MaxPreps 2016 Florida preseason high school softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Forest (Ocala)
2015 record: 30-2, Class 6A state champion
Head coach: Pam Silvestre

After winning their first state championship in school history, the Wildcats have valuable pieces returning to make a run at back-to-back titles. Senior Morgan White, a Florida Gulf Coast commit, was the Ms. Florida Dairy Player of the Year because of her dominance on the mound. She had an ERA of 1.64 and 335 strikeouts to go along with a .410 average at the plate and 12 home runs. Leadoff hitter Jasmine Haynes is also back after batting .514 with 32 stolen bases. The junior outfielder has already verbally committed to South Florida after earning Miracle Sports first-team all-state honors last season. Kaitlyn Peters is a versatile senior who can play either third or first base. The first-team all-state recipient had .457 last year with nine home runs, four triples and eight doubles. The Wildcats add middle infielder Reese Trotti, who transferred from Class 8A state champion Newsome.

See last season's Florida softball computer rankings

2. Newsome (Lithia)
2015 record: 21-5, Class 8A state champion
Head coach: Autumn Dunn

With a pair of strong pitchers back in seniors Claire Feldman and Cassidy Davis, another deep postseason push is within striking distance for the Wolves. Feldman was 10-3 last season with an ERA of 0.80 to go with 155 strikeouts in just 96 innings of work. Davis had a 1.07 ERA and 99 strikeouts to go with four home runs at the plate. Add in Offensive Player of the Year Hannah Pridemore, a catcher, and the Wolves have a nice nucleus back. Pridemore, who is headed to Duke, had a .526 average last year as a sophomore and hit safely in the last 13 games of the season.

See last season's Florida softball pro photo galleries

3. West Orange (Winter Garden)
2015 record: 28-2
Head coach: Todd LaNeave

The Warriors were ranked No. 1 entering the Class 8A playoffs, but a one-run loss left the team short of a trip to state. West Orange graduated six starters, all of whom committed to play softball in college, but have three valuable players returning. The Warriors will go as far as Class 8A Pitcher of the Year Lauren Mathis, a University of Georgia commit, will take them. Defensive Player of the Year Jade Caraway will also be relied on for a big season. Lexie Blair is coming off a strong freshman campaign and will patrol the outfield with Caraway.

See last season's Florida softball playoff brackets

4. Sarasota
2015 record: 25-7, Class 7A state runner-up
Head coach: Amy Nye

A state runner-up finish in Class 7A fuels the fire this season for the Sailors. The team returns a strong trio with pitcher Brittany Bendel, outfielder Kourtney Linn and third baseman Sarah Beth Wengerd. Bendel was first-team all-state after boasting a 23-4 record on the hill with a 2.39 ERA and 129 strikeouts. Linn was the team's leading hitter a season ago with a .436 average to go with eight RBIs. Fellow first-team all-state selection Wengerd hit .333 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. The Sailors will have to replace four starters who accounted for 71 RBIs and over 20 extra-base hits last season.

See last season's Florida softball stat leaders

5. Coral Springs Charter
2015 record: 29-0-1, Class 4A state champion
Head coach: Mark Montimurro

The Panthers might be a Class 4A team, but they are turning into a household name in Florida. The team returns eight starters from a season in which it didn't lose a game, capturing its first state title in school history. That spells trouble for its opponents this year. Class 4A Player of the Year Allison Muraskin is back on the mound. Muraskin was unstoppable as a sophomore with a 27-0 record, 0.49 ERA with 293 strikeouts. The Panthers round out one of the best battery combinations in the state with sophomore catcher Gianna Boccagno. First-team all-state selection Kayla Scaperrotta, a Northern Illinois commit, is back at third base. Fellow senior Skylar Fairchild, a Detroit commit, is strong up the middle at shortstop.