While the game of high school softball is often led by upperclassmen, significant contributions from the up-and-coming stars can help a team's fortunes. The 34 girls on the 2021 Underclass MaxPreps All-America Softball Team show just how bright the future is for the game as these stars of tomorrow are making a name for themselves today.
In Indianapolis, sophomore sensation Rothrock pitched 75 percent of the innings for one of the top teams in the country.
Roncalli's flamethrower struck out 364 batters in 160 innings of work. Rothrock is the 2021 MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year.
Sydney Marshall made an instant impact as a Class of 2024 player for
John Glenn (New Concord, Ohio). In her first varsity game, she hit two home runs, drove in four and struck out 10 in five innings of work. Marshall finished with 17 home runs, a 21-1 mark and is the 2021 MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.
P — Ava Brown, Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas), So.One of the top pitchers in the Lone Star State, she finished with a 0.92 ERA and allowed 11 earned runs all season.
P — Taylor Douglas, Holden (La.), So.Pitcher and power hitter was 26-8 and batted .547 with 27 home runs.
P — Addisen Fisher, Bend (Ore.), Fr.The freshman can hit 70 mph on the radar gun. She went 9-0 with 0.25 ERA striking 127 in 56 innings.
P — Ryan Maddox, Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.), So.Led her team to a Division 1 Central Section championship after finishing 20-1 for the Broncos.
P — Keagan Rothrock, Roncalli (Indianapolis), So.The top player in the Class of 2023 finished with seven no hitters and a 0.13 ERA for one of the country's top teams.
P — Maranda Runco, Mid Valley (Throop, Pa.), So.Finished with a 24-3 record and was third in the country among sophomores blasting 19 home runs.
P — Avery Sapp, Spanish Fork (Utah), So.The Class of 2023 star can do it all, hitting 10 home runs, batting .512 and pitching 128 innings while leading her team to the Class 5A state title.
P — Alexis Warncke, East Bernard (Texas), So.Tossed over 184 innings for the Brahmas. She led the entire Class of 2023 with 380 strikeouts.
C/IF — Karina Pulu, River Valley (Mohave Valley, Ariz.), So.Tied for a state-best 15 home runs. She also drove in 72 runs for the 22-0 Dust Devils.
IF — Hannah Bendle, John Glenn (New Concord, Ohio), So.Did about everything for the Little Muskies. She hit 18 home runs, batted .590, had a .978 fielding percentage and went 9-0 as a pitcher.
IF — Natilie Browser, Keystone (Knox, Pa.), So.One of the top hitters in the country batting .766 with 14 home runs. She was also 7-3 as a pitcher.
IF — Kenleigh Cahalan, Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville, Ala.), So.The Class of 2023 star was one of the top hitters in the country with 17 home runs, 85 RBI and a .517 batting average.
IF — Cassidy McLellan, Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.), SoLed the nation's second-ranked team in batting average (.542) and home runs (nine).
UT — Ashtyn Danley, Huntland (Tenn.), So.The ace for the Hornets finished with 0.97 ERA in 108 innings of work. She also batted .693.
UT — Sydney Marshall, John Glenn (New Concord, Ohio), Fr. Went 21-1 in the circle. She also blasted 17 home runs — tied for tops among all 2024 players.
UT — Desirae Spearman, Hanks (El Paso, Texas), So. Second in the country among the Class of 2023 with 20 long balls. She also pitched 65 innings for the Knights.
UTIL — Celina Wilharm, Benson (Ariz.), So. Batted .750 for the 20-2 Bobcats. She had at least a hit in every game this year.
Second teamP — Chloe Cummings, Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), So.The Lancers ace was 12-0 helping her team go 26-0 this season.
P — Blayne Godfrey, Danville (Ala.), Fr.Led all freshmen, striking out 356 batters in 195 innings. She finished with a 1.04 ERA.
P — Julia Knowler, Fort Myers (Fla.), So. Did it all for the Green Wave, going 11-2 as a pitcher and also hitting .582 with eight home runs.
P — Olivia Laney, Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton, Fla.), So.Went 17-1 in the circle for the No. 2 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.
P — MacKinley Portillo, Douglas (Ala.), So.The Eagles ace was third among 2023 players with 363 strikeouts in 167 innings.
P — Sydney Simpson, Etowah (Attalla, Ala.), So.The 6-foot-1 workhorse for the Blue Devils struck out 359 in 181 innings.
P — Tayven Stephenson, St. Albans (St. Albans, W. Va.), So.The West Virginia Softball Player of the Year finished 20-3 overall striking out 245. She also hit 11 home runs.
P — Kaitlyn Terry, Greenway (Phoenix), So. Mowed down hitters as she struck 237 batters in just over 97 innings of work.
C — Sofia Mujica, Granite Hills (El Cajon, Calif.), Fr.Tied a nation-best among freshmen with 17 home runs.
IF — Aubrey Gibbons, Glenns Ferry (Idaho), So.Led the Pilots to the school's first state title. She batted an amazing .742, tops in the Class of 2023.
IF/P — Gracie Goewey, Bend (Ore.), So.Set a school record hitting with 10 home runs and a .574 batting average. She had a hit in all but one game this year for the Lava Bears.
IF — Jenna Sniffen, Maryknoll (Honolulu), Fr.Hit 13 home runs in 12 games played.
IF — Kate Vance, Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), Fr.Her 12 home runs tied for third in the state overall. She also batted .417.
UT — Isabel Cunnea, Marist (Chicago), So.She hit .478 with 12 home runs playing for one of the top teams in the country.
UT — Hallie Meeks, Lincoln County (Fayetteville, Tenn.), Fr.Tied as the nation's leading home run hitter in the Class of 2024. She hit 17 bombs and drove in 56 runs.
UT — Jaylee Ojo, Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.), So.Smashed 11 home runs in 65 plate appearances. She also had 1.97 ERA for the Huskies.
UT — Maddi Rutan, Columbus North (Columbus, Ind.), So.Hit 15 bombs at the dish. She was also dominant in the circle, going 18-3 with a 1.51 ERA.
