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.

20 | Tulsa Elite OKC 

Kit Watson’s Oklahoma City-based team just joined the Elite organization this fall and proved they can compete nationally, going 4-1 at the TCS Ronald McDonald tournament this fall with the only loss being to the powerful Lady Stros (recently renamed Diamond Sports Hotshots Premier) and finishing the season with a 38-4 record. Along the way, the team captured titles at the USA Softball 12U Texas Challenge Series and the Chickasha 14U tournament. Leading the team are catcher Kya Watson, who is also a top pitcher and shortstop with a great arm and tremendous power at the plate, and Allison Couch, another top-notch pitcher who has speed, spin, and accuracy in her arsenal. She also has a big stick and plays third base as well.

19 | Athletics Mercado/Tidd 

The Athletics emerged as one of the top organizations in the country, winning three PGF National Championships in the last four years and Brian Tidd, head of the Athletics Mercado Academy, is one of the main cogs and has impressive success already at the 12U level. This year’s squad also has championship aspirations with the talent to do it with good pitching in Caylea Campbell, Natalie Carter and Cassidy Shaw in front of an outstanding defense led by outfielder Danica Acosta, shortstop, catcher Leilani Gonzalez, second baseman Bren Henson and third baseman Alyssa Herrera. Other top athletes to watch include catcher Abby Cruz, who has a gun for an arm, and Ashley Shelton and Jazzy Torres, who add big bat power. The Athletics went 20-4-2 in the fall. They are well coached with a well-balanced team with experienced and deep at every position. Infielders Paige Bambarger and Laila Perez are two big bats to watch and outfielders Leila Gomez, Havana Diaz and Henson bring speed to the lineup.

18 | California Raiders

The Raiders established themselves as serious contenders in Southern California when they finished 3rd in the TCS Pre-Thanksgiving tournament this fall outscoring opponents 53-15 in seven games and finished 28-5 against many of the top teams in the West. And even their fall losses were competitive as four were by two runs or less. Headed by former Northwestern player Rondi Guthrie and legendary club coach Phil Bruder, who won 13 National Championships, the Raiders return every player from last year and are deep with solid pitching, strong defense and big bats all throughout the lineup. The third baseman, Rylee McCoy leads the team in hitting with a .475 batting average and is the most consistent and reliable hitter in the lineup. The Raiders also relies on three solid pitchers that give the team the ability to go deep in any tournament with Emilia Davis, the spinner, Anahi Arreola, the speeder/spotter, and Lily Knox, the heater/late breaker. Arreola also leads the team in RBIs, has a .460 batting average and hit a grand slam in TCS Pre-Thanksgiving Tournament. 

17 | Firecrackers - Brashear/Oakes 

Starting the fall with only a few weeks together, Robert Oakes’ Firecrackers finished 5th out of 85 teams at the Monster Mash and may have gone deeper if its two top pitchers hadn’t gone down with injuries. Leading the team is corner infielder/pitcher Kaitlyn Torres hitter who played up at 14U last year and had nine over-the-fence home runs and was also tabbed as the power pitcher. She’s playing with her age group now and had a superb fall as did leadoff hitter Ollie Hebard, their shortstop/outfielder who is can hit and run. 

16 | Tulsa Elite NWA

It may surprise some to learn that the top 12U team in Jeff Filali’s Tulsa Elite organization doesn’t come from Oklahoma, but instead is the Northwest Arkansas-based Tulsa Elite NWA 05 squad who went 17-1 this fall. Guided by Bryan Lacina, the team has been part of the Elite program since 9U and has continually improved. Winning every tournament they played this fall, the most notable achievement was winning the USA Elite Select WFC Qualifier, outscoring opponents 50-1 to secure a berth to the World Fastpitch Championship in Kansas City next summer. Standouts to watch include pitcher Ella Beeman, Adyson Roberts, and Lacina. Beeman pitches with elite level control of the strike zone while throwing in the mid-to-high 50s with a 0.34 ERA this fall. Because of her great playmaking abilities and speed/power combo on offense, third baseman Roberts is definitely one to watch. Behind the dish, Lacina is the full package. She shows above-average arm strength and good IQ for the game and led the team in batting average this fall at .442 without making an error all season.

