Best high school softball team in each state heading into 2024

Defending state champions Bartow (Fla.) and Kaukauna (Wis.), which carries an 81-game win streak into the 2024 season, headline our look at each state's top high school softball team.

The majority of the teams featured won a state championship last spring but that's not the case everywhere. MaxPreps continues its preview of the 2024 softball season with the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 on Friday and the top 20 players in the classes of 2024 and 2025 next week.

Hewitt-Trussville
Reigning Class 7A state champions welcome back many of their key pieces, including MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year Sara Phillips and University of Louisiana Monroe commit Olivia Faggard.

Alaska
Juneau-Douglas
Crimson Bears bring the one-two punch of Mila Hargrave and Kiah Yadao back in the circle looking for the repeat title.



Arizona
Desert Mountain (Scottsdale)
Sophomore Lilly Goodwin, who finished with a 0.26 ERA in over 133 innings of work a year ago, is back for the defending 5A state champions. Grand Canyon University commit McKinsey Beyer hit .425 as a sophomore last spring.

Arkansas
Bentonville
Tigers return the type of talent that could land them back in the winner's circle. Louisville signee Ryann Sanders finished 19-1 in the circle, striking out 165 as a junior. Tulsa commit Amber Turner will be her battery mate.

California
Pacifica (Garden Grove)
Long Beach State commit Brynne Nally was named a second team MaxPreps All-American in 2023 after leading the Mariners to a Division 1 Southern Section title. She will be joined by UCLA commit Kaniya Bragg, Cal-bound Kayli Counts and six other returning seniors as they go for a repeat in 2024.

Colorado
Lutheran (Parker)
The Lions won their third-straight 4A state title in the fall. Tennessee commit Meredith Barnhart and University of Utah signee Hailey Maestretti lead the way for the Colorado powerhouse.

Connecticut
Ludlowe (Fairfield)
The Falcons broke Southington's 40-game win streak last spring to take home the Class LL state title. Two-time All-State pitcher and Stevenson University commit Alex Lewey is back for her senior season.

Delaware
Caravel (Bear)
A fourth straight state title is the prize the Buccaneers seek in 2024. Brown University commit Kasey Xenidis is back in the circle this season, looking to go out as a four-time state champion.

Florida
Bartow
The race to see who finishes as the Sunshine State's best will be one of the most entertaining battles all season. In 2023, Bartow knocked off Pace 5-1 to bring home the school's ninth overall state championship. Florida commit Katelynn Oxley and catcher McKenzie Gibson are two key pieces back for the Yellow Jackets.



Georgia
Buford
The Wolves finished 32-0 in the fall, capturing the school's 12th state title. Louisville commit Madison Pickens hit 20 home runs and batted .609. Georgia Pitcher of the Year Caroline Stanton finished the season with a 0.77 ERA and nearly 13 strikeouts a game.

Hawaii
Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu)
The Warriors came up a run short in the Division 1 state title game in 2023. Hawaii signee Kiani Soller returns after posting a 14-1 overall record in the circle as a junior.

Idaho
Owyhee (Meridian)
The school, which opened in 2022, claimed its first state championship in 2023. The defending 5A champs have UNLV commit Samantha Hatzenbeller and junior power hitter Grace Brooks back for another title run.

Illinois
Marist (Chicago)
Won the school's second state championship in the past three seasons in 2023. The defending 4A champs welcome back Notre Dame commit Caroline O'Brien and ace junior pitcher and Bradley commit Gianna Hillegonds.

Indiana
Penn (Mishawaka)
After winning 10 straight games to close out 2023, the Kingsmen shocked Roncalli 2-1 in nine innings to capture the 4A championship. Junior pitcher and Toledo commit Olivia Signorino and senior ace Aubrey Zachary are back in 2024.

Iowa
Ankeny
Creighton University commit Abby Rusher will be back in the circle for the Hawks this spring. She joins Texas Tech commit Cassie Johnson as returning All-State players.



Kansas
Wamego
Red Raiders took home the 4A state title in 2023 behind right-handed pitcher Peyton Hardenberger, who struck out 29 in the final two games of state play. The Tennessee commit is back for her senior year.

