This week we’ll look at the club teams at the 12U level that we think are the top candidates to stand out in 2018.

Each day this week we’ll unveil 10 teams and conclude Friday with the elite programs rated in the top 10. 

Here’s the release schedule for the FAB 50 12U rankings through Friday:

Mon. Nov. 27: Nos. 50-41

Tue. Nov. 28: Nos. 40-31

Wed. Nov. 29: Nos. 30-21

Thu. Nov. 30: Nos. 20-11

Fri. Dec. 1: Nos. 10-1

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 receiving 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: flosoftball@flosports.tv.

30 | Atlanta Vipers - Janney

Jason Janney’s team came together last year with the combination of Georgia Force 05 and Georgia 3D 05 and has played up this fall against 14U teams in the Veteran’s Tribute Showcase and the Champions Elite Fall Showcase with big wins again strong older teams. The team has earned a berth to the USA Elite Select WFC next summer in Kansas City and is led by 5-foot-9 pitcher Jaylyn Benson, who throws in the high 50s and is already drawing looks from Southeast colleges. She is complemented in style by fellow hurler Courtney Sauer, who is more of a precision/location pitcher. The infield is anchored by lefty slapper Lily Bell, who was a 2017 Select 30 and Faster2First All-American this year, along with hard-hitting third baseman Haley Coyle and strong-armed catcher Samantha Brown. 

29 | Lady Lightning Uprising

Tony Wools’ Lightning team based in Fairfax, Virginia, traveled to Atlanta, the Carolinas, and Pennsylvania this fall to play the best teams up and down the East Coast; they impressed along the way, compiling a team batting average of .366 and an on-base percentage of .455. The second-year squad has a lot of promising 2023 talent that should make the Lightning a threat to go deep in the PGF Nationals next summer. Their potent offense features five speedsters who can slap and wreak havoc against opposing defenses. Their offense is sparked by outfielder Alexis Morgan, who batted .547 this fall. Catcher Amiya Johnson provides the long-ball threat and the pitching staff is deep, led by Katie Kutz, who was clocked at 59 mph at a recent camp, along with talented hurlers Lillie Wools and Lauren Flyn. 

28 | GA Power 05 - Wiggins

Allen Wiggins’ Georgia-based team had a strong 2017 summer that culminated in a 9-0 run to win the USSSA 12U National Championship as a first-year 12U program, and the majority of the team returns and is expected to be even better with the addition of some key pickups. The pitching staff is strong and features Elyse Kresho and Ava Fouts, who combined for a 2.04 ERA during the team’s championship run in Orlando. The team is excellent on defense to back up the pitching staff and showed it is a nationally competitive squad when it finished seventh this fall in the Atlanta Fastpitch Classic, which featured many top-ranked 12U programs including the Birmingham Thunderbolts and Georgia Impact-Lunsford, which defeated Power in close bracket games. Wiggins’ team had top-three finishes in the World Fastpitch Qualifier, the Children’s Healthcare Fastpitch Qualifier, and the Champions Elite Fall Showcase, where it went 5-1 for the weekend.

27 | Texas Blaze - Slimp

JB Slimp’s team came together as a first-year 10U team in 2015 and the chemistry and experience together makes them one of the top teams to watch out of the Southwest. All key players returned this fall and with the addition of some talented players who helped the Blaze go 30-4 in the fall to win the USSSA State championship and take second at Ronald McDonald and the Texas Gold Cup. The Round Rock-based program is balanced with strong defense, pitching, speed, and power and is led by Kenzie Jones, a 5-foot-7 power pitcher who throws 57 mph in tournaments and tosses a curve, rise, and screwball. Catcher/infielder Raeghan Carlson provides athleticism and a big arm and bat while the infield is anchored by shortstop Sophie Sun, who has a high softball IQ and can hit for power. Driving the offense is super quick outfielder/middle infielder slapper London Minnix, whose .685 on-base percentage led the team.

26 | Florida Batbusters 05 - Riverview

The Batbuster name has gone national now, and one of the top 12U teams in the country comes out of Southwest Florida. Steven Bedenbaugh’s team recently won its fourth tournament of the fall when it went 5-0 at the USSSA Blackstone Fall Brawl. That put the tally at three USSSA championships and one USA Elite Select title. Overall, the Batbusters went 26-3 this season behind one of the top pitching staffs in the Sunshine State as the team has four starting pitchers in Tinley Dunn, Madison Carney, Bricelyn Bedenbaugh, and Haven Leggett who combined for just 1.84 runs per game and an offensive lineup that averaged 7.21 runs per contest. Formally known as the Riverview Warriors, the Batbusters 05 squad had a strong run the last three years winning 186 games, losing 65 and capturing 14 tournament titles. 

