The season is almost here and we are looking at the Fastpitch News Preseason Top 50 offensive players. The rankings was derived from numerous statistics to formulate a total score. The statistics used were; Batting Average, Home runs, On-base Percentage, RBI, Slugging Percentage, Stolen Bases and Runs Scored. We will breakdown our top 10 for you and list the rest of the players.
*Update 1/22/2015: I have seen some comments on the boards as to why certain players are not on the list. One that jumps out for most people is Lauren Chamberlain. The reason is we used criteria and part of that was games played and at bats. She did not have enough at bats thus she is not listed. Remember these are not subjective and strictly based on statistics and the criteria.
1. Sierra Romero, Michigan – Junior, SS
Romero was second in the nation in batting average last season hitting .491 and was a first team NFCA All-American as well as the Big Ten Player of the Year for the second straight year. Romero may be the toughest out in softball and can hit for average or go deep. She posted 18 home runs in 2014 and knocked in 72 runs. She also drew 66 walks to only 16 strikeouts. She will play a major role in the Wolverines efforts to regain the Big Ten title.
2. Maddie O’Brien, Florida State – Senior, SS
O’Brien had a huge record setting year in 2014 for the Seminoles. The ACC Player of the Year set four different records at Florida State in Home runs (24), RBI (83), Walks (56) and Slugging (.942). Not a bad season at all. She was also named a NFCA First Team All-American. Here .424 batting average tied her for second in school history as well. Those statistics earned her the MVP and Most Improved awards. It was a big step up from her sophomore season where she batted .271 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI. If she can have another banner year at the plate Florida State should be in the hunt for a national title.
3. Shelby Pendley, Oklahoma – Senior, Infield
Pendley racked up the accolades in 2014. She was named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team, first-team All-America, first-team All-Region, All-Big 12 first team and All-Big 12 Defensive Team. She batted .431 on the season which was nearly 100 points above where she was in 2013. She also boasted a solid .531 OBP and 76 RBI. Her .839 Slugging percentage raised her career SLG to .797 which puts her 14 all-time in NCAA history. She has improved each season and there is little doubt she continues that trend in 2015.
4. Missy Taukeiaho, Cal State Fullerton – Junior, Infield
Taukeiaho is coming off a breakout season in 2014. She was named a Third Team NFCA All-American, All-West Region First Team and she was the Big West Player of the Year. Taukeiaho broke the schools single season records for runs (62), was second all time for homeruns in a single season with 19 and finished sixth for single season RBI with 51. She ended the season with a .429 batting average. Look for big things again from her in 2015.
5. Hallie Wilson, Arizona – Senior, 1B
A first-team NFCA All-America selection, First Team All- West region and First Team All-PAC-12 player Wilson had a career season. In one season she nearly double her career homerun total. Heading into 2014 she had nine on her career and last season hit 17. That helped her post a strong .414 BA. Wilson led the country in runs (73) and posted a .799 slugging percentage. Those are outstanding numbers for the Wildcats lead-off hitter.
6. Haylie McCleney, Alabama – Junior, CF
McCleney is one of the more dynamic centerfielders to play out there in some time. The first team NFCA All-American also grabbed Academic All-American honors, only the seventh player in school history to earn both in the same season. In 2014 she posted a .444 BA and a .556 OBP. She was lethal on the bases stealing 34 bases on 37 attempts and has a career .941 stolen base percentage. She also led the team in total bases (138) and runs (70).
7. Cacy Williams, Wichita State – Junior, 1B
As a sophomore in 2014 Williams broke seven school records; Batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.812), OBP (.531), total bases (138), runs (57), homeruns (16) and RBI (47). She earned 2014 MVC Player of the Year, 2014 MVC Newcomer of the Year, 2014 All-MVC First Team and NFCA Division-I All-Midwest Region First Team honors. A bit surprising she did not make one of the All-American teams, but if she reaches these kinds of numbers in 2015 she should be someone on that list at the end of the season.