15 | Texas Intensity South 05

Texas Intensity South’s 12U team is part of Kevin O’Donnell Jersey Intensity organization and over the last two years has become a nationally recognized program. In the team’s first year of existence on the 10U level, the club finished 2^nd at PGF Nationals and won two Texas State championships. Last Spring, Intensity South finished with a 53-18 record with a third of their games played in the 14U division and as a first year 12U team. The Texas team won a Jr. National Championship this year at the IFA-VTD Nationals in the 12U division and took 13th at PGF Nationals. The team is led by pitcher Sidne Peters, who has a demanding presence in the circle and averages 56-58 mph with her fastball which is complemented by a hard-breaking curve and dropball that she can throw on any count. Peters’ is also one of the leaders at the plate with a .576 batting average. Paige Willis shines behind the plate with an impressive 1.76 pop time and led the team in RBIs last year. On offense, five players in this lineup have been clocked with sub-3.0 home-to-first times including leadoff hitter Townsen Thomas who runs a 2.86 and had an impressive showing at the PGF tourney last summer hitting .571. Maddie McKee is a five-tool, triple threat player and puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses because of her power, speed and ability to put down a bunt.

14 | Beverly Bandits - Michalski

No club organization is hotter right now than the Bandits headed by Bill Conroy. As A Chicago-based program, the Bandits became the first in PGF Nationals history to win the 18U and 16U titles in the same year. That depth of talent and success has also reached the lower age groups with Coach Tony Michalski driving the ship on one of the 12U teams. His Bandits team, also based out of the Windy City, went 84-4 as a 10U squad last year mostly playing teams a year older and went on to capture the Illinois State Tournament at 12U this summer. For the fall, Coach Michalski’s team compiled a 16-2 record winning two of the four tournaments entered. Eight players returned from last year’s team and, with three new pick-ups, the Bandits should continue its strong dominance in the Midwest. Highlighting the defense are one of the best middle infield duos in the country, shortstop Gabby Comia and second baseman Karson Davey. The pitching is deep and talented thanks to a pair of standout righties Abby Exl and Eileen Donahue who are complemented well by lefty Audrey Lowry. 

13 | Texas Glory - Naudin

Based out of McKinney, Texas, the Texas Glory 12U team runs under Ed Naudin’s name, but is actually coached by Corey Brown and is another in a long line of talented young teams from Kevin Shelton’s Glory organization. The team had a strong last six months taking  2nd place at the USA Elite World Fastpitch Championship in Kissimmee, Florida over the summer and 2nd this fall in the Ronald McDonald tourney in Houston. The Glory is built around deep pitching and solid defense led by hurler Abigail Dowell with nationally recognized position players like Select 30 All-American athlete Tori Edwards, 2016 USA Futures All-American second baseman Aubrey Brown and 2017 USA All-Americans catchers Mackenzie Nolan and Karissa Fiegener.

12 | Georgia Impact - Lunsford

Mike Lunsford’s team went 61-25-5 this fall—which included playing in several 14U college showcases—after moving over from the East Cobb Bullets organization where it had competed nationally the last three years with a 5th place finish at PGF 10U Nationals in 2016 and a 7th place finish at ASA 10U Nationals in 2015. The team beat many of the Top 25 FAB 50 programs and can compete with anyone at any time because of depth from top to bottom. The middle infield is excellent with shortstop Emily Digby, who had a .426 average this year with 67 RBI and 32 steals and is considered one of the best at her position in her age group. Second baseman Cameron Wade is also a stud adding 34 RBI to the offense. In the circle, Karley Fuller is considered one of the best at her position nationally because she can hit any spot in the zone with her fastball and also throw a changeup for a strike at any point in the count. Another player to watch is Katelyn “KK” Johnson who is a speedy centerfielder and lefty slapper who flies around the base paths and hit .432 this year with 47 RBI and 47 steals.

11 | Corona Angels – Rogers-Edwards

Formerly coached by Lyndell McCullough, who is now down at the 10U division, this talented group of athletes is now led by Chenita Rogers-Edwards who will also be receiving a lot of help from organization lead Marty Tyson, one of the top club coaches in the country. This team has been of the strongest ’05 programs in the country for years and always has been able to hit, but the key might be the pick-up of pitcher/utility player Anaya Togia, who is great in the circle with speed and spin while also bringing a strong stick to the So Cal team. Togia can hit anywhere from the three-spot to clean-up to the five-hole. She’s always played up an age division, but this season will be with her 2023 class and could be a difference maker for the Angels who can beat the opposition with speed, small ball, and great athleticism at every position.