MaxPreps 2022 state player of the year selections Keagan Rothrock, Ava Brown and Addison Jackson among the standouts.
The high school softball season is right around the corner in many states. MaxPreps begins its preseason coverage with a look at the top projected player in each state heading into the 2023 campaign.
Selections are based on performance and achievements at the high school level. The players of the year from five states that hold their seasons in the fall are also included.
Additional preview material will be released in the coming days and weeks:
Feb. 7 – Top 25 players in the Class of 2023
Feb. 8 – Top 25 players in the Class of 2024
Feb. 15 – Preseason MaxPreps Top 25
Feb. 16 – Top team in each state
AlabamaOregon commit hit .451 last year for the Jaguars, smashing 11 home runs and driving in her 100th career RBI as a utility infielder.
Alaska
The 2022 Alaska Player of the Year hit 16 home runs and batted .658 on the season, leading her team to a Division I state championship.
Arizona
The UCLA signee did it all for the Demons in 2022, blasting 17 home runs and leading the state with 427 strikeouts as a lefty ace.
Arkansas
The 2022 Arkansas Player of the Year is a major reason the Panthers carry a 64-game win streak into this season.
California
The Arizona commit finished with a 0.36 ERA in over 136 innings of work last spring, striking out 264 batters and finishing 20-2 in the circle as a lefty.
Colorado
The Utah pledge was dominant in all phases of the game for the 4A state champions, winning 27 games in the circle, batting .506, and hitting nine home runs.
Connecticut
The GameTimeCT first team All-State member helped her team to an undefeated season in 2022 as a force in the circle and as a power hitter.
Delaware
A workhorse for the Golden Knights in 2022, pitching in over 137 innings, striking out 231 and finishing with an 18-2 overall record.
Florida
The 2022 Florida Player of the Year and Florida State commit was sensational as a sophomore, going 19-1 with a 0.16 ERA and guiding her team to a 6A state championship.
Georgia
The Clemson signee helped guide her team to a fall Class 7A title, doing it all for the Wolves as she was 13-1 in the circle and hit eight home runs at the plate.
Hawaii
After helping the Spartans win their first ever state championship, the Arizona commit was named the 2022 Hawaii Player of the Year.
Idaho
Penny-Lew Barnett, Sr., Capital (Boise)Western Oregon commit was named first team All-State after hitting 11 home runs and batting .423. She also struck out 145 batters in the circle.
Illinois
Kendra Lewis, Jr., Rockridge (Taylor Ridge)She is 38-0 as a high school pitcher and was named the Illinois Player of the Year after finishing the 2022 season with a 24-0 record, a 0.96 ERA, and 222 strikeouts.
Indiana
Keagan Rothrock, Sr., Roncalli (Indianapolis)The 2022 MaxPreps National Player of the Year, Rothrock, helped the Royals achieve a perfect season and the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 national rankings.
Iowa
Jena Young, Sr., WintersetThe Iowa commit was named the Register's All-Iowa Player of the Year after finishing the 2022 season with 22 home runs.
Kansas
Emerson Cope, Sr., Washburn Rural (Topeka)The Nebraska signee is powerful at the plate and dominant in the circle.
Kentucky
Brooke Gray, Sr., Ballard (Louisville)After going 32-0 in the circle during her junior season and helping the Bruins to their first ever state title, the Louisville commit was named the 2022 Kentucky Player of the Year.
Louisiana
Addison Jackson, Sr., St. AmantThe Boston College commit was named Louisiana POY after leading her team to a second consecutive Class 5A title with a 30-2 record on the mound.
Maine
Charlotte Donovan, Sr., BiddefordThe 2022 Maine Player of the Year was a dominant pitcher and hitter, helping the Tigers capture a Class A title.
Maryland
Caitlyn Cornwell, Sr., Northeast (Pasadena)The Maryland commit was named a first team All-Met selection after batting .563 as a junior.
Massachusetts
Abby Bettencourt, So., Peabody Veterans Memorial (Peabody)Named the Player of the Year in the Northeastern Conference, Bettencourt did it all for the Tanners, both as a hitter and pitcher. Her team is just one win away from a Division 1 state title at the time of this selection.
Michigan
Ava Bradshaw, Jr., South LyonThe Duke commit is one of the top Class of 2024 pitchers and was the ace during the team's Division 1 state title win in 2021.
Minnesota
Jessa Snippes, Sr., RosemountThe Minnesota commit is known for her skills in the circle, but she can also hit, as evidenced by her batting average over .450 last spring.
Mississippi
Hallie Burns, Sr., BoonevilleThe 2022 Mississippi POY threw a no-hitter and hit a home run as the Blue Devils captured their second consecutive 3A championship last spring.
