MaxPreps 2013 Softball Medium Schools All-American Team

The MaxPreps Medium Schools All-American Team includes a 30-member first team and a 30-member second team. Players are chosen from schools that participate in state enrollment divisions generally between 1,000 and 2,000 students.

See the MaxPreps 2013 Softball All-Americans (overall)

Medium Schools Softball Player of the Year: Jess Cummings, Northern

Jess Cummings of Northern (Owings, Md.) might want to pinch herself.

Not many athletes get to experience the type of dream season that Cummings did in 2013.

Then again, winning is all she knows. Cummings has yet to lose in high school — she is 43-0 in two varsity seasons after finishing this season 22-0. Northern has won 76 games in a row.

Northern won its sixth-straight state championship, was unbeaten for a third straight season and was named MaxPreps mythical national champion.

From an individual standpoint, few have experienced the season the 5'10" Cummings put together this spring. She was 22-0 with 21 shutouts and allowed only one unearned run.

That's correct — she did not allow an earned run. Cummings posted an 0.00 ERA with 298 strikeouts in 135 innings pitched. She threw nine no-hitters, including two perfect games, and held opponents to a .041 batting average. She has committed to Penn State.

In her 22 games, Cummings limited opponents to 18 hits. She struck out a dozen or more 19 times with a high of 20 in a no-hitter against Patuxent (Md.) on April 8. Of the 464 batters who faced Cummings, 298 — or 65 percent — struck out. In two varsity seasons, Cummings has struck out 558 batters in 263 innings.

On April 27, she one-hit then-No. 2 ranked Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) and struck out 16 in the process. Bishop O'Connell has lost just twice in two years, both times to Cummings and her Northern teammates.

For all of her accomplishments, Cummings is MaxPreps Medium Schools Softball Player of the Year.

As a sophomore, Cummings was named Maryland's Gatorade Player of the Year after she posted a 20-0 record with a 0.38 ERA and 260 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched. Cummings threw six no-hitters, including three perfect games, and held opponents to a .090 batting average.

In late June, she was named the Washington Post's Player of the Year,

"What I was most impressed this year with Jess was her maturation in the circle," said Northern coach Robert Earl Radford. "The confidence she had in herself in the circle allowed her teammates to play very relaxed, even in tense situations. What the team did by allowing only one unearned in 23 games is an amazing defensive achievement, and it started with Jess in the circle."

Radford said he's not surprised by anything Cummings does.

"What amazes me about Jess is her work ethic," said Radford. "It is remarkable. Being the perfectionist that she is, she is constantly working on improvement on her pitches. It is rewarding to see that someone who works as hard as Jessica is getting the national awards that she deserves. I am very appreciative of the positive impact that she has had on our program at Northern High School."

Radford noted that Cummings throws a fastball, change, drop, curve, and rise with speeds ranging 62-65 mph.

"From my perspective, the best part of all of this is that we have her back for another season next year," he said.

Medium Schools Softball Coach of the Year: Laura Harms, Bishop McNamara

Harms guided Bishop McNamara (Kankakee, Ill.) to a state title and a 35-0 season. She was hired as Bishop McNamara's softball coach in 2011, when the team went 21-10. The Irish were 30-7 last season.

With Harms leading the way, McNamara defeated previously unbeaten Tremont to win the Illinois 2A state title. It concluded a perfect season that also featured the team's first conference championship, first trip to state, first state championship and first undefeated season.

Harms, a Bradley Bourbonnais graduate, starred at Bradley University and was twice named All-Missouri Valley. She was part of two championships, including one with the Chicago Bandits, in six seasons in the National Pro Fastpitch League. The Bandits retired her number in 2012.

In her three seasons, McNamara is 86-17.

MaxPreps Medium Schools All-American Softball Team

First Team

P - Jess Cummings, Northern (Owings, Md.), Junior
The junior right-hander led the Patriots to MaxPreps' mythical national title and a third-straight unbeaten season. She was 22-0 with 21 shutouts and allowed only one runand it was unearned. Cummings posted an 0.00 ERA and 298 strikeouts in 135 innings pitched. She threw nine no-hitters including two perfect games and held opponents to a .041 batting average. She has committed to Penn State.

P - Sydney Littlejohn, Rusk (Texas), Senior
Headed to Alabama, Littlejohn was 24-2 her senior season and struck out 317 in 178 innings. She pitched nine no-hitters and struck out 10 or more in a game 17 times. She walked just 20 batters. She also batted .442 and led the team with 28 RBIs. She is a three-time All-State player.

P - Carley Hoover, Daniel (Central, S.C.), Senior
The 6-foot-2 senior right-handed pitcher led the Lions (24-4) to the Class 3A state championship this past season. The National Gatorade Player of the Year, Hoover posted a 16-4 record in the circle with a 0.15 ERA and 338 strikeouts in 138 innings this past season. A four-time All-State selection and the High School Sports Report Class 3A Player of the Year, Hoover batted .500 with four home runs and 45 runs scored. She holds the national record for being walked at 157. She will attend Stanford.

