Each year since 2008, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school softball. We continue the tradition this spring by naming a player of the year in each state.
Selections are based on team success and individual excellence. Winning a championship is a must to be considered for this award. Read on for a look at our picks from states that have completed play, teams that play in the fall as well as the announcement date for other states.
AlaskaSela Rodriguez, Bettye Davis East Anchorage (Anchorage)
Pitcher | Class of 2026The sophomore sensation struck out 123 batters and held opponents to a .123 batting average, leading the Thunderbirds to the Division 1 state title. She was also a powerful hitter, finishing with a .522 average and seven home runs.
Alabama
Sara Phillips, Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville)
Pitcher | Class of 2024Reigning Alabama Player of the Year edged out Kaylee Favors of Orange Beach after finishing her prep career with three state title victories in four years. The Mississippi State signee struck out 50 batters in 32 innings of work during the postseason, allowing just one earned run. She pitched a gem in the state title game, which included nine shutout innings in a 1-0 win over Daphne.
Arizona
Lauren Putz, Xavier College Prep (Phoenix)
Utility | Class of 2024Michigan pledge finished her senior season with an incredible .802 on-base percentage. She somehow managed to hit 18 home runs even though she was walked 59 times in 102 plate appearances. The lefty slugger was a huge reason the Gators brought home another state title.
Arkansas
Ryann Sanders, Bentonville
Pitcher | Class of 2024Stepped up when her team needed her most, allowing just one run in the final five games while striking out 49. The Louisville commit, who pitched a perfect game against Conway earlier in the state tournament, came back out and pitched a complete game shutout in a 1-0 win over Har-Ber in the 6A title game.
CaliforniaOlivia Bauer, Sutter
Pitcher | Class of 2024The Boise State commit led the only team in California to finish undefeated in 2024 with a 30-0 mark. She was nearly flawless on the rubber with a 25-0 record, a 0.73 ERA and 192 strikeouts. As a lefty hitter, she did damage at the plate as well, batting .520 with 51 total hits.
Colorado
Hailey 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.
Connecticut Julia Bacoulis, Masuk (Monroe)
Pitcher | Class of 2025The Florida Gulf Coast commit helped the Panthers win a sixth-straight Class L state championship. She hit .450 with 10 home runs and was also 19-0 in the circle with a 0.80 ERA.
Delaware Kasey Xenidis, Caravel (Bear)
Pitcher | Class of 2024The Rowan signee helped the Buccaneers to a fourth straight state title. She pitched a three-hitter and ripped a two-strike single to score the only two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in a 2-0 state championship win over Sussex Central on May 31.
FloridaJayden Heavener, Pace
Pitcher | Class of 2024The LSU commit locked up POY honors after and incredible postseason run. The lefty struck out 16 in the Class 6A championship game and hit a two-run bomb to lift the Patriots over Bartow 2-0. She finished her prep career with over 1,100 strikeouts, a 0.67 ERA and also hit 31 home runs at the dish.
Georgia
Caroline Stanton, Buford
Pitcher | 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
Taryn Hirano, Mililani
Infield | Class of 2024The speedy infielder helped Mililani win its first state title in 10 years. She notched a hit in all but two games and finished the season riding an 11-game hit streak.
Idaho
Megan Meracle, Borah (Boise)
Pitcher | Class of 2024The Idaho State signee led her team to the school's first state title. She finished her career just shy of 1,000 career strikeouts and had 286 this season.
IllinoisTaryn Ford, Carterville
Utility | Class of 2026Ford and teammate
Caidence Phillips were two of the most dominant pitchers in the state. Ford was sensational during a 1-0 victory over North Boone in the state championship game, striking out 16 in six innings of work and hitting the walk-off base hit to win it all in the bottom of the seventh inning.
IndianaGrace Swedarsky, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers)
Pitcher | Class of 2026The right-handed ace struck out 77 batters over the final five games of the season, including 13 Ks in the Class 4A state championship game to help HSE win the title. She finished the season with 270 total punch-outs.
KansasPeyton Hardenburger, Wamego
Pitcher | Class of 2025For the second consecutive year, Hardenburger threw back-to-back no-hitters in the semifinals and final to lead her team to a state championship. The Tennessee commit may have had the top individual game performance of the season as she mowed down 30 batters in a 17-inning quarterfinal game that lasted nearly four hours.
KentuckyAnna Kemp, Henderson County (Henderson)
Pitcher | Class of 2025At the dish, Kemp crushed 10 home runs and batted .409. In the circle, she went 25-1, struck out 195 hitters and guided the Colonels to their first state championship.
