Sophomore ace Jasmine Francik and freshman slugger Ava Ratliff headline nation's top young talent.
The 2022 MaxPreps Underclass All-America Softball Team is loaded with impact players, highlighting 32 of the nation's top freshmen and sophomores.
This year's National Sophomore of the Year is
Melbourne (Fla.) ace
Jasmine Francik. The MaxPreps Florida State Player of the Year and first team All-American guided her team to a Class 6A state championship as she went 19-1 with a 0.16 ERA in the circle. She shined the brightest in the state title game where she threw a two-hit shutout and struck out 11 in a 1-0 win over Doral Academy.
The National Freshman of the Year is a slugger who led all Class of 2025 players in the home run category with 21.
Ava Ratliff started the season for
Bedford North Lawrence (Ind.) by hitting a bomb in 10 of her first 12 games. She finished batting .538 and drove in 53 runs and was walked 17 times giving her a .607 OBP.
Below are 30 more underclassmen who shined this season.
First teamSammie Bolding, So., Eastern Hancock (Charlottesville, Ind.)Multi-sport star batted .579 on the season with 17 long balls. The infielder also drove in 40 runs.
Ella Dodge, So., Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.)An ace in the circle for the third-ranked Mustangs, Dodge went 25-2 with a 1.02 ERA in 151 innings of work.
Addisen Fisher, So., Bend (Ore.)Hard-throwing right-hander sat down 259 batters in 122 innings and had a 0.46 ERA. She also did damage with the bat in her hand as she hit .510 with 13 home runs.
Blayne Godfrey, So., Hartselle (Ala.)Fanned 347 batters en route to a 25-6 record and 1.08 ERA.
Jayden Heavener, So., Pace (Fla.)On the bump she finished with 300 strikeouts, 16 wins and a 0.90 ERA. At the dish she batted .391 with eight bombs.
Layla Lamar, So. Panther Creek (Cary, N.C.)The NC District Player of the Year smashed 13 bombs, hit .638, scored 41 runs and drove in 43 runs.
Kendra Lewis, So., Rockridge (Taylor Ridge, Ill.)Finished with a 24-0 record, 0.96 ERA and 222 punch-outs, leading her team to another undefeated state championship season.
Hailey Maestretti, So., Lutheran (Parker, Colo.)The 3A Player of the Year was lights out in the circle last fall. She threw 11 no-hitters, went 28-0 and struck out 268.
Katelynn Oxley, So., Bartow (Fla.)Struck out 337 batters and finished with a 0.10 ERA in 140 innings of work. She also hit .459 at the plate.
Kailey Plumlee, Fr., Gordonsville (Tenn.)The Class A Miss Softball winner led the country in strikeouts for the Class of 2025 with 339 total.
Sydney Scapin, So., West Florida (Pensacola, Fla.)The rock in the circle for the Jags as she mowed down 331 batters on the season. She struck out 37 batters in a playoff game that went 16 innings.
Emily Smith, So., Kountze (Texas)Infielder went off at the plate, batting .696 with 17 home runs and 69 RBI.
Sydnie Watts, Fr., Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown, Ohio)Won 22 games in the circle, struck out 314 and finished off her ninth-grade season with a 0.83 ERA.
Sarah Wright, So., Kentwood (Covington, Wash.)The News Tribune's All-Area Softball Player of the Year was 18-1 in the circle, struck out 330 and finished with a 0.33 ERA. She also hit .486 with six long balls.
Kate Vance, So., Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)The shortstop hit 16 bombs, batted .472 and had a .910 fielding percentage.
Second teamAnnalea Adams, So., Union County (Liberty, Ind.)Utility player destroyed the ball with 59 hits, 11 home runs, 50 RBI and a batting average of .602.
Liliana Arreola, So., Round Valley (Eagar, Ariz.)The 2A Conference Player of the Year put up some major numbers in 2022, batting .640 with 13 home runs and 65 RBI.
Abbey Bettencourt, So., Peabody Veterans Memorial (Peabody, Mass.)MaxPreps Massachusetts Player of the Year batted over .600 and was the team's top pitcher.
Natalie Cable, Fr., Bloomingdale (Valrico, Fla.)Mowed down 317 batters, won 15 games, had a 0.49 ERA and hit .453 at the plate.
Carsyn Cassidy, So., Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio)The right-handed ace racked up all types of postseason awards after finishing 27-2 with a 0.95 ERA and 307 strikeouts.
Ava Geyer, Fr., New Prairie (New Carlisle, Ind.)Struck out 279 batters and held opponents to a .100 batting average.
Abby Hammond, Fr., Lexington Catholic (Lexington, Ky.)Knights' ace had a 0.75 ERA in over 232 innings of work while also batting .514 with 12 home runs.
Madison Hartley, So., Georgetown (Texas)A first-team All-State selection after holding her opponents to a .192 batting average in over 110 innings for the one of the state's top teams.
Mya Holt, So., Wetumpka (Ala.)The Elmore County Player of the Year finished 27-7 in the circle. At the plate, she blasted 16 bombs and hit .444.
Lacey Keck, Fr., Gibbs (Corryton, Tenn.)The lefty pitcher finished 26-4 with a 1.51 ERA. She held her opponents to a .196 batting average.
Rylee McCoy, So., Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)Corner infielder smashed 10 home runs and drove in 40 runs for one of the top teams in the country.
Jenna Sniffen, So., Maryknoll (Honolulu, Hawaii)Helped the Spartans win their first state championship. In the title game, Sniffen struck out 10 batters and hit a three-run blast to beat state power ‘Iolani 5-2.
Utility player was named first team All-State after piling up 78 hits, 65 RBI and a .464 batting average.
Riley Vogel, So., Foard (Newton, N.C.)Catcher hit an eye-popping .738 while tallying multiple hits in 16 games.
Hannah Wells, Fr., Coahoma (Texas)Brought the power at the plate and on the bump, hitting 19 home runs and striking out 200 batters.