Red Mountain and its state title streak are No. 1 in the state this season.
File photo by Mark Jones
MaxPreps 2015 Arizona Softball Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
1. Red Mountain (Mesa)
2014 finish: 32-6
Head coach: Rich Hamilton
There is no reason to pick anyone other than the Mountain Lions until someone knocks Hamilton's group off down the stretch. It hasn't happened since 2009 when Red Mountain finished as state runner-up. We'll do the math for you – that's six straight big-school finals appearances and five straight championships. Senior shortstop
Alyssa Fernandez (.395, 8 HRs, 31 RBIs), junior
Lindsey Steverson (.273, 22 RBIs) and senior
Alexandra Wiley (5-0, 0.44 ERA) will be counted on to keep the streak intact.
View last season's Arizona softball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard2. Mountain Ridge (Glendale)
2014 finish: 29-7
Head coach: Michele Markham
The D-I state runner-up returns some definite firepower on offense, as the team hit .425 last year behind junior
Alyssa Dicarlo (.583, 42 runs, 16 HRs, 63 RBIs),
Kaylin Ayotte (.524, 19 runs, 22 RBIs) and three other players who hit at least .400 with 22 runs and 14 RBIs. The pitching should be covered as well, with junior
Giselle Juarez (15-2, 2.24 ERA) and Ayotte (6-1, 3.50) ready to make another run at Red Mountain's reign.
View last season's Arizona softball playoff brackets3. O'Connor (Phoenix)
2014 finish: 29-6
Head coach: Melissa Hobson
The Eagles had only one senior listed on their roster a year ago and appear to be loaded for a deep run led by senior
Justyce McClain (.568, 55 runs, 22 RBIs), sophomore
Hayley Busby (.454, 23 runs, 30 RBIs) and sophomore
Madison Westmoreland (.362, 7 HRs, 40 RBIs) among others. If these young players mature and improve, Sandra Day O'Connor could move to the top of this list.
View last season's Arizona softball stat leaders4. Horizon (Scottsdale)
2014 finish: 24-8
Head coach: Jackie Coburn
The Huskies earned a first-round bye in D-I last year, but lost their first game to miss out on the final eight. The pieces are in place to make sure Horizon doesn't come up short again, as the lineup returns nearly intact led by senior
Tamara Statman (.515, 34 runs, 25 RBIs), senior
Kaila Jacobi (.343, 17 runs, 19 RBIs) and junior
Gabby Moreno (.481, 26 runs) with Statman (20-8, 1.22) pulling double duty.
View the MaxPreps Arizona softball pro photo galleries5. Hamilton (Chandler)
2014 finish: 24-11
Head coach: Rocky Parra
The Huskies had two quality hurlers last year – junior
Cheyenne Noli (16-9, 2.18) and sophomore
Samantha Martinez (7-2, 2.83) – that will give Hamilton a chance to make a deeper run than the 1-2 showing it had at state last year. The offense will be led by sophomore
Bella Loomis (.407, 27 runs, 18 RBIs), junior
Rachel Foote (.360, 19 runs, 30 RBIs) and junior
Nicole Spykstra (.333, 24 runs, 23 RBIs).
Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Prep Sports Director for 1013 Communications, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com.