FAB 50 16U Club Rankings: 40-31
FAB 50 16U Club Rankings: 40-31
Pictured: the Atlanta Premier team coached by Sharon Perkins, now in her second year leading the club team.We continue our look at the top 2016 club ranking
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Pictured: the Atlanta Premier team coached by Sharon Perkins, now in her second year leading the club team.
We continue our look at the top 2016 club rankings for the 16U age division by spotlighting the teams ranked 40-31.
Each day this week we’re revealing 10 teams as we march to our Top 10 squads to be listed on Friday!
Teams were selected based on fall performances and results in events (showcases and tournaments) as well as how they did last year and the amount of talent returning for this upcoming run at Nationals.
Input was also provided by dozens of top club and college coaches from around the nation.
Click here to see the previous rankings list: 50-41
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We continue our look at the top 2016 club rankings for the 16U age division by spotlighting the teams ranked 40-31.
Each day this week we’re revealing 10 teams as we march to our Top 10 squads to be listed on Friday!
Teams were selected based on fall performances and results in events (showcases and tournaments) as well as how they did last year and the amount of talent returning for this upcoming run at Nationals.
Input was also provided by dozens of top club and college coaches from around the nation.
Click here to see the previous rankings list: 50-41
***
| Rank | Team | Bio |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Corona Angels - Perez | Good pitching, fundamental defense and timely hitting are the three strengths to Mike Perez’s team, which integrates a lot of new talent with some strong returning players including Allani Escobar, a 2017 catcher and vocal leader committed to Bryant, who stayed down in 16U because the team needed her leadership skills. Another (quiet) leader is Dre Gonzalez, who is committed to Iowa State. |
| 39 | Impact Gold - Jackson | The Impact Gold can run you off the field with the great team speed that saw 51 steals in 24 games this fall. The coaches teach aggressive play in all aspects of the game, leading to extra base hits and home runs. The pitching is solid too with four who combined for 92 K’s in the two dozen games. Offensively, Bethany Busch, a 2018 centerfielder, led the team with a .415 batting average and 19 steals and has four offers but uncommitted so far. |
| 38 | Wichita Mustangs | This year's Mustangs will be a young group that won't be as dominant in the circle compared to last season, but offensively and defensively the Msutangs are strong and reload with talent throughout the line-up. One to watch ii 2018 catcher/shortstop Jazmyne Armendariz from El Paso who brings leadership and athleticism to the field. Third baseman Adeline Reese is another skilled sophomore and recently committed to Wichita State. Other standouts include 2019 pitcher/first baseman Kaylie Hewitt (Texas Tech) and 2018 outfielder Macy Omli (Kansas). |
| 37 | LTG - Carda | Look for LTG-Carda to have a breakout year as Coach Jim Carda—father of UCLA great Ally Carda—and his staff brings back a talented and battle-tested core of players. Elise Madison (2018) will lead the pitching staff and Shea Moreno (UCLA), a Hot 100 honoree, is one of the best catchers in the country regardless of age. Other key players include infielder Maddi Ayers (2018, San Diego State), infielder/outfielder Armani Brown (2017, uncommitted), corner infielder Sarah Brown (2017, Charleston Southern) and catcher/utility player Gabrielle Jimenez (2018, Utah State). |
| 36 | Team Alabama 00' Roberts | Team Alabama is a relatively new program—it was founded by Burt Lively, a former Auburn football player who got his start under the tutelage of Birmingham Thunderbolts founder Richard Shea four years ago. Since then, he’s established Team Alabama as an up-and-coming organization including his 14U team which made the FloSoftball FAB 50 after this summer and has moved up to 16U. The team won the PGF South Qualifier and finished Top 26 at PGF and has also posted a 5-2 mark against FloSoftball Top 50 teams this year. The first commitment from the organization: 2018 pitcher/outfielder Katie Lively to Troy. |
| 35 | Firecrackers AL Ingram | The Firecrackers went 9-1 for he fall (another rain casualty at some events), going 4-1 at the Diamond 9 Sun Classic and 5-0 at the Veterans Tribute where Terry Ingram’s team outscored opponents 61-13. For the fall, the Firecrackers hit as a team .366 led by 2019 shortstop Lauren Haskins batting .536. The pitching staff compiled a 1.33 ERA and is five pitchers deep with a pair of 2018 standouts in Savanna Holmes and Jade Ingram, both also excellent hitters, leading the way. Because of injuries, the team played with only nine players the last few months and with everyone healthy has the talent to beat anyone on any given day. |
| 34 | St. Louis Chaos 99 Gill/Benck | Coach Rachel Gill and assistant coach Lindsay Benck have added key players on offense and defense with speed being a major strength as six players run sub-2.8 home-to-first times. Star returnees include shortstop Olivia Ward (2018, Kentucky), speedy centerfielder/slapper Maddie Spinks (2017, Illinois-Chicago) and lefty utility player Maddie Michalski (2018, uncommitted). Ward and Michalski also add power at the plate. The Chaos opened some eyes in Orlando, going 7-0 at the D9 Sun Classic the week of Halloween. |
| 33 | Victory USA | The Southern California-based team travelled coast-to-coast this fall playing in 16U and 18U events and compiled a 38-5-7 record and beat some of the top teams in the country. Over the summer, Victory USA finished 3rd at Boulder IDT 14U, 4th at ASA 16U Gold Nationals, 5th at Champions Cup 16U and 25th at PGF Premier 14U. Ace 2018 pitcher Jessica Ross just recently committed to Ohio State and the team also added two more standout hurlers in Julia “JJ” Jackson and Ashley “Tiger” Wernli as well as speedy 2019 slapper Julie Phelps to an already potent lineup. |
| 32 | Firecrackers - Lutterloh | The Firecrackers went 22-4-2 this fall winning the 18U Triple Crown Pre-Thanksgiving Cup and taking 2nd in the 16U The Don Battles On tournament losing to one of the top teams in the nation, the So Cal A’s TO-Mercado team. Mike Lutterloh’s team isn’t afraid to play anyone and is filled with experienced players including the coach’s daughter Makenna, who is a middle infielder committed to Duke. She is one of five 2017 players who are committed. |
| 31 | Ohio Outlaws Premier - Morrison | Crossing state borders, the Ohio Outlaw team from Pennsylvania is loaded with talent and it showed this fall: in three tourneys the Outlaws went 14-1 including some wins over 18U teams at Team NJ (note: the only lose came at King of the Hill when only nine girls could play). The squad has seven players going D1 with five going to Power 5 conferences. The last two uncommitted starters have D1 offers and one, 2018 infielder has Big Ten interest. Outfielder Lexi Wagner (Pitt) is a Hot 100 honoree and the team has three Penn State commits including two outstanding 2018 pitchers: Bailey Parshall and Kylee Lingenfelter. |