FAB 50 18U Club Rankings – Vol. 1 (1/20)
FAB 50 18U Club Rankings – Vol. 1 (1/20)
And here we go! We kick off our start of the FAB 50 Club Rankings by looking at the top teams in the 18U division.
We rank them 1 through 50 and have blurbs on the first 25 and even have the Next 50 In… note that this list is as the teams stand NOW. There will be players emerging, others getting injured and some jumping teams which will all impact which teams rise and fall.
If you have input on teams below or others not included, feel free to send your info/arguments to Brentt@FullCountSoftball.com!
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Taylor McQuillin of the OC Batbusters pitches in the last inning of the 2014 PGF Nationals title game. OC Batbusters Haning/Stith
Comments: pitching, hitting, speed – they have it all and all the way through the lineup – this team is seasoned and knows how to win
- Corona Angels – Tyson
Comments: not as strong as last summer but still at the top with Garcia pitching. Marty Tyson always reloads and is competitive…
- Beverly Bandits
Comments: will have one of the top pitching staffs out there with Taran Alvelo, Miranda Elish, and Alexis Holloway – and this game is about pitching –will need players to step up with graduation of 2014 Hot 100 No. 1 Jenna Lilley and other top seniors from last year – Conroy usually just reloads but tough to find another Lilley.
- Birmingham Thunderbolts
Comments: Shea has assembled a very good team this year, although the loss of highly ranked Kenzi Maguire to a season-ending knee injury will hurt but he still has the players to get it done. This will be his best team ever.
- East Cobb Bullets – Schnute
Comments: Barnhill, Barnhill, Barnhill! With Kelly Barhill in the circle this team can beat anyone, though it will need to find offense to beat the top teams.
- So Cal Athletics – Richardson
Comments: the A’s can hit but will they find the pitching to lead them to another top 5 finish? Potential big questions as the team looks to find an ace on the staff.
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Megan Kleist of Firecrackers-Rico. Firecrackers – Rico
Comments: this team can run, run, run and has lots of speed and with the addition of Eliyah Flores and Alexis Allan, they have power too. The key for their team this summer will be Megan Kleist, the pitcher from Wisconsin. Big question: will Brianne Tautalafua be back at full strength by the summer?
- Explosion – Denio
Comments: good balance of hitting and pitching, the defense will be the key for a strong summer run.
- So Cal Choppers
Comments: another very good hitting team although the lack of pitching depth will be the question. Caitlyn Brooks will need to pitch well for another top 10 finish.
- Lady Lightning Gold Team Miken
Comments: Coach John Corn seems to always find the best talent in his area and with Reagan Green in the circle, he has a chance to win any game. Some new key pickups will only add to his already strong roster.
- Texas Glory – Shelton
Comments: The new GM of the Dallas NPF team knows his club way around too; Shelton always has one of the top teams in Texas and the country and expect the same again this year.
- Jersey Intensity – KOD
Comments: Kevin O’Donnell has once again assembled a top team from all over the East Coast and with some good young pitchers, he will be in the mix this year.
- Sorcerer Gold
Comments: the team lost a lot of talent with the graduation of Kylie Perez, Julia DePonte and Johanna Grauer but still has the talent to play with the best. The key for them is the improvement of young pitchers Holly Acevedo.
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Brooke Vestal pitching at the Ronald McDonald tournament. Texas Bombers – Smith
Comments: this could be Scott Smith‘s best club ever as he picked up some good talent in Sam Show and several other Texas A&M commits. Also, pitcher Brooke Vestal‘s development will be a key to the Bombers’ success.
- Wichita Mustangs
Comments: Mark Griggs seems to always find a way each year to bring in good talent and his addition of Lauren Mathis will help Sydney Smith in the circle this summer
- Impact Gold – Jackson
Comments: KC Jackson’s team is loaded with Big 12 talent and the talented Texas team will go as far as the pitching takes it.
- Carolina Elite
Comments: here is a team that continues to climb up the rankings the past few years and with several power hitters, they will always be in a game.
- Bownet
Comments: Meehra Nelson can pitch with the best of them and she will be key to another top 20 finish this summer.
- Gold Coast Hurricanes
Comments: Marty Cooper has long been one of the top coaches in high school and club in Florida and the Hurricanes always have a pipeline of young talent to make them competitive.
- Rhode Island Thunder
Comments: Dave Lotti is one of the better coaches in the country and is always good at getting his team ready; once again they will compete with the best as these kids play hard and smart.
- Nebraska Gold
Comments: The Gold lost key players to graduation but have young pitching that will keep then in the hunt.
- TXFC May
Comments: Connie May’s team finished in the top 20 and surprised many last year but don’t be surprised to see them make another run to the top in ’15.
- All American Sports Academy
Comments: Bryan Merrida always has a well-coached team with lots of young talent as Nerissa Long throws in the high 60’s and when she is on, she is tough to beat. AASA picked up some power with the addition of Dominique Jackson (Fresno State) and with Madi Nickles and Jessica Garcia this is a team to not be overlooked.
- KC Peppers
Comments: the loss of Allison Stewart to graduation will hurt but Dan Eakin always seems to find the players to lead him to a top 20 finish at PGF.
- Wagners Gold
Comments: the ASA Champs from last year will need to find someone to replace Lele Ocasio but Wagners Gold is always one of the top teams from Florida
NEXT 25:
- Miami Stingrays
- Washington Ladyhawks – Miller
- Georgia Impact – Bass
- Texas Sudden Impact – Dutton
- Louisville Lady Sluggers
- Atlanta Vipers – Kates
- Illinois Chill
- Demarini Aces
- Cal Cruisers – Sievers
- Originals Koop
- Newtown Rock – Garvey
- Indiana Magic
- USA Athletics Rogers
- TX Diamond Hotshots
- Tennessee Fury
- So Cal Athletics – Quarles
- Lil Rebels
- Tampa Mustangs
- Beverly Bandits Team DeMarini
- Grapettes – Gomes
- St Louis Chaos
- Florida Storm
- Virginia Legends
- Texas Blaze Gold
- Gametime Stars
NEXT 50 TEAMS IN:
- American Freedom Gold – Soefje
- American Pastime – Farnsworth
- AZ Hotshots – Householder
- Arizona Storm Brun
- Batbusters – Fox
- Blue Angels
- Cal Lite
- Chaos Gold
- Colorado Stars Burns
- Colorado Styxx
- Corona Angels Howard
- Finesse
- Firecrackers – Blanco
- Firecrackers DFW Poole
- Firecrackers – Ewing
- Firecrackers – Snyder
- Houston Power Glowacz
- Irvine Sting
- Las Vegas Rage Gold
- Louisiana Patriots
- Lower South Liberty
- Mac N Seitz
- Minors Gold
- Nemesis Elite
- New Jersey Inferno
- New Lenox Lightning
- NM Sundancers
- NW Bullets
- OC Batbusters – Briggs
- OC Batbusters – Gonzalez
- Oklahoma Diamond Girls
- Oklahoma Exclusive Gold
- Oregon Blaze
- PA Krunch
- San Diego Renegades
- So Cal 3D
- So Cal Breakers – Beddow
- So Cal Wicked
- St. Louis Chaos
- St. Louis Esprit
- Strike Force
- Tampa Mustangs
- TC Stars Gold
- TC Tremors
- TNL
- Texas Storm – Wymer
- Tulsa Elite
- USA Athletics
- Vienna Stars
- Williamsburg Starz