Read Tom Mauldin's feature on Carley Hoover

P - Tori Davis, Cherokee County (Centre, Ala.), Senior
Cherokee County's Tori Davis was not only named the Class 4A Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year, but was also named to the Super All-State team. She won 40 games with a 0.47 ERA and 447 strikeouts. Davis also hit .379 on the year, despite focusing on pitching more than hitting. She hit seven home runs, scored 38 runs and had a team-high 54 RBIs, helping the Warriors reach the Class 4A state tournament for the fifth consecutive season.

P - Alexis Silkwood, Marquette Catholic (Alton, Ill.), Senior
Silkwood averaged 16.1 strikeouts per game, won 30 games with a 0.44 ERA and 443 strikeouts in 208 innings in leading Alton to 3A finals. She batted .552 with an on-base percentage of .644. She scored 42 runs, had 17 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 41 RBIs. Signed with Southern Mississippi, Silkwood set state records for career wins (124) — an average of 31 a season — career shutouts (100), career no-hitters (54) and career strikeouts (1,908). She also owns the single-season state record for strikeouts (501, set as a sophomore), shutouts in a season (28, set as a junior) and no-hitters in a season (19, set as a junior). She also notched more than a dozen perfect games.

P - Kelsee Selman, Hudson (Lufkin, Texas), Senior
LSU signee was named Texas Small School Player of the Year. She went out with a bang as Hudson won state 3A title. She was 35-5, had a 0.89 ERA, and in 367 innings pitched, she struck out 489. She also had a .394 batting average, 49 RBIs and 12 homers.

P - Allyson Frei, High Point (Sussex, N.J.), Junior
The 5-foot-10 junior right-handed pitcher posted a 22-4 record with a 0.19 ERA and 393 strikeouts in 186 innings this past season, leading the Wildcats (22-4-1) to the North I, Group III sectional final. A returning first team All-State selection as named by The Star-Ledger, Frei recorded 14 shutouts and two no-hitters, including a 21-strikeout perfect game against Vernon Township High on April 8. Also the returning All-West Jersey Player of the Year, she batted .325 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. She has committed to Boston College.

P - Allie Walljasper, Sierra (Manteca, Calif.), Junior
She was 18-2 during the regular season — her only losses coming to city rival East Union and playoff qualifier Oakdale — with a 0.47 ERA. Opponents batted .088 against her. In 120 innings, she struck out 227 and walked just 24. She batted .482 with 20 RBIs, a .557 on-base percentage, an .815 slugging percentage. Has committed to LSU.

P - Gina Chieffallo, Valley View (Archbald, Pa.), Senior
Led team to unbeaten season and state title with a 24-0 record, 0.53 ERA, 208 strikeouts in 144 innings. She threw 11 shutouts and walked only 12 batters. She also batted .310. She will play softball at Brown.

P - Rachel Garcia, Highland (Palmdale, Calif.), Sophomore
The 5-foot-7 right-handed pitcher posted a 22-2 record in the circle with a 0.50 ERA this past season, leading the Bulldogs (22-2) to the Southern Section, Division III tournament. She struck out 302 batters in 139 innings pitched, allowing 42 hits and 24 walks with 14 shutouts and four no-hitters. At the plate, Garcia batted .709 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 42 RBIs and a 1.380 slugging percentage. She produced more extra-base hits (26) than outs (23) on the year. She has committed to UCLA.

C - Annie Aldrete, Santa Catalina (Monterey, Calif.), Senior
All-county softball MVP, walked once a game and batted .435. Aldrete holds county record for home runs with 32. Despite high number of intentional walks, she made the most of her 32 hits, driving in 34 runs while scoring 32 runs. She has signed with Tennessee.

C - SaVonnah Osmanski, Estrella Foothills (Goodyear, Ariz.), Senior
Key part of Estrella's state title run and 33-2 season as she batted .476 with 49 hits and 46 RBIs. She had 23 extra base hits and committed only two errors.

C - Pauline Tufi, West (Anchorage, Alaska), Senior
The Alaskan won her third straight Gatorade Player of the Year in softball after batting an eye-popping .842 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in a snow-shortened senior year. She will attend Louisiana Tech.

1B - Ari Paulson, Payson (Ariz.), Junior
Named Arizona's Small School Player of Year, Paulson batted .648 (.667 OBA), had 57 hits, 47 RBIs, scored 37 runs and posted a 1.330 slugging percentage with 18 doubles and a dozen home runs. She was also 16-0 pitching with an 0.86 ERA, and in 89 innings, she recorded 174 strikeouts. She has committed to BYU.

1B - Aidan Falk, Our Lady of Mercy (Rochester, N.Y.), Junior
Falk batted .556 (.682 OBA) with a dozen home runs, drove in 32, scored 35 and finished with a 1.238 slugging. Named MVP of state title game. She has committed to Michigan.

IF - Kameron Carter, Sardis (Boaz, Ala.), Senior
Named the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 4A Hitter of the Year and selected to the Super All-State team, Carter batted .547 with 61 RBIs and 67 runs scored. She belted 14 home runs, stole 19 bases and had an on-base percentage of .626 to go along with a slugging percentage of 1.007. She has signed with Shorter University.

