​Pictured: The Batbusters and A's battled in the PGF Nationals 18U title game.  Expect more success in 2016 from these elite programs.

The teams are ranked 1-50 and we have a Watch List 50 listed in alphabetical order. The Watch List 50 teams are the leading contenders to jump into the FAB 50 in our next updated list.

So what determines a team’s spot? We combined a bunch of factors with summer performance and results, especially at nationals and prestigious tournaments weighing heavily, along with top players returning or added for the future.

Some teams that did well this summer, including the Wichita Mustangs, Lady Magic and OC Batbusters-Briggs squads, aren’t included because—from what we understand—they’ve moved to other age divisions or simply ceased to exist at the 18U level.

There’s obviously a lot of movement both among players and teams; if we’ve missed anything or you would like to provide input on teams below or others not included, feel free to send your info/infights to: Brentt.Eads@FloSports.TV!

See other Fab 50 Club Rankings: 16U, 14U, 12U

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1. OC Batbusters Haning/Stith
Comments: The consensus favorite going into the year lived up to expectations, winning the PGF 18U Premier Nationals for the second year in a row.  The team was so deep, its second unit probably would have finished top 10 in any Nationals.  However, a dozen or so elite 2015’s have graduated including Taylor McQuillin and Alyssa Palomino to Arizona, Tannon Snow and Morganne Flores to Washington, Amanda Lorenz to Florida and Sydney Romero to Oklahoma, so those losses will leave big shoes to fill. Still, great talent coming back for the Batbusters includes pitcher Mariah Lopez, an Oklahoma commit ranked by FloSoftball as the No. 1 prospect in the 2016 class as well as Natalie Lugo, a pitcher committed to Florida. Mike Stith and Gary Haning will need to reload, but they have the talent in the organization and the track record to do it.

2. So Cal A's-Richardson
Comments: Like the Batbusters, the Athletics will have key graduations to replace including outfielder Brooke Vines and pitcher Matty Moss to Tennessee and Faith Canfield to Michigan, but few coaches do a better job at getting a team to peak at the right time than Bruce Richardson.  The runner’s up at PGF also finished tied for 3rd at Boulder IDT and have some talent to build around including catcher Montana Dixon (Stanford), shortstop Mackenzie Boesel (South Carolina) and speedy slapper Jenna Holcomb (Tennessee).

3. Beverly Bandits-Tyrrell/Conroy
Comments: With the loss of outstanding pitcher Taran Alvelo at the end of the spring, it looked like the Bandits would drop dramatically, but credit Bill Conroy for rallying the troops and having a successful summer in winning the Boulder IDT, tying for 5th at PGF and its own tournament, the DeMarini Invitational Showcase.  Conroy will coach the 16U team this year and switch with Jenn Tyrrell, who has done a masterful job with the 16Us, including a 2013 PGF National Championship. She’ll now take the reigns of the 18U team and have two stellar pitchers in Miranda Elish (2016, Oregon) and Alexis Holloway (2017, Notre Dame), ranked as the No. 3 and No. 1 in their respective classes.

4. Birmingham Thunderbolts
Comments: Richard Shea’s program continues to establish itself as one of the elite organizations and is drawing players from all over the U.S. now.  The Bolts won the DeMarini Classic and finished tied for 3rd at PGF and 9th at Boulder IDT.  Using a pitching-by-committee approach, Coach Rocky Thompson loses Madi Moore (Alabama) and T Statman (Arizona) to graduation, but has Ashley Swindle (Auburn) and Giselle Juarez (Fresno State) coming back.  There’s a lot of position talent returning too including speedy infielder Elissa Brown (Alabama).

5. Firecrackers-Rico
Comments: The Firecrackers finished 2nd at the Colorado Sparkler, tied for 3rd at PGF and 5th at TC/USA Nationals and Tony Rico showed one again he gets a team to play well when it counts. The Firecrackers have the luxury of drawing upon its huge network of teams to field one elite Gold team and that will be needed as many top 2015 grads are gone including pitcher Kourtney Shaw (Cal), infielder Ali Wester (Notre Dame) and Bri Tautalafua (UCLA) but excellent talent like infielders Kristina Inouye and Alexis Allan (Michigan) return. You can bet Rico will pull in some more elite talent this fall and its rumored several top pitchers are looking to come on board.