Kentucky
South Warren (Bowling Green)
Layla Ogden and Courtney Norwood, who both saw significant time in the circle in 2023, return for the Spartans. Sophomore McLaine Hudson is back as well after smashing 12 home runs as a freshman.

Louisiana
North DeSoto (Stonewall)
A fourth straight state title and sixth since 2015 is the goal for the Griffins, who didn't lose much to graduation. Louisiana Tech commit Laney Johnson struck out more than 130 batters in over 100 innings in 2023. Louisiana signee Mia Norwood and University of Texas commit Raegan Henderson are back after combining to hit 30 bombs last spring.

The defending Class A state champions return seven of the top statistical leaders to their lineup. Rhode Island commit Brooke Gerry returns after mowing down 169 batters as a junior.

Maryland
North Dorchester (Hurlock)
Wingate commit Emilee Cohee struck out 12 and had the lone RBI during the team's 1-0 Class 1A state title victory over Catoctin. Both teams should be in contention for another deep postseason run.

Massachusetts
Taunton
Tigers have a chance to make it four consecutive Division 1 state championships. Several of their big bats were lost to graduation, but they return Samantha Lincoln, the state's top ace and a Texas Tech commit.

Michigan
Gaylord
Many of the Blue Devils' heroes are back after capturing the school's first state title in 2023. Toledo commit Alexis Shepherd, Ferris State commit Braleigh Miller, Virginia Tech commit Jayden Jones and Oklahoma State commit Aubrey Jones are a few of the big names returning.



Minnesota
Mankato East
After capturing their first state championship since 1991, the Cougars have the weapons to repeat. Minnesota commit pitcher Kylinn Stangl, catcher Destiny Reasner and sophomore Emily Hacker all return.

Mississippi
Northwest Rankin (Brandon)
Pretty much every player from the Cougars' 6A state title team returns as they move to 7A this season. MaxPreps State Player of the Year Jolie Hays, Georgia commit Brooke Smith and Coastal Carolina commit Reese Collier are a few of the returning weapons.

Missouri
Washington
The Blue Jays finished a 37-1-1 fall season by bringing home the Class 4A state championship. Texas A&M commit Taylor Brown finished 24-0 and also smashed 16 home runs.

Montana
Glacier (Kalispell)
The state's MaxPreps Player of the Year pitcher Ella Farrell returns looking to repeat as Class AA champions. Fellow seniors Kenadie Goudette, Emma Cooke and Zoey Allen combine to club 18 home runs in 2023.

Nebraska
Papillion-LaVista
The Monarchs captured the school's 17th state championship in program history during the fall. Kloey Hamblen, Avery Wolfe, Alexa Taylor, and Presley Ivener all had big games during their 10-3 title victory over Millard North.

Nevada
Douglas (Minden)
The reigning Class 5A state champions hit a combined 67 home runs last spring. Grand Canyon University signee Haley Wilkinson smashed 17 and Iowa commit Talia Tretton hit 16. Both are back for their senior seasons.

New Hampshire
Concord
After back-to-back championship game defeats in 2021 and 2022, the Tide secured a state title victory in 2023. Bryant commit Maddy Wachter and New Hampshire's MaxPreps Player of the Year Sarah Taylor return for the Crimson Tide.



New Jersey
St. John-Vianney (Holmdel)
The Lancers outscored their opponents 348-26 in 2023, finished 30-1 overall and claimed the NJSIAA Non-Public A state title. Seton Hall commit Elisabeth Figliolino and sophomore Madison McDougall are several returning big-time players looking to repeat.

New Mexico
Centennial (Las Cruces)
University of New Mexico signee Caprice Barela and the Hawks have been on the doorsteps of winning a state title in back-to-back seasons. They have the weapons this year to push them over the edge.

New York
Ichabod Crane (Valatie)
A third consecutive state title is on the mind of the Riders, who are once again loaded. New York's MaxPreps Player of the Year Kari Graziano and Central Connecticut State commit Ava Heffner lead the way for the defending champs.

North Carolina
Northwest Guilford (Greensboro)
Three All-State returning players are back for the Vikings: Ferrum College commit Jenna Copeland, junior Haylea Huffines, who hit eight home runs, and senior pitcher and Appalachian State commit Bel Varadi.