IF - Rachel Hickman, Poplarville (Miss.), Senior
The 5-foot-6 senior right-handed pitcher and second baseman posted a 27-4 record with a 0.58 ERA and 325 strikeouts against only 35 walks in 194 innings pitched this past season, leading the Hornets (28-4) to the Class 4A state semifinals. Also a second baseman, Hickman batted .441 with a home run and 32 RBIs. The two-time first team All-State selection by The Clarion-Ledger produced a .490 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage. She has signed with Southern Mississippi.

IF - Breanna Homer, La Grange (Texas), Senior
The power behind the Leopards' 38-4 season, Homer batted .546, scored 67 runs, had 66 RBIs and 17 home runs, including three in one game against Yoakum. She had a slugging pct of 1.160 and was walked 30 times. She has signed with San Houston State.

IF - Courtney Case, Mendon (Pittsford, N.Y.), Senior
Case was named New York's Class A Player of the Year by the New York State Sports Writers and the Coaches Organization. A shortstop, she finished the season with a .733 batting average — a Section V record — 55 hits in 75 official at-bats. The Monroe County Division II Player of the Year reached base 70 times out of 90 plate appearances, an on-base percentage of .777. She plans to play at LeMoyne College.

IF - Taylor Van Zee, Hemet (Calif.), Senior
In leading the Bulldogs to the CIF Southern Section Division IV championship, Van Zee hit .700 with 70 hits, 14 home runs, 23 doubles, four triples, 54 RBIs, 59 runs scored, an atmospheric 1.430 slugging percentage, and struck out twice while walking 19 times. She was 8-for-8 on steal attempts, and had two errors in 77 total chances at shortstop. She will play for Washington.

IF - Stephanie Texeira, Gulliver Prep (Miami), Senior
Texeira, an FIU commitment, hit .588 with 17 home runs and totaled 54 RBIs this season to lead Gulliver to its fourth consecutive state championship. She was named Florida's Miss Softball.

IF - Kelsey Smith, Empire (Tucson, Ariz.), Junior
Smith led the state in RBIs with 75 and was tied for second in home runs with 15. She also went 11-3 in the circle, striking out 89 batters in 56.2 innings with a 1.73 ERA. She had 21 multi-RBI games and may have had her best performance against San Manuel, the eventual Division IV state champion, when she homered twice and drove in five runs. She was named Arizona Star's Player of the Year.

IF - Ashley Coppage, Harrison County (Cynthiana, Ky.), Senior
Coppage, who was named Kentucky's Miss Softball, batted .480 with 48 hits and 55 RBIs in 35 games. She had 18 home runs and a slugging pct. of 1.130. She will attend Morehead State.

OF - Dominique Jackson, Pleasant Valley (Chico, Calif.), Sophomore
Jackson led the Northern Section with 10 triples, 12 homers, 69 RBIs and a 1.051 slugging percentage. She hit homers in three straight games and had three triples in one game — a state record. Jackson batted .521 and led PVHS to the CIF North Section title.

OF - Halle Hayes, Winslow (Ariz.), Junior
In leading Winslow to the state title game, Hayes batted .685 (.707 OBA), scored 52 runs, had 63 hits, 31 RBIs, 10 doubles, 11 triples, four homers and 1.163 slugging pct. She was also 8-2 on the mound and in 64 innings, striking out 76.

OF - Katie Thompson, Baldwin-Woodville (Baldwin, Wis.), Senior
Thompson batted .513 with 39 hits, 39 RBIs and 10 home runs. She was named the Pioneer Press Player of the Year. She has 39 career home runs and will attend Wisconsin-Stevens Point or Wisconsin-Green Bay.

OF - Stacy Cavazos, Patriot (Riverside, Calif.), Senior
Cavazos, who is Santa Barbara bound, batted .518, had 59 RBIs, 46 hits, 50 runs, 15 home runs, and a 1.169 slugging. She was Sunkist League MVP.

OF - Sierra Bains, Kennedy (Burien, Wash.), Junior
Bains, who also pitched and played in the infield, drove in 69 runs in 68 at-bats to lead the Lancers. Her 38 hits included 23 for extra bases, giving her a 1.191 slugging percentage. She finished with a .559 average and .654 on-base percentage and was named to the Seattle Times All-Area team and was named Seamount League Player of the Year.

UT - Holly Ward, Haleyville (Ala.), Junior
Ward stood out on the mound and at the plate for 45-13 state 4A champion Haleyville. She was 27-9, with an 0.89 ERA and in 250 innings she struck out 310. She also batted 419 with 67 hits, 50 RBIs, and 27 doubles. She has committed to Mississippi State.

UT - Cheyenne Gandara, Hemet (Calif.), Senior
The CIF Southern Section D-4 Player of the Year, was 25-3 for the 28-5 Bulldogs. She struck out 256 with a 0.81 ERA in 173 innings. Gandera pitched six no-hitters. She also batted .477 with 49 RBIs and 13 home runs. She has signed with Charleston Southern.