6. Corona Angels-Tyson
Comments: The Angels were young this past summer and that youthful talent will continue to emerge this year including 2018 pitcher Megan Faraimo (UCLA), who led the Angels in 2014 to the PGF 14U National Championship and made the big jump to 18U this year.  Head Coach Marty Tyson continues to draw elite talent and has picked up standout talent all over California including Cristiona Caccamise a 2017 catcher committed to LSU. The 2017 and 2018 classes in the Angels’ organization look very strong and the future is bright, though it may take some time to gel.

7. All American Sports Academy
Comments: Bryan Merrida’s team tied for 7th at PGF and 5th at Boulder IDT and though some standouts like outfielder Cherish Burks (Oregon) have graduated, there is a lot of returning talent too led by pitcher Nerissa Long (Oregon State) and Madi Nickles (UCLA), who can pitch and play just about any position.  She returns after being with the Jr. National Team all summer.

8. PA Chaos
Comments: The surprise of the summer, the Chaos finished 2nd at the Boulder IDT where it beat top teams like the So Cal A’s, AASA and the So Cal Choppers. Coach Joe Spina’s team didn’t play in the bright spotlight of Nationals so many may have missed how talented this team is.  Pitcher Maggie Balint is arguably the top uncommitted pitcher left on the market; she’s a 2016 who was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania and a two-time State POY.  Also on the team is Pitt-bound outfielder Hannah Edwards, one of the top-ranked juniors in the Hot 100.
 
9. TN Fury
Comments: The Fury finished tied for 7th at PGF 18U Premier Nationals and won the Boulder IDT in the Louisville Bracket. Center fielder Olivia Tamewitz (2016, Ole Miss) returns to anchor the offense, but the key will be how effectively the Fury can replace the loss of pitchers Jordan Fortel (Tennessee Chattanooga) and Brianna Jones (Southern Illinois) who graduated and together had a 1.79 ERA at PGF.

10. Explosion-Denio
Comments: After several top 10 finishes at PGF, the Explosion tied for 13th this summer but expect the team to be stronger in 2016 as pitcher Alyssa Loza (Arizona State) returns healthy from a knee injury and seven of eight position players return.  Head coach and organization head Bret Denio also has the luxury of strong 16U and 14U teams to draw talent from and with several 2016 Hot 100 players on the roster, the Explosion could do some damage over the next year.

11. Sorcerer 
Comments: The Sorcerer team tied for 5th at TC/USA Nationals and 9th at Boulder IDT and tied for 13th at PGF and all this success was done with a team that comes back intact except for the loss to graduation of outstanding shortstop Lindsay Rood (Cal). Keep an eye on middle infielder Briana Perez (2017, UCLA), one of the top players in the 2017 class and sluggers Mia Camuso, a 2016 infielder who’s one of the top power-hitters in the country. Pete Aguayo’s team also has two 2017 Hot 100  pitchers of note in Holly Azevedo (UCLA) and Julia Jensen (Nevada).

12. NW Bullets Gold
Comments: The Bullets may have flown under the radar as an elite national team until this summer when it won the TC/USA Nationals, finished 17th at Boulder IDT and tied for 25th at PGF.  Talented pitcher Emily Sorem (Lehigh) is gone to graduation so Kelsey Broadus (2016, Boise State) will have to pick up the slack. MaKenna Partain, a 2016 shortstop committed to Minnesota, hit .444 at PGF and utility player Bradie Fillmore (Cal) will bring senior leadership.

13. EC Bullets-Schnute
Comments: Greg Schnute’s team didn’t have All-World pitcher Kelly Barnhills (2015, Florida) this summer as she was playing for the Jr. National Team, but he assembled a team that finished second at the USA Softball JO Cup and 3rd at the TC/USA Nationals including one of the best games ever: the team trailed 8-0 and 13-8 before rallying in the bottom of the 7th to win on a walk-off grand slam by pick-up shortstop Sydney Pennington (2017, Oklahoma State). The pitching staff will likely ride workhorse Parker Conrad (2016, Missouri), who was consistently strong all summer.