North Dakota
Dickinson
For the second time in school history, the Midgets captured a Class A state title. Senior Ava Jahner struck out 11 during the 2-1 victory over Minot.

Ohio
Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown)
The Falcons are hoping for another historical season after winning the school's first state title in 2023. Class of 2025 Georgia Tech commit Sydnie Watts is one of the top pitchers in the country. Youngstown State commit Ayla Ray looks to go out as a back-to-back state champion.



Oklahoma
Caddo
Kadey McKay, an Oklahoma commit, crushed a home run in the state title game to lift the Bruins to a 1-0 win over Red Oak for their second consecutive state title this fall.

Oregon
Sheldon (Eugene)
It will be tough to top a 32-1 season that ended in a 6A state title, but don't count out the Irish. Arkansas commit Payton Burnham is back in the circle after being named the state's MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2023. Their top bat from last spring, Utah Tech commit Kinley Pappas, will also be back.

Pennsylvania
Hempfield Area (Greensburg)
Seven Spartans who were 6A All-Section selections from 2023 return this season. One of those is first-team selection Class of 2025 pitcher Riley Miller, a Kent State commit.

Rhode Island
La Salle Academy (Providence)
The defending Division 1 state champs welcome back Hailey Vigneau. As a freshman she went 10-1 overall, including 4-0 in the postseason with 34 strikeouts and 1.07 ERA. Junior Phoenyx Silva also returns after batting .507 and hitting 10 bombs.

South Carolina
Summerville
The Green Wave brought home the school's first state championship in 2023. Now that they know the feeling, you can expect them to make another deep postseason run. Class of 2025 and South Carolina commit Ansley Bennett is one of the top pitchers in the entire country.

South Dakota
West Central (Hartford)
Last season marked the first sanctioned high school state softball championship and the Trojans left no doubt who the top team was. They finished 22-0 and return Caitlyn Hoff and Emillee Stofferahn, who were dominant all season long in the circle.



Tennessee
Gordonsville
The Tigerettes may be in Division 1A, but they have talent to hang with anyone. It all starts in the circle with Kailey Plumlee. The Tennessee commit has struck out nearly 1,000 hitters as she enters her junior season.

Texas
Katy
It's hard to find a weakness in the Tigers' lineup. Cameryn Harrison and Ashtyn Reichardt are Arkansas commits. Joining them is Houston commit Hailey Gore, Oklahoma State commit Montgomery Henderson and Missouri commit Avery Porter, to name a few.

Utah
Spanish Fork (Spanish Fork)
The Dons will aim to win a fourth consecutive title and have the ingredients to do so. Although they lost pitcher Avery Sapp, Tatum Hall and Jade Romero return to the lineup after combining to hit 25 home runs in 2023.

Vermont
Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
It was a perfect season last year for BFA, and they will have some holes to fill like pitcher Sierra Yates. But they always seem to reload versus rebuild.

Virginia
Woodgrove (Purcellville)
The Wolverines finished off their 2023 state title run with three consecutive shutouts behind the arm of Class of 2024 pitcher Abbey Lane. The George Mason commit returns looking to repeat where she left off.

Washington
Jackson (Mill Creek)
The Timberwolves rolled off 14 straight wins to bring home the 2023 4A state title. Fresno State commit Rachel Sysum brings her big bat for 2024 joining ace pitcher and UNLV commit Yanina Sherwood.

West Virginia
Lincoln County (Hamlin)
Indiana commit Josie Bird joins left-handed pitcher and Louisiana Tech commit Ryleigh Shull on a Panthers squad looking to bring home a state title.

Wisconsin
Kaukauna
The Ghosts are the hottest team in all of high school softball, winning 81 straight games and three consecutive state titles. They return the state's top pitcher in Karly Meredith and many of their top offensive weapons including Paige Bodenheimer.



Wyoming
Campbell County (Gillette, Wyo.)
The Camels have to feel good about this season as they return Class of 2024 do-it-all player Avery Gray. She hit .707 last spring and she is the state record holder with 526 career strikeouts. Junior Lanae Kimbley will be back after batting .524 with six home runs as a sophomore.