MaxPreps 2023 state player of the year selections Sara Phillips, Katelynn Oxley and Karlee Meredith among the standouts.
With the calendar turning to February, high softball teams across the country have started to hit the dirt – weather permitting. MaxPreps begins its comprehensive coverage of the 2024 season with a look at the top projected player in each state.
Selections are based on high school achievements and talent on the field. Included on the list are five player of the year selections from states that play softball during the fall season.
Coverage will continue in the coming weeks with top players in each class, top teams in each state and the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
Alabama,
Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville)Pitcher | Class of 2024Mississippi State signee and the reigning 2023 MaxPreps Alabama Player of the Year guided the Huskies to the Class 7A state title last spring. Phillips is one of the top overall athletes in the country.
AlaskaMila Hargrave,
Juneau-DouglasPitcher | Class of 2024The 6-foot-1 senior did it all for the 2023 Division II state champions. In the state title game, she hit two home runs and closed the game in the circle of the 6-5 victory.
ArizonaKate Vance,
Hamilton (Chandler)Infielder | Class of 2024Blasted 46 home runs so far in her career, including 18 in 2023. The Arizona commit had multiple hits in 15 games as a junior while hitting .452.
ArkansasAva Carter,
Greene County Tech (Paragould)Utility | Class of 2024A three-time All-State honoree, the Arkansas pledge finished the 2023 season batting .562 with six home runs.
CaliforniaSofia Mujica,
Granite Hills (El Cajon)Catcher | Class of 2024The UCLA signee is among the top power hitters in the country. She has smashed 47 home runs during her career, a San Diego Section record.
ColoradoHailey Maestretti,
Lutheran (Parker)Pitcher | Class of 2024The lefty wrapped up her illustrious career in the fall with a 72-2 overall record, 0.96 ERA and 702 strikeouts. The Utah commit also batted .475 with 23 jacks.
ConnecticutNatalie Lieto,
Masuk (Monroe)Outfield | Class of 2024The Penn State commit hit 11 home runs and helped the Panthers win a fifth consecutive Class L title. She finished her junior year with a .640 OBP.
Delaware Takyla Davis,
Sussex Central (Georgetown)Infielder | Class of 2024One of the top gloves at shortstop, she has major speed on the bases. She will be playing for Arizona State next fall.
FloridaKatelynn Oxley,
BartowPitcher | Class of 2024The Sunshine State is loaded with pitching. Oxley finished the season with a 0.50 ERA and struck out 307, including 16 in the state championship game. The Florida commit struck out 10 or more in 11 straight games to close out the season.
GeorgiaCaroline Stanton,
BufordPitcher | Class of 2026The sophomore sensation was lights out for the top-ranked team in the fall. She helped the Wolves capture a Class AAAAAAA title finishing the season with a 0.77 ERA and nearly 13 strikeouts a game.
Hawaii Jenna Sniffen,
Maryknoll (Honolulu)Infielder | Class of 2024The Arizona signee won a state championship as a sophomore and was an All-State selection as a junior. She does just about everything for Maryknoll.
Idaho Samantha Hatzenbeller,
Owyhee (Meridian)Utility | Class of 2024The MaxPreps 2023 Idaho Player of the Year hit 16 home runs and drove in 53 runs. The UNLV commit hit two bombs during their 5A state title victory.
Illinois Emma Kavanagh,
Barrington Catcher | Class of 2024The Arizona pledge is one of the top catchers in the entire country. She also has a big bat blasting over 30 home runs so far in her career.
IndianaAudrey Lowry,
Tri-West Hendricks (Lizton)Pitcher | Class of 2024The Oklahoma commit finished 2023 with 252 strikeouts and a 0.95 ERA. Her future teammate
Berkley Zache of
South Bend St. Joseph is another standout ace in the Hoosier State.
IowaCassie Johnson,
AnkenyCatcher | Class of 2024The Texas Tech commit has a big bat and a big arm behind the plate. She finished her junior campaign batting .505 with 14 home runs.
KansasPeyton Hardenberger,
WamegoPitcher | Class of 2025Headed to Tennessee, she led the Red Raiders to a 4A state title averaging over 16 strikeouts per game this past spring.
KentuckyTaylor Troutman,
Henderson CountyOutfield | Class of 2024The Mississippi State signee posted a .478 batting average and smashed 12 bombs as a junior.
LouisianaKennedy Marceaux,
KaplanOutfield | Class of 2024The Alabama commit hit .655 with 22 home runs and 72 RBIs in 2023, guiding the Pirates to their first state championship since 2016.
MaineBrooke Gerry,
WindhamPitcher | Class of 2024Maine's 2023 MaxPreps Player of the Year finished 2023 with an 0.18 ERA and struck out 169 batters in 78 innings. The Rhode Island commit also batted .547.
MarylandJordan Lynch,
Rising Sun (North East)Utility | Class of 2024The Virginia Tech signee helped the Tigers capture a state title in 2023 as she was nearly impossible to get out, finishing with .650 average.
MassachusettsSamantha Lincoln,
TauntonPitcher | Class of 2024The state's MaxPreps Player of the Year and Texas Tech commit struck out 53 and allowed two earned runs during a playoff run that helped the Tigers win their third-straight championship.
MichiganKaitlyn Pallozzi,
Mercy (Farmington Hills)Pitcher | Class of 2025The Alabama commit was phenomenal in the circle last spring striking out 281 batters and not allowing a single earned run. She also hit .491 at the dish.
MinnesotaKylinn Stangl,
Mankato EastPitcher | Class of 2025The Minnesota commit finished 19-3 overall in the circle as a sophomore and was a big part of why the Cougars brought home a a Class AAA title in June.