14. Texas Blaze-Slimp
Comments: Few, if any team, traveled with a more passionate, vocal and electric crowd than the Blaze team that finished 5th at Boulder IDT and the USA Softball JO Cup. From the organization that produced Blair Luna and Taylor Thom, there’s a solid core of talent returning including catcher Taylor Ellsworth (2017, Texas) and infielder Chelsea Seggern (2016, Tennessee).

15. Georgia Impact-Premier
Comments: This is a new team, one created with the combination of key players from the Rick Jeffreys’ and Patrick Lewis’ Impact teams, so it’s a bit of a gamble putting an unproven team this high, but Will Tomasello’s organization had a team in every age group—from 10U to 18U—finish tied for 13th or higher at PGF Nationals this year, including Lewis’ 14U team coming in second to the OC Batbusters-Campbell squad. If this is the “All-Star” team for the Impact organization and, word on the street is it will be strong, then it’s a risk worth taking.

16. Texas Sudden Impact-Dutton
Comments: The Impact won the Colorado Sparkler, finished 5th at the JO Cup and 9th at TC/USA Nationals and have been solid for several years now.  The challenge will be overcoming the loss of several star players to graduation including infielders Aubrey Leach (Tennessee) and Amber Serrett (LSU) along with pitcher Abby Langkapm (Baylor), but there’s a good nucleus of players to turn to including 2016 hurlers Shelby McGlaun (Baylor) and Trystan Melancon (Houston).

17. Diamond Sports Hotshots
Comments: One of the newest teams in the 18U division is also one of the best.  The Texas-based Hotshots coached by Tammie Davis had a strong first year, tying for 9th at Colorado Sparkler, 17th at PGF Nationals and 24th at TC/USA Nationals. The team has two of the top 2016 Hot 100 players in the nation—both of whom will sign with Oklahoma this fall— in pitcher/infielder Nicle Mendes and infielder Alissa Dalton.

18. Illinois Chill Gold
Comments: The Chill quietly had a strong summer including finishing 3rd at DeMarini and 5th at Boulder IDT.  Gerry Quinn’s team has a strong 2016 class led by pitcher Caroline Hedgcock (Arkansas), infielder Alex Martens (Kentucky) and slugging catcher Kayla Konwent (Wisconsin), who was her state’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

19. Cal Cruisers-Sievers
Comments: Mel Sievers’ team had a strong summer, advancing to the championship game of the Team NJ Summer Classic where it would have faced the OC Batbusters-Haning/Stith team if not for weather cancelling the title game.  The Cruisers also tied for 9th at PGF and 17th at Boulder IDT but will have to overcome the loss of standout pitcher Hailey Hilburn, now at Utah, and several other key 2015’s.

20. Texas Glory-Shelton
Comments: Traditionally one of the top teams from the Lone Star State, the Glory finished 5th at Colorado Sparkler and 7th at TC/USA Nationals.  Kevin Shelton’s Gold team loses a pair of 2015 Hot 100 infielders, Madison Montgomery and Taylor Lynch, to Oklahoma State, but has some outstanding young talent in the pipeline at the younger ages.  Pitchers Maddie MacGrandle (2017, Texas A&M) and Mariah Denson (2016, Oklahoma State) are two to watch.

21. So Cal Choppers
Comments: With Gary and Dean Fausett’s leadership, the Choppers are always competitive and this year was no exception as the team compiled 17th place finishes at both PGF and Boulder IDT. There’s a strong pipeline of talent coming up too; the 14U Chopper team won TC/USA Nationals and the Boulder ITD. Some of the young players to watch for, be it now or in the future pipleline, include 2017 infielder Abby Sweet (Notre Dame), 2018 outfielder Makenna Harper (Arizona State) and one of the top catchers at any level, Ally Shipman (2018, Tennessee).  Seniors of note include Arizona-bound infielder Jessica Harper and LSU commit Amanda Doyle.

