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.

40 | Firecrackers AZ - Walding

The Firecrackers AZ team coached by Chris Walding, based in Phoenix is an up-and-coming program with a 40-5 record since July 21 in 12U sanctioned tournaments with four championships and one runner-up finish. Most recently, the squad won the TCS Turkey Bash and finished in the final eight of the 58-team TCS Pre-Thanksgiving Cup. The Firecrackers have an outstanding battery with lefty pitcher Aissa Silva, who has good velocity, spin, and movement and recorded several no-hitters this year, and catcher Madison Tarrant, who is the anchor in the line-up and tied for the team lead in RBI with 36 while batting .448 and an on-base percentage of .522. Another slugger to watch is Isabella Stone, who also had 36 RBI on the season and was the only ’05 player invited to the Phoenix OnDeck Jamboree. A table-setter to watch is 2024 grad Jordan Ruble, a speedster who gets on base and has a .584 OBP.

39 | Hit Squad - Segrest

Mark Segrest has his Tallahassee, Alabama-based 2005 team poised for a big 2018 after it went 56-16-1 this past summer with six tournament victories including a 4th place finish at the USFA World Series in Panama City and a 22-6-1 mark this fall with another 4th finish at a key tourney, the Atlanta Fastpitch Classic. The Hit Squad started as a league team in a small community, but has grown into a cohesive unit known for its prolific offense: the team batted .390 in 73 games over the summer and .371 in fall ball. Leading the way is the shortstop and leading hitter Anna Catherine Segrest, who batted .420 with 34 steals. Defensively,  catcher Hadli Roberts is behind the plate clocking a 1.85 pop time. Key additions include Sydney Simpson, a fast-rising pitcher, and centerfielder Alana Spann, one of the most explosive leadoff slappers in her class. The Hit Squad could be a top 10-20 ranked team by the time next summer ends as it continues to play elite competition and gain national experience.

38 | Impact Gold - Trevino

Oscar Trevino’s team is the 12U national program for the always-competitive Impact Gold organization out of Texas and moves up from the 10U division where it finished 3rd at PGF Nationals 10U this past summer, falling 2-1 to the eventual champion Tennessee Fury team. Driving the IG-Trevino squad are their stellar slap hitters at the top of the order including leadoff threat Megan Geyer and Krissy Luera, noted as two of the best in their age group. The solid infield is highlighted by a standout catcher in Ary Garcia and the pitching staff is deep and talented with ace Celeste DeLeon, who threw a no-hitter at PGF Nationals and went 3-1 against elite competition during the championship week in So Cal. This fall, the Impact went 16-2 including winning the VTD North Texas State championship. 

37 | Panthers - Gatewood

Manager Chris Gatewood has assembled a hand-picked group of players from across South and Central Florida to form an elite team that has steamrolled the competition over the last several months. In its first seven tournaments since starting together in early August, the Panthers have won five and finished second in another to end the fall campaign with a 35-5 record. The team is currently riding a 23-game win streak after winning all its contests in the Michele Smith, Diamond 9, USA and USSSA “S” States tourneys. So dominant has been the team this fall, they have scored 273 runs in the last 40 games while giving up only 69. The pitching has been dominant: 15 of the games have been shutouts and 12 others have seen the opponents score only one run. Leading the way on the mound are Victoria Ash, who compiled an 18-3 mark this year, and Kendall Wylie who went 15-2. Pacing the offense is Ariana Maxwell (.415) and Adriana Przespolewski (.409).

36 | Impact Gold - Shrope

Based out of Dacula, Georgia, the Impact Gold is led by Mike Shrope and recently moved to the Impact organization where it has quickly made its presence known, winning the USSSA 12U World Series along with capturing the title at the ASA State in Georgia going undefeated in both tourneys. This fall the team compiled a 21-4 mark with two of the losses coming by just one run to another FAB 50 12U team. Key to the team’s success has been pitcher/outfielder Lindsay Kline, who bats cleanup bringing power to the plate and dominance in the circle. She throws her fastball in the high 50s complemented by a change and screw. She went 10-1 this fall with two no-hitters. To add more ammo to IGs offense, Thalia Martin, a centerfielder/shortstop with speed, hit .417 with nine triples and had three walk-off game-winning hits. Others to watch include catcher Olivia Rogozinski, who threw out 8-of-9 base-stealers and first baseman Hailey Harpis who has a great glove in the field. Younger players to watch include shortstop/centerfielder Aria Davis and second baseman/catcher Callie Shrope.

