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.


***

30 - EC Bullets - Caldwell

Jeff Caldwell's team went 88-23 for the summer culminating in a 9th place finish at the PGF 14U Nationals this summer. Earlier in the summer, the Bullets won the PGF Qualifier in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and also the USA Select Championship televised game. At the latter event, the team blasted 12 home runs in six games showcasing its team power which is complemented nicely by a deep pitching staff. Players to watch include P/1B Emma Watson (2019, uncommitted), MIF Cayla Bishop (2020, uncommitted), MIF/C Mallorie Black (2020, uncommitted) and 1B Caroline Davis (2019, uncommitted) along with newcomers such as 1B/P Shelby Harpe (2019, uncommitted), SS Raelee Weaver (2020, uncommitted) and OF/SS Kam Caldwell (2020, uncommitted)--all of whom have pending offers or interest from schools in the ACC, SEC, Sun Belt and other conferences.

29 - Diamond Sports Hotshots South -- Fort

Jessica Vallis Shimek, who was an All-American at the University of Houston and played for the Akron Racers in the NPF, coaches the Hotshots South team which will return 11 players from its 2016 roster. The Texas-based team finished 5th at the ASA 16U Nationals as a 14U team and went undefeated at the Ronald McDonald 16U tourney this year while finished 12th in the Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks Power Pool. Top players returning include 2020's Danieca Coffey, a MIF committed to LSU, and Lolo Whitney, a catcher who will play for Sam Houston State. P Courtney Day (2019, Sam Houston State) helps supply the power on offense.

T28 - KC Gold

KC Gold returns nine of its 11 players from last year's team which went 60-14 and finished 3rd in the USA Elite Select World Fastpitch Championship and 5th at the ASA Gold Nationals. KC Gold and Originals CK, also from Kansas City, were first-year 16U's in 2016 and were the dominant teams in the area. Their pitchers, Reggie Kanagawa (2018, BYU) and Alana Vawter (2019, Texas), guested for Jersey Intensity-Hawkins and helped the team to a 3rd place finish at PGF 16U Nationals in August along with a 6th place finish at Boulder IDT. The two outstanding hurlers are together on KC Gold for 2017 and hope to lead the team deep into the week at PGF and WFC. The defense is solid behind 2B Payton Minnis (2018) and SS Kelsie Lewis (2019), both of whom are headed to Missouri State.

T28 - Texas Glory Adkins

Coach Jack Fultz saw his Glory team have three Top 10 finishes this summer and this fall finish 2nd at the Texas Gold Cup. The squad went 30-10 last season playing in the Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks Super 48, USA Elite Select and the USA Softball JO Cup. Look for the Lone Star State team to play in the Fireworks 16U Super Pool, TC/USA Nationals and PGF Nationals in 2017. Four players, including 1B/DP Riley Cantrell (2018, Oklahoma State), move up to the 18U team but plenty of talent returns including five committed players such as a pair of 2019s headed to Stephen F. Austin: RHP Reagan Chism and C Gaby Garcia.

27 - St. Louis Chaos

Coach Evan Beatty, who has had notable success at the 18U level, leads the second-year 16U Chaos team which went 60-12-3 last year despite having some players who were young enough to still compete at 14U. Chaos won three 18U tournaments last season and finished in the Top 20 at the Colorado IDT and USA Softball JO Cup at 16U. Leading the pack of talented young players is C Gabi Deters (2019, Kentucky), who was invited to the Jr. National Team tryouts in December, as well as OF Rylea Smith (2019, Kentucky), 1B/C Makayla Hurst (2018, Utah), P Meghan Schorman (2018, Pitt) and P/UT Emma Nichols (2019, Iowa). A number of other players on SLC are also being recruited by ACC and Big Ten schools.

26 - Marucci Patriots Gold

The Patriots had a strong year finishing 2nd at the USA Elite Select, losing in eight innings to OC Batbusters-Lastrapes, 7th at ASA Gold Nationals and 17th at Boulder IDT. The team lost several top players who moved up to the 18U team, including a pair of outstanding 2018s headed to LSU in P Shelby Wickersham and MIF Taylor Tidwell. But the talent returning is strong as is the new pickups. Four committed players return including 2018 outfielders Amberlyn Alfano and Caroline Manzer, both of whom have verballed to Southeastern Louisiana. The newbies include 3B Jordan Perkins (2018, LSU), 1B Caylon Brabham (2018, Louisiana-Lafayette), OF/2B Korie Kreps (2018, Louisiana-Monroe) and P Olivia Lackie (2020, uncommitted).