22. Firecrackers AZ
Comments: The Arizona Firecrackers have consolidated two of last year’s 18U teams to produce a potent squad that has retained the top 2016 and 2017 players with elite players from the Hinkle 16U team that won the Colorado Sparkler Super 32. Notable young players include pitcher Jessica Lynch (2018, Arizona State) and infielder Grace Lyons (2018, Oklahoma) while leadership will come from 2016 Madison Uden who’ll sign with Michigan.

23. Rhode Island Thunder
Comments: Dave Gotti’s team finished 3rd at the DeMarini Invitational Showcase and 9th at the Boulder IDT and, though many top 2015s have moved on including catcher Tori Dubois now at Penn State, there are excellent returning players in Mary Haff, a 2017 hurler committed to Arkansas, and 2016 outfielder Christa Wagner who’s committed to Penn State.  Many scouts feel the Thunder have some of the top players from the entire Northeast coming up from within the program.

24. St. Louis Chaos
Comments: It was an exciting year for Evan Beatty and his team as they finished 2nd at the DeMarini, 3rd at the JO Cup and 17th at Boulder IDT.  The team had three outstanding 2015 pitchers in Maddie Seifert (Penn State), Brittany Nimmo (North Carolina State) and Danielle Baumgartner (Missouri) and now Grace Baalman, a 2017 thrower committed to Kentucky will take over. Incidentally, Beatty is going down to 16U to coach and Mike Wise will take over the 18U team.

25. Lady Lightning Gold Team Miken
Comments: After a couple of years finishing in the Top 10 at PGF 18U Nationals, the Lightning tied for 17th at PGF and finished in the same spot at Boulder, but John Corn’s team is ready to reload with several of the top prospects on the East Coast including South Carolina commit and Gatorade State Player of the Year Cayla Drotar, a 2017 pitcher who hits well too; the Davidson sisters, Montana and Mia, going to Mississippi State and outstanding catcher Megan Dray, a 2017 commit to North Carolina.


​NEXT 25:

26. Firecrackers-Brashear
27. Jersey Intensity-KOD
28. Ohana Tigers
29. Firecrackers-Blanco
30. Georgia Impact-Bass
31. Tulsa Elite
32. Arizona Hotshots
33. Atlanta Vipers-Kates
34. Texas Bombers
35. Gold Coast Hurricanes
36. West Coast Intensity
37. Georgia Elite-Hoover
38. KB Hitters-Kiko
39. Tampa Mustangs-TJ
40. USA Athletics
41. Beverly Bandits DeMarini-Moran
42. Impact Gold-Jackson
43. Washington Ladyhawks-Miller
44. Miami Stingrays
45. TC Stars
46. Michigan Finesse
47. Desert Thunder
48. DeMarini Aces
49. Cal Thunder
50. Gametime Stars Gold-Fisher

Watch List 50:

American Pastime Gold
Arizona Storm
Batbusters-Fox
Bownet-Ashley/Creamer
California Grapettes-Olson
Carolina Elite
Chicago Cheetahs
Corona Angels-Howard
Esprit Premier-Huecker
Explosion-Morgan
Firecrackers-Ewing
Firecrackers-Pasco
Florida Power-Black
Fresno Force
Houston Power
Indiana Magic Gold
Iowa Premier Gold
Irvine Sting
KC Peppers
Lady Hustle
Las Vegas Rage
LIDS Indiana Dreams
Lil Rebels
Lil Saints
Louisiana Voodoo
Louisville Slugger
Marucci Patriots
NC Challengers-Renzi
Nebraska Gold
New Lenox Lightning
Newtown Rock Gold-Garvey
NW Batbusters
Ohio Outlaws
Oklahoma Diamond Girls
Oklahoma Exclusive
Originals Gold
PA Krunch
San Jose Sting
So Cal Breakers
So Cal Fillys
Southern Force (Ga.)
Sparks
Teamsmith
Texas Aces Express
Texas Blaze Bonola
Texas Firecrackers DFW
Texas Glory-Adkins
Texas Sudden Impact
Tulsa Shootout
TXFC Fastpitch
Vienna Stars
Virginia Glory​