Missouri
Madi Ball, Sr., Blue Springs South (Blue Springs)The catcher was a key piece to the team's Class 5 fall state championship with a big bat in the Jaguars lineup.
Montana
Nyeala Herndon, Sr., Capital (Helena)The University of Montana commit had an impressive season last year, finishing 21-5 overall in the circle.
Nebraska
Maddia Groff Sr., Marian (Omaha)The Southern Illinois commit was a force all over the diamond for the Class A fall state champions, going 25-1 in the circle and batting over .500 at the plate.
Nevada
Avari Morris Sr., Green Valley (Henderson)The 2022 Nevada Player of the Year won 17 games in the circle and batted .450 for the Class 5A state champions.
New Hampshire
Kristen Beebe, Sr., ExeterThe 2022 state player of the year struck out 15 in an eight-inning 1-0 win over Concord in the Division 1 state championship last spring.
New Jersey
Julia Apostolakos, Sr., Donovan Catholic (Toms River)The 2022 player of the year batted .634 with 11 home runs last season. In the circle, she went 26-1 with an ERA of 0.32.
New Mexico
Faith Aragon, Sr., CarlsbadLed the Cavegirls to a Class 5A title and was named New Mexico Player of the Year.
New York
Stefania Abruscato, Sr., Hauppauge (Hauppauge, N.Y.)The Missouri commit was named Section IX Player of the Year in 2022. She is considered one of the top catchers in her class.
North Carolina
Karli Godwin, Sr., East Columbus (Lake Waccamaw)The Oklahoma State signee put up incredible numbers as a junior. She batted .733 with 18 home runs.
North Dakota
Jenna Decker, Jr., DickinsonThe lead-off hitter for the Class A state runner-up was named first-team All-State by the Minot Daily News.
Ohio
Carsyn Cassady, Jr., Watkins Memorial (Pataskala)The right-handed ace was named a MaxPreps Underclass All-American after finishing 27-2 with an ERA of 0.95 and 307 strikeouts.
Oklahoma
Keegan Baker, Fr., Edmond Memorial (Edmond)Named to the Oklahoman All-Big City first team after an incredible year in the circle, capped with a Class 6A fall state title.
Oregon
Addisen Fisher, Jr., BendThe 2022 MaxPreps Underclass All-American struck out 259 batters in 122 innings and had an ERA of 0.46. She also produced with the bat, hitting .510 with 13 home runs.
Pennsylvania
Julia Shearer, Sr., North Penn (Lansdale)The Maryland commit was a star in every aspect of the game last season. She batted .618 with seven home runs and went 25-2 in the circle with an ERA of 0.26.
Rhode Island
Alyssa Twomey, Sr., Pilgrim (Warwick)The Providence commit finished with an ERA of 0.89 after nearly 100 innings pitched in 2022. She also hit seven home runs.
South Carolina
Andee Dircks, Jr., ChapinThe Michigan commit hit over .500 last year and belted 13 home runs. She also drew 17 walks.
Tennessee
Ashtyn Danley, Sr., HuntlandThe Florida State commit can do it all. She hit over .650 at the plate with 15 home runs and struck out 217 in the circle.
Texas
The 2022 Texas POY helped her team finish 41-0 last spring. The Florida commit hit 10 home runs and went 36-0 in the circle with an ERA of 0.46 and 335 strikeouts.
Utah
Jolie Mayfield, Sr., RivertonThe MaxPreps All-American hit 19 home runs, batted .596 and drove in 65 RBI for the Utah 6A state champions.
Vermont
Emily Borrazo, Sr., South BurlingtonThe 2022 Vermont Player of the Year was a crucial factor in the Wolves winning their first Division 1 state championship last season. As the team's ace, she was also a force at the plate.
Virginia
Katie Kutz, Sr., Bishop O'Connell (Arlington)The Oklahoma State commit possesses all the necessary skills. She can hit with power and dominates in the circle, finishing last spring with an impressive 0.39 ERA.
Washington
Tia Milloy, Jr., RedmondThe Oklahoma commit comes from an athletic family with older sisters who have excelled at the next level, a father who played in the NFL and a mother who ran track at Washington. Tia is the next shining star from the Milloy family.
West Virginia
Tayven Stephenson, Sr., St. AlbansThe Kentucky commit had another remarkable season for the Red Dragons, striking out 207 in 138 innings of work.
Wisconsin
Emma Raye, Sr., SuperiorThe Northwestern commit is not only a standout catcher but she also scored over 1,000 points in basketball.
Wyoming
Lauren O'Loughlin, Sr., Thunder Basin (Gillette)The 2022 Wyoming POY hit .551 and drove in 40 runs during a championship-winning season last spring.