25 - Cal Nuggets Gold

Coach Haley Woods took the Nuggets to a 5th place at PGF Nationals this year and return 14 of the 18 players from last summer's team. The four who left moved up to the 18U team and their spots will be filled by standout newcomers starting with SS Amanda Kondo (2020, Cal-Berkeley) who looks to replace the bat of her sister, Cam Kondo, who signed with the Cal Bears. Also new to the team is OF/2B Dominique Monteon (2019, North Carolina) and 3B/UT Lacey Sandoval (2018, San Jose State). Key returners include P P/UT Mailey McLemore (2018, UC Santa Barbera), P Sona Halajian (2019, Cal-Berkeley), P Lauren Innerst (2018, uncommitted) and 2B Adrianna Noriega (2019, uncommitted).

24 - Sorcerer - Gabales

The new Sorcerer 16U team is coached by Paulie Gabales and played last year as the NorCal Firecrackers 2K. That team took 7th at Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks in the Super 48 Power Pool and finished 25th at PGF Nationals after losing in the first round to the South Dakota Renegades, who would ultimately finish 2nd. This fall, the Sorcerer team went to the championship game in three big tourneys: PGF Ultimate Challenge, PGF Shootout and, last week, the Triple Crown Sports Don Battles On. Key returners for 2017 include six battle-tested committed players: OF/MIF Bradi Glover (2019, Arizona State), P Dari Orme (2018, Fresno State), 1B/P Carley Morfey (2018, San Jose State), MIF Hannah Clavelle (2018, San Jose State) and twin sisters C/3B Makenzie and OF Mazie Macfarlane, both 2019s going to Utah State.

23 - So Cal Athletics - Briggs

Coached by husband and wife Ken and Roseann Briggs, who also lead a FAB 50-rated 18U team, the Athletics are a strong team which mixes first and second-year 16U players, most of whom have been with the coaches for several years and fit the A's system. While the Briggs' teams in the past this team is strong with power and showed its big bats this summer and fall, most recently in a showcase in Arizona where the Athletics reached the title game. Top returners include SS Paloma Usquiano (2019, Arkansas), MIF Sydney Steele (2019, Auburn), UTL Ivana Perez (2019, Oregon State), P Devyn Netz (2020, uncommitted), C Bella Hanson (2019, uncommitted), C Audrey Sellers (2019, uncommitted), 1B Kelli Kufta (uncommitted) and P/OF Taryn Lennon (2020, uncommitted). The crop of new players is also strong with uncommitted talent like P Elysia Cunnigan (2019), IF Marissa Burk (2019), C Clareese Santiago (2019).

22 - OC Batbusters - Lara/Portesi

Perenially one of the top organizations in the country, the Batbusters lose Mike Smith who is no longer coaching but still will field one of the top 16U teams in the nation. Several talented players from Mark Campbell's 14U team move up and will merge with freshmen that played on Smith's team. Pitcher Julia Cabral is one that was with Campbell last year and she has pitched well this fall, clocking as high as 67 mph on the gun. Also having a good fall has been 1B/OF Izzy Nieblas (2019, uncommitted) and 1B/P Aleia Agbayani (2019, uncommitted) will be counted on to supply the power threat and is the daughter of former New York Met infielder Benny Agbayani.

T21--- Jersey Intensity -- Hannigan

Intensity has a dynamic coaching duo as Eileen Hannigan has returned to the 16U level after coaching in college and Ashley Van Boxmeer has stayed with the team after helping to lead them to a top 10 finish in Boulder last year and a very impressive 3rd place finish at PGF Premier Nationals. The team has seven returners from last years team and adds four players from their 14U team that finished 7th overall at PGF Premier Nationals as well. This fall Intensity has beaten eight FAB 50 16U teams with its strong balance of offense and defense. They have commits to Yale, Mercer, FIU, and Mississippi State. Players to watch include 16U returners Utl Becca Jones (2018), IF Kendall Chase (2018), C Lindsey Hay (2019) and OF Bailey Winscott (2018). Their 2019 class is also talent loaded.

T21 - Jacksonville Storm - Davis

Last season, the Jacksonville Storm coached by Addison Davis compiled a record of 75-13 beating more than a half dozen teams in the 16U FAB 50. The Florida-based team finished 15th at PGF last season and returns a number of key players such as 3B/1B Baylee Goddard (2018, Florida), P/1B Madisyn Davis (2019, Troy), P Aynslie Furbush (2020, Ole Miss University), OF/IF Scotland David (2020, Oklahoma State), OF Regan Hermeling (2020, Central Florida), and IF Taryn Freshwater (2020, South Florida). Goddard and Davis are returning Hot 100 2019 honorees and will lead new comers such as IF/C Emily Ayers (2019, uncommitted) from South Carolina who is being heavily recruited from SEC, ACC, and Sun Belt schools.

Get Into Full Swing!

Sign up for the FloSoftball newsletter for instant access to: Breaking News, Live Streams, Original Documentaries, Technique Videos, Rankings, and more!