Louisiana
Ramsey Walker, Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
Infield | Class of 2024The Arkansas commit did what she has done her entire prep career in this year's state title game – come up clutch. Walker hit a three-run blast, her 23rd of the season, to help the Cavs win their fourth consecutive state title. She finished the season batting .575, drove in 68 runs and had 41 extra base hits.
MaineAddison DeRoche, Cheverus (Portland)
Pitcher | Class of 2027Freshman phenom struck out 21 batters in the state title game, lifting Cheverus to its first state title. The right-handed ace mowed down 212 batters this season in 87 innings of work. She was also the team’s top hitter.
MarylandAbi Britton, Allegany (Cumberland)
Pitcher | Class of 2024Penn State signee struck out 14 to close out her career with another Class 1A state championship. The power hitter and powerful pitcher hit 10 home runs and allowed just one earned run this season.
MassachusettsSamantha Lincoln, Taunton
Pitcher | Class of 2024Texas Tech signee capped a remarkable career by leading the Tigers to a perfect 25-0 season and a fourth-straight state championship. The lefty ace threw gas all season and was virtually untouchable when she was in the circle. She did damage at the plate as well, batting over .400 for the Division 1 champs.
MichiganAubrey Jones, Gaylord
Utility | Class of 2025Oklahoma State commit had a season most could only dream of. She batted .444 at the plate and led the nation with 26 home runs and 84 RBI. In the circle she was just as dominant, going 15-0 and striking out 122 batters in 81 innings of work.
MinnesotaCarter Raymond, Randolph
Pitcher | Class of 2025Finished 27-1 in the circle while striking out 310 and held opponents to a .115 batting average, helping the Rockets bring home the Class 2A state championship.
Mississippi
Jolie Hays, Northwest Rankin (Brandon)
Pitcher | Class of 2024Will go down as one of the top prep players from the state of Mississippi. The Southern Miss commit guided her team to a perfect 34-0 record and a second-straight state title. Hays led the team in batting average and had a 0.86 ERA in 113 innings of work.
Missouri
Caitlyn Suhrie, Diamond
Pitcher | Class of 2024Did it all for the Class 2A state champions. She hit 12 home runs and drove in 50 runs at the dish. In the circle, she finished the season with a 0.91 ERA in 99 innings of work.
MontanaMaddie Moultray, Columbia Falls
Pitcher | Class of 2024The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (Ind.) commit was a rock for the Class A state champions on both sides of the ball all season. She pitched in nearly every inning during the postseason and was clutch at the plate, hitting a three-run blast to help her team pull off a 9-6 victory in the title game.
Nebraska
Kloey Hamblen, Papillion-LaVista (Papillion)
Infield | Class of 2024Went 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.
Nevada
Kendall Selitzky, Coronado (Henderson)
Pitcher | Class of 2024West Texas A&M commit propelled the Cougars to a Class 5A state championship. She finished the season with 214 strikeouts and batted .400, including six hits in the final three playoff games.
New HampshireElla Bernier, Prospect Mountain (Alton)
Pitcher | Class of 2024Prospect Mountain won three state titles and didn't lose a single game in Bernier's final three seasons. The Mars Hill University commit tossed every inning in the Division 3 state tournament and brought a big stick to the middle of the lineup for the Timberwolves.
New JerseyMadison McDougall, St. John-Vianney (Holmdel)
Pitcher | Class of 2026The right-handed pitcher struck out 300 hitters and finished with a 0.85 ERA in 164 innings pitched. McDougall has already led St. John-Vianney to a pair of Non-Public A titles with two years to go.
New Mexico
Utility | Class of 2027
Freshman sensation blasted 25 home runs, finished with a .773 batting average and drove in 76 runs. She also helped the Dons win their first ever state championship in the circle, going 14-1 and mowing down 143 batters.
New York
Milana Fiordalisi, St. Anthony's (Melville)
Pitcher | Class of 2024
Helped the Friars go undefeated (25-0) and win their third consecutive CHSAA title. The Cornell commit was nearly flawless this season with 208 strikeouts and 0.55 ERA in 124 innings of work.
North Carolina Kina Davis, South Brunswick (Southport)
Pitcher | Class of 2025Committed to Charlotte, Davis was sensational in leading her team to a Class 3A state championship. She led the state with 328 strikeouts while batting .416 with 10 home runs.
North DakotaAva Jahner, Dickinson
Pitcher | Class of 2024The multi-sport star who will play volleyball and softball at Dickinson State University next year went out with a bang helping her team win back-to-back state titles. The senior hit a home run in each of the final five games of the season and pitched every inning during the title run.
