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FPN 2016 Preseason TOP 50 NCAA Softball Offensive Players

By Fastpitch News

Posted on February 3, 2016

The 2016 season is around the corner and teams around the country are gearing up for the season. Fastpitch News (FPN) is unveiling of our FPN 2016 Preseason TOP 50 NCAA Softball Offensive Players. The ranking was derived from numerous statistics to formulate a total score. Strength of schedule was also taken into account for more grueling schedules. We will breakdown our top 10 for you and list the rest of the players. Note that these are based on statistics and are not based on our subjective opinions.

1. Sierra Romero, Michigan – Senior, INF

Romero tops our list for the second straight season. The two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team selection and 2015 espnW Softball Player of the Year is coming off a productive season at the plate. She posted a .449 batting average, 85 runs scored, 22 home runs and 83 RBI. She increased in just about every area in 2015 and will be tough to deal with again in 2016. She is the cornerstone of the explosive Michigan team that will look to make a return trip to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) in 2016.

2. Emily Carosone, Auburn – Senior, INF

Carosone is another two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team selection. She is coming off a record setting season for the Tigers she set two Auburn single season records for RBI (80) and Runs (88). One interesting statistic was that of her career high 18 home runs, five were grand slams. That is just one shy of a single season NCAA record. On the season she posted a .438 average, which lead the team and was a career best for her. Since the arrival of Coach Myers two seasons ago the Tigers have become one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country. Look for big things from Carosone again in 2016.

3. Ivie Drake, Georgia State – Sophomore, C

Drake is most likely a player most of you have not heard of, she is only a sophomore for a school that does not draw the most national attention. What she did as a freshman really should not go unnoticed. Let’s start with all the records she broke. Single season Georgia State records: Batting Average (.462), Hits (85), RBI (67), Runs (59), Home Runs (22) and Slugging Percentage (.918). Then there were the single game records Home runs (3) versus Texas State, Total Bases (12) versus Texas State and Runners Caught Stealing (3) versus UL Monroe. This led to her being named a NFCA Freshman of the year finalist as well as being named a NFCA Second Team All-American. We are interested to see what she can do in just her second year this season.

4. Lexie Elkins, La.-Lafayette – Senior, C

Elkins the 2015 NFCA Diamond Sports NCAA Division I Catcher of the Year and first team All-American set a school record sending 32 balls over the fence in 2015. Those 32 home runs were also the most in the country and tied her for second All-Time for home runs in a season. She is an exceptional power hitter that is a threat every time she walks to the plate. Elkins racked up numerous other awards last season, so many that it would be just too long of a list to post here. She will lead a good offense in their quest to return the WCWS in 2016.

5. Kayla Bonstrom, Stanford – Senior, INF

Bonstrom is coming off a solid season in 2015 in which she raised her batting average by .109 from 2014 (.333) to 2015 (.439). She led the Cardinals in average (.439), runs (43), hits (68), doubles (16), home runs (13) and slugging (.806). She showed that she can not only hit for average but also displayed the ability to hit for power. The Pac-12 is one of the better pitching conferences in the country making her numbers stand out even more. Keep an eye on her this season to see if she can improve upon her 2015 effort.

6. Alaynie Page, South Carolina – Senior, OF

Page held down the lead-off spot for the Gamecocks and was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America first team. In 2015 she set five South Carolina single season records in home runs (15), home runs per game (0.25), total bases (157), slugging percentage (.805) and on-base percentage (.538). It is always nice to have a lead-off hitter that can reach over half the time and provide double digit home run numbers.

7. Alex Hugo, Georgia – Senior, INF

Hugo is coming off a strong 2015 campaign that saw her lead the vaunted SEC in home runs (22) while posting a solid .389 average. She also led the conference in slugging (.889). Hugo is an aggressive hitter that can beat you in a variety of ways. That is one reason she also posted 39 walks in 2015 with 11 of those being intentional.

8. Stephanie Texeira, Florida International – Junior, 1B

Texeria finished 2015 with the best single-season batting average (.444) in FIU history. Known as more of a power hitter she led Conference USA in on-base percentage (.833). She also posted and impressive slugging percentage (.798) and tallied 99 total bases.

9. Bianka Bell, LSU – Senior, IF

Bell played a major role in the Tigers success in 2015 and was honored by being named a Louisville Slugger/NFCA first team All-American. During the season she posted a .415 batting average and set the LSU single season record for home runs (18). She received numerous other accolades as well.

10. Delaney Spaulding, UCLA- Junior, INF

Spalding was productive for the Bruins in 2015 with her 20 home runs, .397 batting average and .852 slugging percentage. She also the lead the team in RBI (72). All in all it was a successful season in 2015 and it is expected to see her take another step forward in 2016.