MississippiJolie Hays,
Northwest Rankin (Brandon)Pitcher | Class of 2024The 2023 state MaxPreps Player of the Year led her team to its first title in 14 years. She finished the season with 213 strikeouts.
MissouriKennedy Diggs,
Sherwood (Creighton, Mo.)Pitcher | Class of 2024The Kansas signee holds the record for most strikeouts in a career with 1,308. She had one season in which she mowed down 511 batters.
MontanaElla Farrell,
Glacier (Kalispell)Pitcher | Class of 2024Montana's MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2023 after finishing 12-2 in the circle and crushing seven home runs and batting .486 at the plate.
NebraskaKloey Hamblen,
Papillion-LaVistaInfield | Class of 2024The senior went out with a bang in the fall helping her squad capture the Class A state title. She finished with a .481 average and blasted 18 bombs.
NevadaTalia Tretton,
Douglas (Minden)Pitcher | Class of 2024Iowa commit helped her Tigers squad win a title for the first time since 1992. She hit 14 home runs as the plate and struck out 193 in the circle.
New HampshireSarah Taylor,
ConcordPitcher | Class of 2024State's MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2023 for her domination in the circle and at the plate finishing with a .534 average.
New JerseySophia Bordi,
Haddon HeightsPitcher | Class of 2025The MaxPreps Player of the Year for New Jersey has already surpassed over 500 strikeouts in her prep career. She finished 2023 with 274 in 121 innings of work.
New MexicoSydney Lessentine,
AlamogordoPitcher | Class of 2024The Texas A&M signee has been playing varsity softball since she was in eighth grade. She is arguably the state's top hitter and pitcher.
New YorkKari Graziano,
Ichabod Crane (Valatie)Pitcher | Class of 2025Named the state's MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2023 after finishing 18-1 on the bump and helped the Riders win a second-straight championship.
North CarolinaLayla Lamar,
Panther Creek (Cary)Infield | Class of 2024She has been committed to Florida since the sixth grade and is now officially a Gator. The powerful lefty finished her junior year batting .585.
North DakotaEllington Anderson,
MinotOutfield | Class of 2024The Minot State University commit was named to the 2023 NDHSCA Class A Softball All-State Team. She is blazing fast from the left side.
OhioSydnie Watts,
Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown)Pitcher | Class of 2025The reigning Ohio MaxPreps Player of the Year and Georgia Tech commit was an absolute beast in the playoffs and helped the Falcons win their first state championship.
OklahomaKadey McKay,
CaddoInfielder | Class of 2024The Oklahoma commit has helped her squad win three consecutive state championships. She finished the fall with a .444 average and scored 45 runs.
OregonAddisen Fisher,
BendPitcher | Class of 2024The UCLA signee is one of the top pitchers in the country. Her and
Payton Burnham of
Sheldon (Eugene) will be the top two players to watch this year in the Beaver State.
PennsylvaniaLexie Hames,
Seneca Valley (Harmony)Pitcher | Class of 2025The Clemson commit struck out 269 batters in 122 innings of work last spring. The powerful right-handed flame thrower finished with a 0.45 ERA.
Rhode IslandPhoenyx Silva,
La Salle Academy (Providence)Utility | Class of 2025Rhode Island's MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2023 after hitting .500 with 10 home runs and leading her team to a state title.
South CarolinaAnsley Bennett,
SummervilleUtility | Class of 2025The MaxPreps Player of the Year for South Carolina helped her school win its first state championship. She was the ace for the team and also one of their biggest bats.
South DakotaCaitlyn Hoff,
West Central (Hartford)Utility | Class of 2024Hoff helped the Trojans capture their first ever sanctioned state title. She pitched a complete game shutout in the championship game as they capped a perfect season.
TennesseeElsa Morrison,
Farragut (Knoxville)Catcher | Class of 2025The Tennessee commit batted .617 with 23 home runs this past season. She also walked 51 times giving her a .757 on base percentage.
TexasSa'Mya Jones,
Dawson (Pearland)Utility | Class of 2024The LSU signee finished 2023 with a .475 batting average and .571 on-base percentage. She is one of the top utility players in the country.
UtahAnne Wallace,
Ridgeline (Millville)Utility | Class of 2025The powerful right-handed slugger and MaxPreps All-American smashed a state-record 27 home runs as a sophomore last spring.
VermontCora Thomas,
Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)Infield | Class of 2024She was named a Metro Division first team selection after helping her squad win the Division I state championship and finish with an 18-0 record.
VirginiaDestiny Harris,
Granby (Norfolk)Outfield | Class of 2024The LSU signee hit nine bombs and finished with a .468 average last spring. She also swiped 24 bases.
WashingtonYanina Sherwood,
Jackson (Mill Creek)Pitcher | Class of 2024The MaxPreps Player of the Year for Washington finished 2023 with a 23-1 record and a 0.53 ERA. She also mowed down 250 batters.
West VirginiaJosie Bird,
Lincoln County (Hamlin)Catcher | Class of 2024The Indiana commit can smash at the plate. She has hit 39 home runs so far in her career while often being pitched around.
WisconsinKarly Meredith, Kaukauna
Pitcher | Class of 2025The state's MaxPreps POY finished with a flawless record in the circle, under a 1.00 ERA and over 200 strikeouts. The junior can swing it too, as she batted .542.
WyomingAvery Gray,
Campbell County (Gillette)Pitcher | Class of 2024The Montana State University-Billings pledge has eye-popping numbers. She hit .707 last spring and she is the current state record holder with 526 career strikeouts.
