle. The Timberwolves have been nationally ranked as high as No. 3, and have been 9A top-ranked all year. Their leading hitter, senior catcher Hannah Pridemore, is batting .526 and signed to join Duke this fall. Senior outfielder Brooke Leistl, who bats .386, is headed to South Florida. Annie Tarte will be the shortstop to watch.

2. Coach Christina Thompson and the Knights from Oakleaf are living the dream as they beat nationally ranked Gainesville in the district semifinals last year to make it to the Final Four. The Knights were 19-0 last week and ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps, No. 2 by FloSoftball, and No. 1 in Florida 8A. Junior pitcher Kelsey Sweatt (13-7) was injured last season, but is on fire this year. Oakleaf is a young and talented team with freshmen Bailey Goodard (Florida) and Maddie Davis, as well as sophomore Rebecca Koskey. Oak leaf made the playoffs all six years since 2010 when the program began. 

3. Downers Grove South (Illinois) was 36-2 last year after losing to the eventual state champion, Marist, in the quarterfinals. Junior pitcher Payton Buresch (18-1) is heading to nationally ranked James Madison while her running mate, senior pitcher Caroline Hedgcock (15-1), signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Seven starters will return, including four others that signed to college. 

4. The Hurricanes of Gainesville made a huge impact on the national scene last year finishing 24-2. Senior ace Katie Chronister is signed to go to Florida and started the 2016 season nationally ranked. Last year, Gainesville played in one of the toughest districts along with rival Oakleaf. This year, they play in 7A-3, and have been nationally ranked as high as No. 4. Their only loss this year came from No. 2-ranked Oakleaf (19-0).

5. Polk County is one of the toughest regions for softball. This year’s Lake Region team is the best team from Polk County traveling to Kissimmee. Coach John Bridges took the team to a state runner-up finish two years ago, and ended up 24-6 last year. The Thunder return seven starters led by senior third baseman Alyssa Rivera (BA .400), who signed with nationally ranked Auburn. Senior catcher Avery Cotterill is heading to Barry, while junior pitcher Mary Haff with a 0.51 ERA has verbally committed to Arkansas. Lake Region is ranked No. 3 in Florida 7A and nationally ranked with their 14-0 record this year.

6. North Fort Myers (17-6) has been ranked No. 2 in 6A this year along with an 11th-place national ranking while posting a 15-0 record. The Red Knights field one of the best pitchers in the state, Mackenzie Peterson, who boasts a 10-3 and a 1.17 ERA along with junior catcher Shelby Coyne, who leads the team in batting (.435). 

7. Palmetto from Miami (19-8) returns all nine starters and has been ranked as high as No. 2 in 9A this year. Having been nationally ranked in the country’s top 50, Palmetto started off this year 18-1 and are sending their senior pitcher Amanda Guglietta with a 11-5 record and 2.98 ERA to Rollins. 

8. Marist (36-4) out of Chicago is the defending 4A large school champions in Illinois.  They were the preseason No. 1 ranked team in Illinois this year and are nationally ranked.  Marist signed five players to college including senior shortstop and leading hitter Madison Naujokas (BA .441) to nationally Top 10-ranked James Madison. Senior pitcher Emily Reilly with six straight wins with an 0.52 ERA will go to Loras. 

9. Pines Charter (20-8) moves up to 7A and will be a formidable factor every year for one of the state’s best coaches in Tom Fadul.  They also have arguably the state’s best athlete in senior lefty pitcher Claire Blount with 15-3, 0.56 ERA and a .543 batting average last year. Blount is bound for Univ. Alabama at Birmingham.  Pines Charter returns seven starters including two other seniors who are signed to play at the next level. 

10. St.Thomas Aquinas Raiders don’t rebuild they just reload.  Senior infielder Thais Gonzalez is signed to Michigan and senior pitcher Brooke Stock is headed to Babson College in Mass. with a 10-2 record and 0.59 ERA. Aquinas plans on making the Final Four every year and 8A teams aren’t surprised to see them there. 

11. Winter Springs is a Central Florida power that has seen some really good players pass through their doors and it looks like this year’s edition is striving to return to the upper echelon of Florida ranks.  Senior pitcher Kenzie Longanecker is their leader and will head to Appalachian State with a 10-7 record and 1.16.  Winter Springs returns eight starters so it is no wonder they have been ranked Top 5 in Florida already this year. 

12. The Bulldogs from local 8A team St. Cloud have steadily moved up the state softball landscape behind Coach Ray Whobrey.  Batting nearly .500 junior shortstop Cortney Wentzell may be the best player in Central Florida.  Senior outfielder Sara Crawford has also been crushing the ball with a .414 batting average. 