OhioSydnie Watts, Austintown-Fitch (Youngstown)
Pitcher | Class of 2025Georgia Tech commit was the centerpiece for the Falcons, who won a second consecutive Division 1 title. Finished 22-1 in the circle with a .044 ERA and 273 Ks while batting .500 with 11 home runs.
Oklahoma
Kadey McKay, Caddo
Infielder | Class of 2024Oklahoma commit has helped her squad win three consecutive state championships. She finished the fall with a .444 average and scored 45 runs.
OregonPayton Burnham, Sheldon (Eugene)
Pitcher | Class of 2024The Arkansas pledge went out on top in every way possible. She helped the Irish win a second-straight state title, tossed a no-hitter and wrapped it up by being named Oregon's MaxPreps Player of the Year for the second time. Burnham struck out 328 hitters this season and also hit 17 bombs at the dish.
PennsylvaniaAddyson Frye, Neshannock (New Castle)
Pitcher | Class of 2025Providence College commit helped the Lancers finish with a 26-0 record and Class 2A state title. Frye struck out 212 batters, had a 0.59 ERA and held opponents to a .136 batting average. Also hit .492 with six home runs.
Rhode Island Phoenyx Silva, La Salle Academy (Providence)
Infielder | Class of 2025Silva has propelled the Rams to back-to-back state titles, including a 25-0 record this season. She batted .493 with 24 extra-base hits, 10 home runs and a .579 on-base percentage.
South CarolinaAnsley Bennett, Summerville
Pitcher | Class of 2025The South Carolina commit was about as dominant as a player could be for a team that finished 30-0 and won back-to-back state titles. She finished with a 0.16 ERA while opponents batted just .079 against her in 89 innings of work. Also the team’s best bat, Bennett smacked 13 home runs and drove in 41 RBI.
TennesseeElla Cunningham, Silverdale Academy (Chattanooga)
Pitcher | Class of 2024Headed to Michigan State, Cunningham led the state with 368 punch outs. Her ERA at the end of the season was 0.58 after pitching in 192 innings. She was also third in the state with 17 home runs.
Texas
Hannah Wells, Coahoma
Pitcher | Class of 2025The Texas commit helped her squad go 32-0, making Coahoma the sixth team in UIL history to finish as an unbeaten state champion. She was a beast on both sides of the ball, batting .685 with 15 home runs while going 20-0 in the circle and surpassing the 600 Ks mark with a season to go.
UtahPitcher | Class of 2027
Led the Riverhawks to a Class 4A state title at the plate and in the circle. She batted .532 with nine home runs while going 27-1 with a 0.78 ERA. Struck out 246 batters in 162 innings.
VirginiaAbbey Lane, Woodgrove (Purcellville)
Pitcher | Class of 2024The George Mason pledge finished with a 24-0 record, 0.15 ERA and 297 strikeouts. She also hit .457, helping the Wolverines go 26-0.
VermontMolly Medor, Missisquoi Valley (Swanton)
Pitcher | Class of 2024Helped the Thunderbirds win their first state title in 30 years. The right-handed pitcher was the workhorse in the circle, pitching in nearly 100 innings of work with an ERA of under 1.00. She was also a clutch hitter all season long for the Division 1 champs.
WashingtonYanina Sherwood, Jackson (Mill Creek)
Pitcher | Class of 2024The UNLV commit helped the Timberwolves win back-to-back state titles. She was a major contributor on both sides starting in the circle. The team’s go-to pitcher went 25-2 overall, finished with a 0.50 ERA and struck out 273 batters. On offense, she smashed 10 home runs and was walked 24 times.
West VirginiaMadeline Carroll, Winfield
Pitcher | Class of 2026Carroll was a huge reason the Generals won 24 of their last 26 games en route to their second consecutive state championship. The sophomore was clutch when it mattered most, striking out 28 batters in the final three games of the season.
WisconsinAubrey Strelow, Kenosha Bradford (Kenosha)
Pitcher | Class of 2025The Central Michigan commit did damage on both sides of the ball. In Bradford's 9-3 victory over Milton in the Division 1 championship, Strelow had four hits at the dish and struck out eight in the circle.
Wyoming
Natalie Clonch, Thunder Basin (Gillette)
Utility | Class of 2024It was only fitting that Clonch hit a walk-off home run to give the Bolts a third consecutive state title. Batted .639 and hit 11 home runs while recording two or more hits in 21 games.
