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2021 Preseason College Top 100, Presented By Rapsodo

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(Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Softball America's 2021 Preseason Top 100 will provide you with what you need to know about the college game's biggest stars.

See SA's Preseason College Top 100 below.

Updated on: 1/4/2021 See Full List
  1. 1
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    Rachel Garcia

    UCLA P/UTL
    Notes:

    Year: R-Sr.
    2019 stats (did not play in 2020): 29-1, 1.14 ERA, 202 IP, 286 SO / .343 BA, 9 2B, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 1.048 OPS
    Notes: Garcia returns after a one-year hiatus due to Olympic training. The two-time National Player of the Year will use her final collegiate season to cement herself as one of the best college softball players in history.

  2. 2
    Last: 2
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    Miranda Elish

    Texas P/UTL
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: 11-3, 1.25 ERA, 84 IP, 96 SO / .370 BA, 7 2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 1.200 OPS
    Notes: The Longhorns will need Elish to pick up where she left off in 2020 in order to compete for a national championship. She should have more help in the circle in 2021 with the offseason addition of transfer Molly Jacobsen.

    *After the publishing of this ranking, Elish announced that she will sit out the 2021 season due to COVID-19 concerns.

  3. 3
    Last: 5
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    Jessie Harper

    Arizona INF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .395 BA, 30 H, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 1.318 OPS
    Notes: Harper will continue her chase toward Lauren Chamberlain's NCAA softball home run record in 2021.

  4. 4
    Last: 6
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    Kindra Hackbarth

    Arizona State OF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .443 BA, 39 H, 32 R, 11 2B, 6 HR, 27 RBI, 1.295 OPS, 10 SB
    Notes: The offensive leader of the potent Sun Devil lineup, Hackbarth will look to lead Arizona State back to Oklahoma City in 2021.

  5. 5
    Last: 8
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    Gabbie Plain

    Washington P
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: 10-2, 2.76 ERA, 66 IP, 94 SO
    Notes: Plain will attempt to bounce back from a slow start in 2020 and help the Huskies try to get that elusive championship.

  6. 6
    Last: 9
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    Sis Bates

    Washington INF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .529 BA, 27 H, 5 2B, 17 R, 1.241 OPS, 6 SB
    Notes: After missing a chunk of the shortened 2020 season due to injury, Bates gets another shot at her senior season to display her highlight reel of plays.

  7. 7
    Last: 4
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    Aaliyah Jordan

    UCLA OF
    Notes:

    Year: R-Sr.
    2020 stats: .435 BA, 13 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 1.262 OPS
    Notes: Jordan looks to continue her dominance at the plate for the Bruins in 2021 after a stellar shortened 2020 season.

  8. 8
    Last: 1
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    Megan Faraimo

    UCLA P
    Notes:

    Year: Jr.
    2020 stats: 13-1, 0.85 ERA, 90.1 IP, 149 SO
    Notes: There's no doubt Faraimo was the best player in college softball in 2020. The only question is how her role changes for UCLA in 2021 with Garcia's return.

  9. 9
    Last: 14
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    Keely Rochard

    Virginia Tech P
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: 15-3, 1.52 ERA, 120 IP, 183 SO
    Notes: Rochard was a force in the circle for the Hokies in 2020 and will look to compete for the best pitcher in the country title in 2021.

  10. 10
    Last: 12
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    Natalie DenHartog

    Minnesota UTL
    Notes:

    Year: Jr.
    2020 stats: .429 BA, 5 2B, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 1.303 OPS
    Notes: DenHartog has produced at a high level for Minnesota in her first two years. The Gophers will need her to do the same thing in year three.

  11. 11
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    Dejah Mulipola

    Arizona C
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2019 stats (did not play in 2020): .311 BA, 7 2B, 23 HR, 55 RBI, 1.234 OPS
    Notes: Arizona gets back one of the best power bats and players behind the plate with Mulipola's return from Olympic training in 2020.

