We begin our "preseason rankings" lists with a look at the top 18U club teams. We're hitting the meat of the fall club showcase schedule.  The deciding factors in the FAB 50 rankings are summer performances, results, along with the return of key players, and the addition of talented new ones.

Each day this week we'll unveil 10 teams and conclude on Friday, Oct. 14 with teams ranked 10-1.  On Saturday, the list continues with the Next In teams, which are those who are best poised to jump into the next updated FAB 50 with strong fall, winter and spring play.

What makes the FAB 50 challenging is the player movements from graduations and players switching to new teams. 

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.

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RANK	TEAM	BIO
T50	USA Athletics Gold Rogers	Runner-up in the PGF Platinum 18U championship this summer and a 5th place finisher at Boulder IDT, Mike Roger's team has 13 players who are committed including 2017 C/IF Alyssa Palacios and 2018 OF Chloe Malauulu (Mississippi State). The Athletics have looked good this fall including a 1-1 tie this weekend over the tough Corona Angels-Tyson team at this weekend's Surf City Fall Tournament.
T50	Minnesota Sting Gold	The Sting is a sleeper team to watch as it went 69-20 last year with only one solid pitcher and now Bob Makela's team has three strong hurlers including Sydney LaPoint from Wisconsin who throws a rise in the low 60s. Also back from injury is pitcher Halley Jones (Nebraska-Omaha). The team speed is impressive, especially at the top of the lineup with outfielders Morgan Kleim-Wolfe, who is taking Big Ten visits this fall, and Brooke Bowlin (D2 St. Cloud State).
49	St. Louis Esprit	"Jim Huecker's team finished 13th at the inaugural USA Elite Select World Championship, 48th in PGF Nationals, and 33rd at Boulder IDT. What makes the Esprit strong is their pitching. Grace Baalman, a Hot 100 2017 pitcher committed to Kentucky, is a new pick-up. Baalman is complemented with another Hot 100 hurler, Lauren Boyd, a 2020 commit going to Northwestern. Two others of note are both 2017 Mizzou bound outfielders: Abby George and Delaney McDannolds.
48	Indiana Magic	After finishing 2nd at Atlanta Legacy 16U, 9th at Boulder IDT 16U, and 17th at the USA Softball JO Cup 16U, Brian Green's team moves up to battle at the 18U level. Magic has a nice balance of pitching, power, and speed. All 13 players are committed except one. The team is heavy with 2017 talent including P Danielle Watson (Louisville) and CF Katie Quinlan (Michigan State).  They will be joined by newcomers like 2B/OF Maddie Newman (Louisville), SS/OF Sierra Parkinson (North Carolina) and P Katie-Grace Olinger (North Carolina).
47	So Cal Athletics - Briggs	Ken and Roseann Briggs have experienced success with several organizations and field a new 18U team combining several standouts from last year's 16U team with talented additions. The team is all seniors with only three juniors.  and has great speed with solid pitching. Key players to watch include 2017 SS Abby Robertson (Utah), 2017 P Naomi Dickerson (Georgia Tech) and 2018 2B Chey Hornbunckle (Kansas).
46	Beverly Bandits DeMarini	The Beverly Bandits have become the top organization in the Midwest by bringing in talent from all multiple states. The Bandits have a nice balance of athletic and skilled 2017s and '18s. One of the top 2019s added is Abby Herbst, a standout P/1B committed to Wisconsin. 2017 3B/2B Megan McMenemy travels from from the Columbus, Ohio area and will stay home to play for the Buckeyes. From Pennsylvania, 2017 MIF Sara Jubas (James Madison) is one of the best at her position in the senior class.
45	OC Batbusters - Lara	The massive OC Batbuster organization has 11 teams playing at the 18U level and expect Clay Lara's team to be one of the best in the country. They are competitive in every tournament they plays in. The key to this Batbuster squad is its stability and consistency in playing efficient defense. Leading the way are a pair of 2017 commits who have played at a high level for several years and both are headed to Loyola Marymount: MIF Maddie Flores and C/3B Molly Gumbo. Two other solid senior infielders to watch are Kiana Cisneros (Boston College) and Maxine Ortega (Columbia).
44	Firecrackers - Lutterloh	Mike Lutterloh's team fields only 14 players and 12 of them are committed including nine seniors led by the coach's daughter Makenna, an infielder who is headed to Duke. Lutterloh moves up from the 16U level where they had Top 10 finishes in four major events including taking 2nd at TC/USA Nationals. The Firecrackers started the fall going 9-2-1 despite losing three players that moved up to Tony Rico's 18U team. Miranda Johnson, a 2019 infielder, committed last week to Notre Dame and three seniors--P Amber Baldwin, C Ryan King and IF/C Jocelynn De La Cruz will play together next year at Middle Tennessee State.
43	Lady Lightning Gold Midwest	Michelle Harrison returns every significant player from her team that finished 17th at PGF Premier 18U this summer with only three losses due to graduation. The pitching staff is anchored by seniors Erin Poepping (East Carolina) and Hailey Martinez (Wichita State) with the addition of young gun Megan Osterhaus (2018, uncommitted but Big Ten interest). Catcher Abby Sagert (Illinois) is strong behind the plate and senior infielders Brittney Davis (Toledo) and Sarah Genz (Notre Dame) hit in the three or four spot.
42	Birmingham Thunderbolts '98	One of two standout Thunderbolts teams at the 18U level is Coach Ryan Greenwood's Bolts team. They replace five quality grads including four who went to the SEC but returns a good core of players and most importantly the entire pitching staff. The '98 team went 27-7-1 over the summer including going 4-0 in Virginia Beach to qualify for the PGF Premier Nationals. Key returners include 2017 pitchers Haley Hestekin (Wisconsin) and Emily Williams (Central Florida) along with 2018 C Cassady Greenwood (Louisville) and 2017 OF Tyler Armistead (Georgia).
41	Oklahoma Athletics Gold	The Athletics had a strong year going 64-11 with a 2nd place finish at ASA Gold, 9th place at Super 48 in Colorado, and a 33rd place finish at PGF Nationals falling to powerhouse So Cal A's in 11 innings. Every starter returns and the pitching staff is even stronger with the pickup of Chenise Delce, a 2018 Tulsa commit. Key returners include 2018 CF Chyenne Factor (Oklahoma State), 2017 SS Sydnee Ramsey (Kansas), and 2017 2B Kennedy Jackson (Oklahoma City) give the Athletics' a strong middle part of the line-up.