25 | Universal Fastpitch 05

In recent years, the Universal Fastpitch organization has been a Division I pipeline, especially for Pac-12 schools such as UCLA, Oregon, Stanford, and UCLA, and the 12U team led by Mike Faulstich looks to continue producing elite level talent. The ’05 squad draws on top players from Northern California ranging from San Jose to the Bay Area to Sacramento and is loaded with nine lefties who can slap, hit for power, or place a bunt with a couple right-handed power hitters sprinkled in to keep defenses honest. After finishing 13th in the TCS World Series Gold Bracket over the summer, the NorCal team went 31-13 in the fall and won the PGF Pre-Thanksgiving Tournament, going 7-0 while outscoring opponents 76-11. The team is loaded with pitchers in Rylei Trujillo, Haleia Sweifach, Hailey Stripling, and recently beefed up the defense with shortstop Emma Jackson. Jackson is already drawing Pac-12 interest and is the younger sister of senior Cal standout and current USA Softball national team member Jazmyn Jackson. Trujillo, Sweifach, and outfielder Kyra Mason were honored as 12U USA All-Americans in August on the team that competed in Oklahoma City.

24 | Atlanta Vipers - Tamborra

Led by Stacy Tamborra, who runs the Champions Fastpitch Academy and several prestigious tournaments, the Vipers 12U team has developed into one of the top teams from the South and is gaining national recognition. Most of the summer and fall the team is playing up against 14U competition and often beats some of the better teams at that level. The Vipers have a nice blend of power, speed, and pitching with 5-foot-10 power pitcher Lindsey Paul who can also swing a strong bat along with Malayna Tamborra, who led the staff in ERA. This fall the team hit seven home runs and had 76 steals led by center fielder Nia McKnight (15) who also hit .365. Catcher Francesca Lumpp paced the team with a .375 batting average and shortstop/pitcher Sarah Morton, who played every game for the USA All-American team, and power hitter/pitcher Macy Langley, who hit five homers this fall in school ball in Georgia, are also key contributors.

23 | OC Batbusters - Garcia

Chris Garcia’s team is a first-year 12U program, but in time playing against more experienced teams this SoCal talent-laden squad will be able to compete against the best. In the summer of 2016, the team was the ASA 10A So Cal state champs and in 2017 finished seventh at PGF 10U Nationals. This fall, Garcia’s group went 50-14-1 and was the only first-year 12U team invited to the PGF Shootout. At the TCS Monster Mash tourney, the Batbusters went 4-1 with the only loss coming in nine innings to the strong Firecrackers Brashear/Oakes team. The pitching staff is deep with lefty Jada Villegas, a power pitcher with an excellent curve and change, and Eva Hurtado, a right-hander who has great spin on her screw and curve. Watch for two of the top overall hitters in the class as well: Jazzy Hernandez, who batted .619 this fall, and Jenna Sniffen, the clean-up hitter who flies in from Hawaii to play for the team and averaged .593. Setting the table are speedsters Samantha Ray, their shortstop who had a .700 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot, and outfielder Maria Mendoa, who bats in the two-hole with a .667 on-base percentage.

22 | Texas Glory Adkins - Saenz

It’s a strong year in the Lone Star State, and more than one club coach said Cesar Saenz has it rocking with his Glory Adkins team that finished third last summer in the USA Elite Select Nationals in Florida as a first-year team. Overall, Glory compiled a .900 winning percentage and didn’t miss a beat in the fall, winning its first three tournaments — Ronald McDonald, USSSA State, and USFA State — while finishing second at the USA Softball Fall Texas Challenge Series. Eight top players return, including outstanding pitcher/utility player Marisa Perla who has an arsenal of pitches and has a great work ethic. Highlighting the offense is Kamryn Bishop, their shortstop who can play almost everywhere on the field and has great speed on the base paths. The Houston-based team blends power hitting, pitching, defense, athleticism, and lefty slappers; they are deep and have the philosophy of developing all players as utility athletes who can play anywhere. Add in the mix five solid pitchers who can land pitches in the 52-58 mph range and four catchers who are solid backstops or can play out in the field, and you have one of the top teams in the country who can throw wave after wave of talent at you and never fall short.

21 | Dirt Divas 05

The Dirt Divas organization shocked the club world this summer when the 14U team won the PGF Nationals and just months later the Texas program is loaded up at all ages. The 12U team coached by James Chandler completed a successful fall season going 32-5 and coming in second at the USSSA Fall State tournament while winning several other local and regional championship titles. The Divas’ roster is filled with dangerous sluggers like pitcher/third baseman Alex Wiley and catcher Kaitlyn Wilson, a team leader behind and at the plate. Slappers Karynton Dawson and Bailee Slack provide speed on offense and defense with Slack being timed at 2.68 home-to-first. The defense is strong with the excellent glove work of second baseman Reese Evans, third baseman/outfielder Kylie Boudreaux, and shortstop Kayley Prudhomme. The pitching corps is deep and features a variety of styles with Reese Parker, Reagan Duty, and Wiley giving opponents a lot of various looks.