MaxPreps 2016 Softball All-American Team

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MaxPreps 2016 Player of the Year: Caroline Hedgcock, Downers Grove South (Ill.)

Despite playing much of the season with a sore pitching elbow that limited her time in the pitching circle, Hedgcock averaged almost two runs batted in per game, belted 22 home runs and pitched Downers Grove South to the final four in the Illinois State 4A Softball Championships.

For her efforts, the senior has been named the MaxPreps 2016 National Softball Player of the Year.

"I am ecstatic," said Hedgcock. "It's quite the honor. I am so happy about all the great things that happened this season."

The MaxPreps POY honor is one of many bestowed upon Hedgcock in 2016. She was also named the Chicago Daily Herald's POY, My Surbanlife POY and Illinois Softball Gatorade POY winner, to name a few.

In addition, she was a unanimous all-state selection for the second year in a row. Hedgcock was all-West Suburban Conference Gold Division for four seasons, a span in which her team went 47-1 in league play.

In leading the Mustangs (36-4) to a third-place state 4A finish in 2016, Hedgcock was a standout pitching and hitting. She struck out 131 batters in 95 innings, while allowing just 49 hits and posting a 0.96 ERA. She won 14 of 15 decisions, losing only in the state semifinal game. At the plate, she hit .549 with 22 home runs and 69 RBIs, plus 10 doubles and 59 runs scored.

"Caroline had one of the the most successful softball careers and certainly individual seasons I have witnessed in my tenure as head coach at Downers Grove South," said coach Ron Havelka. "She worked as hard as any athlete I have ever coached to become the premier softball player she is. I would have to say she is the best player I have coached because of what she has meant to our team during my 24-year career."

During her four varsity seasons, Hedgcock led her team to one sectional final, three Super Sectionals and the 2016 state semifinals. She set school career records in home runs (37) and RBIs (185), plus individual season marks in RBIs with 69 and home runs (22), which is third all-time in Illinois high school softball.  

In four seasons, she won 62 of 75 pitching starts (Downers Grove South won 127 of 147 games) and was 47-5 during her last three years when the team was 105-9.

Hedgcock came out the winner in head-to-head competition with fellow all-Americans and Gatorade winners Katie Chronister and Miranda Elish. She also came out on top against Illinois state 4A champion Oak Park-River Forest and North Fort Meyers, another Florida powerhouse.

In those games, she homered three times, scored five times, drove in six runs and doubled. She also outdueled Chronister and Elish, totaling 14 innings with 16 strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.

"I loved the hard schedule we played this season," said Hedgcock, an Arkansas signee. "We played super amazing teams and our team responded, really coming together on four trip to Florida."

Hedgcock considered playing (and beating) the strong Florida schools and Crown Point (Ind.) as highlights of her senior season. She also picked winning the Super Sectional and beating rival Downer's Grove North as memorable.

"We lost the Super Regionals three straight years, so winning this year was wonderful," she said. "And beating North in front a huge crowd in a such a rival game was great, too."

Hedgcock said softball has helped mold her into the person she is today.

"It's made me understand work ethic," she said. "You practice as a team, you practice individually and you come home and do your homework and get to bed around midnight. And you get up and do it again the next day. It makes you appreciate what you have and what you have worked so hard to get out of it."

Hedgcock, who has been clocked at 65 mph, is expected to hit and pitch at Arkansas.

"I enjoy both, but have always considered myself a pitcher first," she said.

She has a 3.98 GPA and represents her school and community by helping underprivileged children and elderly people at an area retirement center. 

"Caroline is just an all-around delightful person," said Havelka. "And one heck of a talented softball player. She is also the ultimate team player, always willing to help and give credit to her teammates."

Past MaxPreps National Softball Player of the Year winners
2015 - Tannon Snow, Chino Hills (Calif.)
2014 - Johanna Grauer, Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.)
2013 - Casey Stangel, Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)
2012 - Kenzie Conrad, Keystone (La Grange, Ohio)
2011 - Paige McDuffee, The Woodlands (Texas)
2010 - Kasey Fagan, Dunnellon (Fla.)

MaxPreps 2016 Coach of the Year: Kristen Drust, Cheshire (Conn.)

Cheshire went 27-0 and won the state LL title, outscoring foes 210-34 with 13 shutouts, including the last four in the state tournament. Drust, a standout in college at UMass-Lowell, played softball professionally.