35 | LTG - Tillery

LGT, which stands for “Love The Game,” is based in Rocklin, California and has become one of the top organizations in California. Jason Tillery’s squad looks equally strong at the 12U level with a team that has had eight athletes and the same coaching staff since the program began at 10U. After a successful summer and fall— when LTG went 21-5—11 of last year’s 13 players return and the team showed what it could do by tying for 3rd at the TCS Pre-Thanksgiving Cup, losing to the eventual champion Firecrackers-Holcomb team. The keys to the LTG success are the fundamentals: defense keeps LTG in the game and its offense wins it. There are six lefties on the roster with great speed and the team is strong up the middle with shortstop Sydney Barker leading the defense and Naiyn Marshall anchoring second base and driving the offense as the team’s leading hitter for power and average.

34 | OC Batbusters 2024 Black

One of the young teams in the powerhouse OC Batbusters organization, the Black team recently moved up to the 12U division and takes on a new name after being Batbusters-Townsend last year. Under the close supervision of the leaders in the Batbusters’ organization such as Mike Stith, Mark Campbell and Toni Mascarenas, the Black 2024 team based in Garden Grove, California is coached by Emo Lapena and Chester Tala, who stress fundamentals and development. The squad features a strong core of athletes including two of the West’s best infielder/pitcher combinations in Ovionna Hayes (pitcher/shortstop) and Mina Tala (pitcher/third baseman). The team also has a pair of standout backstops in Alanna Reynoso and Isabelle “Cha Cha” Miranda, both of whom also play in the infield and have strong bats as well. The outfield is anchored by centerfielder Gigi Ganje, who is well known throughout the Southern California region as one of the best outfielders in her age group. The first-year 12U team has already beaten several elite second year 12U teams this fall and should be competitive this Spring as it looks to qualify for PGF Nationals.

33 | Texas Blaze – Tejada

Based out of San Antonio, John Tejeda’s team went 51-20 in the spring and summer highlighted by finishing 4th at the USA Elite Futures championship. This fall, the Blaze went 13-5 against top competition and took 2nd out of the 28 teams at the ASA Texas Challenge (Gold Bracket) and third at the Ronald McDonald Showcase while also tying for 1st at the DFW Fall Qualifier. Eight returners make the Blaze a force to watch for out of the Lone Star State and the team features a deep pitching staff, excellent defense and the ability to execute efficiently the small ball game. Players to watch include Ayla Gonzales, an outfielder/pitcher who led the team with more than 75 steals while hitting .440 from the left side this year; Haley Carder, a pitcher/first baseman who is the ace in the circle as she can throw with power and accuracy and Alyssa Manitzas a second baseman with great range and a high softball IQ who recorded 120 putouts this year.

32 | Atlanta Premier - Barnes

As a first-year 12U team in 2017, Jason Barnes’s team—headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia—took 1st place finishes at the Atlanta Fastpitch Classic and USSSA March Madness tournament and this fall took 2nd place at the USSSA Fall World Series. Returning seven of the 11 players from last year, Premier went 21-9 in fall play and looks strong again with power hitting, pitching, defense, athleticism and lefty slappers. The defense was solid all year and since the summer ended has only made 10 errors in 31 games. The infield is anchored by shortstop Jillian Williams who also hits third in the lineup where she batted .474 and led the team in runs scored (27) over the last few months. Mei Mei Baileys is the team’s speedy lefty leadoff and led Premier with a batting average close to .500. Catcher Abby Cole is a power hitter to watch leading the team in RBIs (27) along the ace in the circle is Caity Patterson hurling 61 strikeouts in 44 innings.

31 | Diamond Sports Hotshots LA - Williams

The Diamond Sports Hotshots organization out of Texas had some impressive successes over the last few years, but this Hotshots team is making waves out of Bossier City, Louisiana. Previously competing as the Southern Smash based in Shreveport, the Hotshots finished 3rd in the Nationals bracket at the Ronald McDonald this fall outscoring opponents 42-5 and has loaded up with talent included two key players from Houston that competed on the 2016 PGF 10U National Champs, the Tennessee Mojo, and are now playing for the Hotshots. Ava Brown batted clean-up for that Mojo team and is a pitcher/first baseman who throws in the upper 50s and has had multiple home run tourneys already this year. Kaelyn Zusi plays third and went 4-for-4 in the PGF Nationals title game and batted .600 for the week while leading the entire 12U division in RBIs. This year marked her third straight appearance at PGF Nationals. Along with Brown in the circle, McKenna Guest is a great complimentary pitcher paired with Mikaylah Williams, a standout catcher with a quick release and steady velocity. The outfield is also one of the best in the division with Ramsey Walker, Sarah Margaret Mosely, Mack Eason and Macy Schut all excellent defensively.