13. Bishop Verot is a 4A title contender annually with three state Final Fours in the last five years.  The Vikings were 20-2 last year and return nine starters including senior pitcher Erin Kyle future Lamar Big Red. 

14. Legendary Coach Mark Schusterman leads Gulliver Prep (21-7) in search of another state crown.  Shusterman will be young but is no stranger to overcoming the odds as the Raiders will compete with the best in 5A.  Seniors Jessica Rivera and Briana Bahadue are headed to Lynn Univ. and Florida International next year. 

15. Cooper City (18-6) returns six starters led by junior pitcher Kara Lokeinsky (16-6).  Poised for a run at 8A to make it to Vero, Cooper City have five signed seniors that are ready to lead.   

16. Hagerty (28-4) Coach David Stone has created a winning attitude and stocked it with really good players.  Six seniors signed to colleges this year led by 2015 Klassic MVP Sarah Harrison who is heading to Rollins.  Hagerty is ranked No. 3 in 8A.

***

GOLD DIVISION:

(listed in order of tournament seeding)

Note: records are from 2015 unless noted as current

1. Quickly developing into one of the premier 4A programs in the state, the Eagles from Montverde are the top seed in the Gold Bracket.  The Eagles return eight starters from their Regional Semifinalist team last year with four seniors having inked college scholarships.  The Eagles come into the tournament with 14-2 record. 

2. The Cougars of Barron Collier (20-10) are one of the states’ elite programs.  The Cougars have won four state championships and annually send colleges their well-trained student-athletes.  BC returns six starters from their Region Finals team and will be led in a rebuilding year by sophomore pitcher Tori Sutherland. BC won three state crowns this decade and were 26-4 last year.

3. Junior shortstop Taylor Bump is a Michigan commit with hopes of leading the Canterbury Crusaders (26-4) back to the final game in Vero. With four juniors going D1, they are led by the best catcher in the Southeast in Florida commit Danielle Romanello.

4. The host Kowboys of Kissimmee Osceola bounce back and forth between the Blue Bracket and the Gold Bracket.  The Kowboys are always competitive behind Florida Hall of Fame Coach George Coffey.  Senior shortstop Hysette Escadaro may be the quickest in the state adding power from junior first baseman Abby Kendrick who was 9-for-11 down in Miami at Gulliver Prep. 

5. The Tornadoes from Bradford (20-6) are a 5A power with youth and a new coach.  Their workhorse junior pitcher, Shelby Wilkinson, was 20-4 last year with a 1.34 ERA. 

6. Clay was 23-6 last year and returns senior pitcher Ashley Stokes (19-6) who is headed to St. Joseph’s. 

7. Riverview Tampa had some amazing success over the years with Coach Angela Slater who lost her two year-long battle with cancer in early February.  While the entire softball community in Florida mourns her loss, husband Ron Slater continues her legacy.  She was a positive influence and the Kissimmee Klassic will miss her presence on the field.  The Sharks will be led by senior shortstop Peyton Moritz. 

8. Lake Howell will showcase senior pitcher Giovanna Watts headed to Florida SW with a 16-7 record and 1.90 ERA.  Two of the seven returning starters are college-bound for the District Champ Silver Hawks. 

9. Lake Nona is another one of the local schools that benefit from getting to compete against some of the best competition without leaving their own homes.  Senior shortstop Morgan Reich leads the offense batting .477 and is signed to Elon.

10. University (20-9) from Orange City is sending two seniors off to college including their leading hitter in senior catcher Karlee Beard (BA .333).

11. Eau Gallie (14-11) has been a Space Coast power for years.  Coach Russell Reese has seven starters returning including two pitchers. 

12. The Key West Conchs make their first appearance in Kissimmee coming off a good 14-8 season and returning six starters.  They are led by junior infielder Mackenzie Cohen batting .471 and junior pitcher Kendell Snow.

13. Okeechobee (16-9) finished last year in Regionals against Pines Charter.  The Bulls have three seniors signed to colleges among their seven returning starters. 

14. Florida Christian (14-9) is always a quality team under veteran coach Scott Stemmer and hopes to put on a strong showing in Kissimmee.

15. The Tigers from Columbia (15-10) in Lake City return seven starters.  Columbia features premier junior catcher Kamdyn Kvistad (BA .406) and signed two seniors to college.

16. Miami Pace (15-13) features eight starters returning under coach Angel Torres who hopes to keep the winning momentum going in Class 5A for a team that was only 4-14 just two years ago.