The third-year head coach pulled all the right strings in winning six games by one run. The Rams were the state runner-ups in 2015 when they led 4-0 only to see Southington rally for a 5-4 win in the bottom of the seventh.

But this year, Cheshire's experience from that game proved beneficial.

Drust told the Waterbury Republic American, "I have to attest that to the team last year and the leaders," said Drust. "They expected players to go out on the field and be ready to contribute. That's what they expected from Day 1 this year. They held the bar high. The players have exceeded expectations."

Only three seniors were in the starting lineup — Gabriela Batista, Megan Hodgdon and Alex Czarkosky. Three juniors, Hannah Salvietti, Samantha Simione and Abby Abramson, will all be back next year along with three freshmen and a sophomore who were in the starting lineup from the start of the season until the state title game.

Drust told the Record Journal, "We believe in a process. We aren't trying to get to the state championship game. We are trying to get better, and that's keeping the game small and preparation, getting better and fixing mistakes one step at a time. Our leaders know that's what it takes for us to get to where we want to go."

Past MaxPreps National Softball Coach of the Year winners
2015 - Paul Schoenburn, East (Anchorage, Alaska)
2014 - Monte Sherrill, Alexander Central (Taylorsville, N.C.)
2013 - Penny Reece, Greenwood (Bowling Green, Ky.)
2012 - Carrie Austgen, Deer Park (Texas)
2011 - Danny Hensley, Niceville (Fla.)
2010 - Kevin Fagan, Dunnellon (Fla.)


First Team

P - Melanie Olmos, Grand Terrace (Calif.), Senior
Olmos, who has signed with national champion Oklahoma, closed her prep career with a 17-1 record and 0.22 ERA and helped Grand Terrace win the CIF-Southern Section D-3 title. In 95 innings, she allowed only 27 hits and three earned runs. Olmos also carried a big bat – driving in 21 runs and hitting .380.

P - Miranda Elish, Crown Point (Ind.), Senior
Elish led the Bulldogs (28-2) to the sectional finals and was a three-time Gatorade State Player of the Year. She compiled a 15-2 record with a 0.41 ERA, along with a .505 batting average, seven home runs and 26 RBIs. The Oregon signee struck out 196 batters in 103 innings, allowing just 31 hits and 13 walks.

P - Ashlee Swindle, Curry (Jasper, Ala.), Senior
The Auburn signee led the Yellow Jackets (47-2) to the Class 4A state championship when she compiled a 45-2 record and 0.59 ERA. Swindle struck out 385 batters in 262 innings. She also had a .557 batting average, 13 home runs and 86 RBIs. She was the Class 4A Player of the Year and a Super All-State Team honoree as a junior and senior.

P - Missy Zoch, La Grange (Texas), Senior
Signed by DePaul, Zoch led La Grange to the 4A state title when she won 32 of 34 decisions and struck out 325 batters in 212 innings. She pitched 31 complete games and posted a 0.53 ERA. Among the wins were 15 shutouts and four no-hitters. In her four varsity seasons, she was 90-4 with a 0.69 ERA. As a senior, she also batted .310 with 28 RBIs.

P - Katie Chronister, Gainesville (Fla.), Senior
The Florida signee was 28-2 with a 0.53 ERA (186 innings and 273 strikeouts) and led Gainesville to the state 7A title. She pitched 12 shutouts (including four in five playoff games) and also batted a team-leading .457 with 29 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

P - Maggie Balint, Avon Grove (West Grove, Pa.), Senior
The future Oregon Duck won 24 games, struck out 371 batters and allowed just 14 earned runs in 192 innings. Her ERA was 0.52, and opponents hit just .090 off her. She recorded five no-hitters and one perfect game. Balint batted .440 with 40 hits and 21 RBIs as Avon Grove reached the PIAA Class 4A title game for the first time in program history.

P - Grace Baalman, Calhoun (Hardin, Ill.), Junior
Baalman, who struck out 39 batters in a 17-inning 2A state semifinal game, pitched Calhoun to its second-straight state title. She finished the season with a nation-leading 589 strikeouts in 267 innings and compiled a 0.21 ERA to go with her 35-2 won-loss record. She concluded the season with 260 strikeouts in her final 102 innings. In addition to her 39-strikeout effort, Baalman recorded 30 and 26 in other postseason games. The Kentucky commit also hit 18 home runs and batted over .500.

P - Holly Azevedo, Pioneer (San Jose, Calif.), Junior
The future UCLA Bruin went 25-3 with a 0.18 ERA, 334 strikeouts in 191 innings and 17 shutouts. She also batted .482 with 10 extra-base hits. Azevedo, who pitched four no-hitters, has allowed just six earned runs in her last two seasons. Each of her three 2016 losses were by one run.

