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

1. Crown Point
2014 finish: 29-1
Head coach: Ginger Britton

The Bulldogs return five starters — including two Division I pitchers — from a team which won 29 straight games before bowing 2-0 in the semi-state. Junior Miranda Elish, a 5-foot-10 right-hander who already has committed to the University of Oregon, posted a 25-1 record with 234 strikeouts and batted .457 with four home runs as a leadoff hitter. Sophomore Alexis Holloway, who has chosen Notre Dame, was 4-0 on the mound and batted .471, sometimes from the cleanup slot. Senior second baseman Rachael Honaker batted .386 and drove in 28 runs from the No. 3 position.

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

2. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers)
2014 finish: 23-11 (Class 4A state runner-up)
Head coach: Dave Cook

The Royals will be in the state-title hunt again with six returning starters. Madi Maloof is coming off a year in which she batted a lofty .504 with 13 doubles and 28 RBIs. Maggie Armstrong batted .356 and posted a 6-0 record on the mound. Ashley Rohr and Savanna Copeland supplied big power. Copeland belted 11 home runs and drove in 32 runs with a .352 batting average while compiling a 14-9 pitching record with 228 strikeouts. Rohr batted .389, hit six home runs and drove in 35 runs.

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3. New Palestine
2014 finish: 24-4
Head coach: Ed Marcum

Only the left fielder and second baseman graduated last spring and the Dragons have one of their deepest-ever freshman classes to fill in the gaps. Senior shortstop Adie Lorsung, an Indiana State University recruit, batted .536 with 17 doubles, seven home runs and 44 RBIs. Third baseman Issy Hoyt, a Purdue recruit, batted .427 with 10 doubles, six home runs and 41 RBIs. Center fielder Brittany Duncan, a Franklin College recruit, batted .449. The No. 1 and 2 pitchers also are back. Senior Kaylin McMurray posted a 14-3 record with a 1.80 ERA, while Elisha Barker was 10-1 with 1.71 ERA.

View last season's Indiana softball stat leaders

4. Penn (Mishawaka)
2014 finish: 26-5
Head coach: Beth Zachary

The Kingsmen return all nine starters and lost just one of their top pitchers through graduation. Junior shortstop Halle Hixenbaugh batted .362 and already has committed to Boston College. Sophomore pitcher Danielle Watson has chosen the University of Louisville after batting .340 and posting 101 strikeouts in 75 innings with a 1.21 ERA. Sophomore Madelynn Newman, another Louisville recruit, batted .479 and was flawless in the field. Junior right fielder Addison Pixley batted .427 and drove in 25 runs while also being errorless.

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5. Bloomington South
2014 finish: 21-8 (Class 4A state champion)
Head coach: Meg Montgomery

The Panthers would love to repeat after winning their first state title last spring. They return five starters, including Tennessee State University recruit Olivia White. She put together an 18-4 pitching record with 176 strikeouts and a 1.79 ERA. She allowed just two earned runs, pitched 36 consecutive scoreless innings and had four shutouts. Sophomore first baseman Addie Benham led South with 29 RBIs, including three in the championship game. She also batted .405 and hit two grand-slams in a single game. Senior second baseman Ali Sexton was the leading hitter with a .479 average. Junior third baseman Nikki Ennis batted .321.