Two of the area's top high school softball players were named to the MaxPreps preseason All-American team on Thursday. West Orange pitcher Lauren Mathis and St. Petersburg Canterbury's Danielle Romanello were selected as two of the top thirty-three players in the nation.

Mathis, a Georgia Bulldog signee, let the Warriors to the 2016 Class 9A state championship with a 25-1 record while posting a 0.15 ERA. Mathis struck out 272 batters in 138 innings and was named Miss Florida Softball.  Mathis dominated in the state semifinal and finals, allowing just 5 hits, no earned runs and struck out 26 batters in 13 innings.

Romanello, a future Florida Gator, led the Crusaders to the Class 2A semifinals and was named the Miracle Sports 2A Player of the Year. Romanello hit .597 with 31 RBIs in just 25 games and has been a starter for five varsity seasons at Canterbury. She had been named a three-time MaxPreps Underclass All-American.