P - Caroline Taber, Fitch (Groton, Conn.), Senior
The state's returning Gatorade Softball Player of the Year led Fitch to the 2014 Class L state championship as a sophomore and senior. As a senior, she posted a 0.38 ERA with 233 strikeouts and 12 walks in 129 innings. The Princeton signee also batted .400.

P - Meghan Beaubien, St. Mary Catholic Central (Monroe, Mich.), Junior
Beaubien led the Kestrels to their second-straight state 3A title, pitching perfect games in the state semifinal and championship games. She was 25-1 on the season with 12 shutouts and 394 strikeouts in 187 innings. The Michigan commit allowed just 10 earned runs, 55 base hits and 16 walks. Beaubien also batted .485 with 50 base hits.

P - Montana Fouts, East Carter (Grayson, Ky.), Sophomore
If there was a more dominant pitcher anywhere, we didn't know about her. The Alabama commit led the Raiders to a deep playoff run and a 37-2 record as she recorded a 33-2 record with 479 strikeouts in 221 innings. She had a 0.48 ERA, allowed just 42 hits and pitched 24 shutouts with a nation-leading 14 no-hitters. She also pitched nine perfect games. Fouts also batted .446 with six homers and 50 RBIs. She was the lone underclassman who was a finalist for National Player of the Year.

C - Kayla Konwent, Westosha Central (Salem, Wis.), Senior
After hitting 21 homers as a junior, the state's returning Gatorade Player of the Year was walked 48 times in 105 plate appearances. She still belted six home runs with 32 RBIs and hit .509. She is a two-time D-I Player of the Year. The Wisconsin signee finished the season with an on-base percentage above .750 and a 1.000 slugging percentage.

C - Mia Davidson, Orange (Hillsborough, N.C.), Junior
The Mississippi State commit led the Panthers (23-4) to the third round of the Class 3A state playoffs when she compiled a .740 batting average with 18 home runs, 49 RBIs and 57 runs. A three-time all-state honoree, Davidson posted an on-base percentage of .851 and a slugging percentage of 2.060. She walked (most were intentional) 44 times this season.

C - Bailey Hemphill, St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.), Senior
The Alabama signee had almost as many walks (almost all intentional) as she did official at bats with 50, yet still managed to hit 12 home runs, almost a home run in every four at-bats. Hemphill, who batted .560 as a senior, was named Louisiana Miss Softball. She finished her career second nationally with 145 walks in a career. She had 54 homers and batted .568 with only eight strikeouts in 245 at bats.

IF - Nicky Dawson, Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge, La.), Senior
Despite battling achilles and hamstring injuries late in the season, Dawson was as awesome as advertised. In leading her team to the state D-3 semifinals, Dawson batted .658, slugged 1.072 and got on base 75 percent of the time. She had 15 doubles, eight triples, five homers, drove in 35 runs and scored 75. The LSU signee stole 58 bases and walked 35 times. She set national records for career triples (49), runs scored (291) and had 324 stolen bases. Named the State Softball Player of the Year, Dawson was also the LHSAA D-2 60-meter sprint champ.

IF - Megan Stevens, Etiwanda (Calif.), Senior
The Grand Canyon University signee finished her senior season with a .614 batting average, 62 hits, 49 RBIs, 56 runs and 19 home runs. Stevens had an on-base percentage of .642 and slugged 1.297. She was also 6-1 with a 1.25 ERA in limited pitching duty.
If - Reyna Carranco, Oxnard (Calif.), Senior
The Arizona signee batted .628, had 54 hits in 28 games, drove in 46 runs and scored 41 in leading Oxnard to a 22-6 record.

IF - Morgan Mccallum, North Forney (Forney, Texas) Senior
The Kentucky signee scored 76 runs, including 18 in eight playoff games. More than 60 percent of her hits went for extra bases, as she had 15 doubles, four triples and 11 home runs despite being walked 35 times. She hit .450 with 49 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 38 games.

IF - Maggie Gallagher, Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.), Senior
Gallagher batted .714 with 17 home runs, leading the Lancers (16-6) to the Class 3A West Central District Tournament semifinals. Gallagher also walked 27 times, scored 54 runs and tallied 53 RBIs. She finished the season with a .798 on-base percentage and a 1.839 slugging percentage.

