MaxPreps 2015 North Carolina preseason softball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Alexander Central (Taylorsville)
2014 record: 36-0, Class 4A state champion
Head coach: Monte Sherrill

Alexander Central lost several key starters from its unbeaten state title team, but has reloaded. It might take Central a few games with its new look, but once the team jells, look out. Returning are Vada Sherrill and Tianna Batts, who Sherrill expects to score 120 times between them. Add to that, the coach wouldn’t be surprised if they combined for 120 hits and 120 stolen bases. Add transfer Makayla Shore and freshman Jackie Little to support returning and unbeaten senior Kiana Millsaps, and the Cougars are pitching deep. Millsaps is 41-0 her last two seasons. Infielder Sherrill was North Carolina’s Gatorade State Player of the Year and coach Sherrill was MaxPreps National Coach of the Year.

“You better get us early because we’ll get better as the season grows,” said coach Monte Sherrill, who has a .925 winning percentage as a coach (724-50). The team has lost just once the last two seasons in winning back-to-back state 4A titles and opens the season riding a 68-game win streak.

View last season's North Carolina softball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Cape Fear (Fayetteville)
2014 record: 26-4, Class 4A state runnerup
Head coach: Angela Few

With Mary Williams in the circle, the Colts might be best bet to unseat Alexander Central. She had a 26-1 record before the finals, the only loss coming against Middle Creek (Apex) in the best-of-three series Cape Fear won 2-1 for the Eastern title. In 166 innings, Williams, who has signed with East Carolina, recorded 247 strikeouts. She was no slouch at the plate either, batting .483 with 11 doubles, four homers and 43 RBIs. With infielders Meghan Wilkinson (.500, 46 RBIS, 24 extra base hits), Natalie Jones (North Carolina State signee), Haley Cashwell (set state record with 22 consecutive hits and batted .634 with 59 hits), Savannah Melvin and catcher Kaylee Carter, Williams has plenty of support. Wilkinson will play for UNC-Greensboro. Cashwell has committed to join Wilkinson after she graduates in 2017.

View last season's North Carolina softball playoff brackets

3. North Davidson (Lexington)
2014 record: 30-2
Head coach: Mike Lambros

The Knights lost a lot to graduation – four senior starters – but return junior pitcher Carson Pace (21-2, 1.31 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 144 innings). With Appalachian State commit Pace in the circle, the Knights will compete every day. Providing offense will be Katie Taylor (.329), Hailey Cole (.385) and Casey Stanek (.376). Stanek also pitches (9-0, 1.46 ERA and averaged a strikeout per inning). After winning their first 30 games, the Knights lost twice to 4A state champion Alexander Central in the Western Regional Finals.

View last season's North Carolina softball stat leaders

4. Middle Creek (Apex)
2014 record: 21-4
Head coach: Robbie Wray

All league players Devin Wallace, Megan Walker, Alie Burghardt and Winthrop commit Kiley Majette return to lead the Mustangs. Wallace, who was named District Pitcher of the Year, beat state runnerup Cape Fear once in the state 4A semifinals before dropping two games to the Colts, who eventually lost to unbeaten state champion Alexander Central.

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5. Sun Valley (Monroe)
2014 record: 25-5, Class 3A state champion
Head coach: Rob Enloe

Brittany Pickett was a huge factor in the Spartans’ rise to the top last season, not just from the circle, where she posted a 2.59 ERA and 16-5 record, but from the plate as she batted .541 and had a team-high 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. Pickett was 3A Pitcher of the Year and state tournament MVP. Combine Pickett’s talent with UNC-Wilmington commit Hannah Adamczyk (.551 average, 22 RBIs), Peyton Taylor (.464, 36 RBIs), Courtney Dean (.481, 39 RBIs) and Courtney Layton (.446, 27 RBIs) and wins should be plentiful this season.