8. Kasey Cooper, Auburn – Sophomore, 3B
Cooper is coming of a stellar freshman season where she led the team in batting average (.418). She also was recognized as a NFCA Second-Team All-American, NFCA National Co-Freshman of the Year, NFCA First-Team All-Southeast Region, All-SEC Second-Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team. On top of all of that Cooper also hit 18 home runs and had 77 RBI. Expect to see her Improve more in 2015 in her second full season.
9. Megan Baltzell, Longwood – Senior, C
Baltzell may not be a household name, but she led her team with a .448 batting average and earned Second-Team Southeast Region honors. She led the team in numerous categories including; hits (69), triples (3), RBI (45), TB (122) and slugging percentage (.792). Her career slugging percentage is an amazing (.818). Any improvement on these numbers could earn her All-American honors in 2015.
10. Lexie Elkins, Louisiana Lafayette – Junior, C
Elkins was one of several Ragin Cajuns to have a strong year. She earned numerous honors including; NFCA Third Team All-American, NFCA First Team All-Central Region, Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and All-Sun Belt First Team. She batted .388 on the season but finished second in the country in home runs (24). She also had an eye popping slugging percentage if .835. She was a main reason the Ragin Cajuns made such a deep run and should have an even better season this year.
Full List
| Rank | First | Last | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra | Romero | Michigan |
| 2 | Maddie | O'Brien | Florida St. |
| 3 | Shelby | Pendley | Oklahoma |
| 4 | Missy | Taukeiaho | Cal St. Fullerton |
| 5 | Hallie | Wilson | Arizona |
| 6 | Haylie | McCleney | Alabama |
| 7 | Cacy | Williams | Wichita St. |
| 8 | Kasey | Cooper | Auburn |
| 9 | Megan | Baltzell | Longwood |
| 10 | Lexie | Elkins | La.-Lafayette |
| 11 | Vicky | Galasso | Idaho St. |
| 12 | Alex | Hugo | Georgia |
| 13 | Megan | Low | UTSA |
| 14 | Emilee | Koerner | Notre Dame |
| 15 | Kelsey | Stewart | Florida |
| 16 | Chelsea | Goodacre | Arizona |
| 16 | Katiyana | Mauga | Arizona |
| 18 | Annie | Aldrete | Tennessee |
| 19 | Emily | Carosone | Auburn |
| 20 | Shellie | Robinson | USC Upstate |
| 21 | Kacie | Burnett | Idaho St. |
| 21 | Staci | Rodriguez | New Mexico St. |
| 23 | Jessie | Hufstetler | San Jose St. |
| 24 | Sammy | Marshall | Western Ill. |
| 25 | Leisha | Liilii | Hawaii |
| 25 | Renada | Davis | North Carolina St. |
| 27 | Branndi | Melero | Auburn |
| 28 | Karley | Wester | Notre Dame |
| 28 | Chelsea | Guenther | Texas Southern |
| 30 | Kaitlyn | Richardson | Minnesota |
| 31 | Bri | Chiusano | Coastal Caro. |
| 32 | Larissa | Franklin | IPFW |
| 32 | Torrian | Wright | Savannah St. |
| 34 | Lindsey | Stephens | Texas |
| 35 | Micaela | Arizmendi | Notre Dame |
| 36 | Cydnee | Sanders | Bucknell |
| 36 | Sara | Borders | Jacksonville St. |
| 36 | Taylor | Gadbois | Missouri |
| 39 | Devon | Wallace | Arkansas |
| 40 | Morgan | Decker | Lehigh |
| 40 | Sydni | Emanuel | Georgia |
| 42 | Kylee | Lahners | Washington |
| 43 | Kasey | Cooper | Auburn |
| 44 | Lauren | Haeger | Florida |
| 45 | Kellie | Fox | Arizona |
| 45 | Morgan | Zerkle | Marshall |
| 45 | Ally | Carda | UCLA |
| 48 | Haley | Hayden | La.-Lafayette |
| 49 | Haley | Hutton | Colorado St. |
| 49 | Shelby | Davis | Oklahoma St. |
| 49 | Stephany | LaRosa | UCLA |