  12. 12
    Last: 11
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    Janae Jefferson

    Texas INF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .554 BA, 41 H, 6 2B, 30 R, 1.296 OPS, 10 SB
    Notes: Jefferson will look to continue to be the igniter of the Texas offense in 2021.

  13. 13
    Last: 7
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    Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza

    Arizona UTL
    Notes:

    Year: R-Sr.
    2020 stats: .373 BA, 7 2B, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 1.263 OPS
    Notes: Palomino-Cardoza returns to the Wildcats for another season to help lead a veteran and freshmen led group.

  14. 14
    Last: 10
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    Charla Echols

    Florida INF
    Notes:

    Year: Jr.
    2020 stats: .417 BA, 5 2B, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 1.242 OPS
    Notes: Florida will want to see the same Echols from the 2020 season after the Michigan State transfer was one of the best bats in the country.

  15. 15
    Last: 21
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    Alysen Febrey

    Oklahoma State INF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .381 BA, 5 2B, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 1.417 OPS
    Notes: Febrey will return for Oklahoma State in 2021 and bring with her a newfound power stroke.

  16. 16
    Last: 17
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    Brooke Yanez

    Oregon P
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: 9-1, 1.56 ERA, 62.2 IP, 94 SO
    Notes: Yanez didn't get a taste of Pac-12 play in 2020, but the conference will see one of the best pitchers in the country in 2021.

  17. 17
    Last: 25
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    Carrie Eberle

    Oklahoma State P
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: 10-1, 0.46 ERA, 76 IP, 68 SO
    Notes: Eberle showed off her star power in her short experience with Oklahoma State in 2020 and hopes to do the same in 2021.

  18. 18
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    Bubba Nickles

    UCLA UTL
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2019 stats (did not play in 2020): .390 BA, 12 2B, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 1.172 OPS
    Notes: Nickles returns to UCLA after training with the U.S. Olympic team in 2020 to create one of the most talented rosters in college softball history.

  19. 19
    Last: 27
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    Jocelyn Alo

    Oklahoma UTL
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .427 BA, 5 2B, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 1.319 OPS
    Notes: The Sooners' lineup will have Alo's power bat back for another season in 2021.

  20. 20
    Last: 31
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    Kendyl Lindaman

    Florida C/INF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .410 BA, 7 HR, 22 RBI, 1.256 OPS
    Notes: The Gators and Lindaman showed off their offensive power in 2020 and will look to do the same in 2021.

  21. 21
    Last: 13
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    Baylee Klingler

    Washington INF
    Notes:

    Year: Jr.
    2020 stats: .481 BA, 8 2B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 1.296 OPS
    Notes: Klingler ended 2020 as the hottest hitter in the country, and she hopes to take that momentum with her into the 2021 season.

  22. 22
    Last: 15
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    Haley Cruse

    Oregon OF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .457 BA, 37 H, 4 2B, 30 R, 1.135 OPS, 15 SB
    Notes: The Ducks get the TikTok queen back for another season, as Cruse will attempt to guide Oregon's offense in 2021.

  23. 23
    Last: 20
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    Tristen Edwards

    Nebraska OF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .434 BA, 28 R, 10 2B, 11 HR, 22 RBI, 1.482 OPS
    Notes: Edwards showed otherworldly power numbers in 2020 and will look to do the same in 2021.

  24. 24
    Last: 19
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    KB Sides

    Alabama OF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .483 BA, 28 H, 4 2B, 20 R, 22 RBI, 1.128 OPS
    Notes: Sides was one of the hardest outs in the SEC last season, and hopes to continue that trend for Alabama in 2021.

  25. 25
    Last: 29
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    Kate Gordon

    James Madison OF
    Notes:

    Year: Sr.
    2020 stats: .557 BA, 34 H, 10 HR, 21 RBI, 1.807 OPS
    Notes: Gordon finished 2020 with the highest batting average in the country, and will look to make the most of her second chance at a senior season in 2021.

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