IF - Camryn Ybarra, Mission Viejo (Calif.), Junior
Facing some of the best pitching in the country, Ybarra led the Diablos in batting average (.514), home runs (12), hits (54), on-base percentage (.617) and runs scored (33). Ybarra has been named the Orange County Register's Orange County softball POY and has committed to Oregon State.

IF - Bradie Fillmore, Eagle (Idaho), Senior
Fillmore led the Mustangs to MaxPreps' mythical national title and their second-straight Class 5A state title. The state's returning Gatorade State Softball Player of the Year, Fillmore posted a 13-0 record with a 0.49 ERA and 155 strikeouts in 71 innings. The California signee batted .641 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs.

IF - Abby Krzywiecki, Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Senior
The University of South Alabama signee slugged an MHSAA season record 20 home runs this season and her 48 career long balls were second in state history. She also had 92 RBIs this past season with 17 doubles in 143 at bats. Michigan's Miss Softball, Krzywiecki also made an impact pitching, compiling a 12-1 record and 1.69 ERA.

IF - Claire Jenkins, Cullman (Ala.), Senior
The Alabama signee capped her senior year with a .475 batting average and 15 home runs, 69 hits, 37 RBIs, 21 doubles, two triples, 61 runs and 35 walks in 141 at-bats. She was named to the Alabama Super All-State team.

IF - Alex Martens, McHenry (Ill.), Senior
Martens led the Warriors in batting average (.598), on-base percentage (.655) and slugging percentage (1.021), striking out once in 113 plate appearances. The Kentucky signee had 16 doubles and seven homers with 42 runs scored and 40 RBIs.

OF - Vanessa Taukeiaho, Etiwanda (Calif.), Senior
Taukeiaho led California with 20 home runs and batted .640. She had 15 doubles, 56 RBIs, scored 54 times and 64 base hits. The Oklahoma signee's power percentages were impressive: slugging 1.422 and an OPS of 2.116.

OF - Kendall Beth Sides, Sumiton Christian (Ala.), Junior
The Alabama commit turned in another spectacular season with 101 base hits, 104 runs scored and 82 stolen bases as Sumiton Christian won 57 games and the state 2A title. Named the State 2A Player of the Year and to the All-Alabama Super Softball Team, she has scored 293 times and stolen 369 bases -- both national records. And she has one season remaining.

OF - Hannah Edwards, Catasauqua (Pa.), Senior
The Pittsburgh signee batted .680 with 51 hits, 45 runs scored and 52 steals. She struck out just two times and was The Morning Call's Player of the Year. She is Pennsylvania's all-time leader in career hits (207), runs scored (158) and stolen bases (192) and the state's single-season record holder for hits (57), runs (45) and steals (57).

OF - Shelby McGlaun, Atascocita (Humble, Texas), Senior
The Baylor signee hit nine homers, drove in 36 runs and batted .509 in leading the Eagles to a 32-7 season and a berth in the state 6A semifinals. She also had 225 strikeouts in 155 innings and posted a 0.95 ERA. McGlaun was the Texas Sports Writers Association's Large School Player of the Year.

UTIL - Autumn Humes, Bald Knob (Ark.), Senior
The returning Gatorade State Player of the Year, Humes led the Bulldogs to a 36-0 record and second-straight Class 3A state championship. Humes was 31-0 in the circle with a 0.34 ERA, striking out 295 batters in 185 innings. She allowed 60 hits and 31 walks with 19 shutouts and three perfect games. At the plate, the four-time Class 3A first team all-state selection batted .527 with 11 home runs, 54 RBIs and a 1.036 slugging percentage.

UTIL - Madilyn Nickles, Merced (Calif.), Senior
Nickles compiled a 20-5 record along with a 0.63 ERA, leading the Bears (22-7) to the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section D-I Tournament. Nickles struck out 308 batters in 167 innings and walked only 28. She pitched nine shutouts and three no-hitters. She also batted .552 with 20 doubles, eight home runs and 27 RBIs to finish with a 1.126 slugging percentage and zero strikeouts in 104 plate appearances. The UCLA signee was the only junior on the 2015 USA Junior National Team.

Second Team

P - Analise De La Roca, Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro, Calif.), Junior
The Arizona State commit set a record for the CIF-Los Angeles City Section with 408 strikeouts, finishing 26-4 with a 0.43 ERA, 20 shutouts, five no-hitters and three perfect games. She allowed only 19 runs (12 earned) and 31 walks in 197 innings. De La Roca batted .521 with four home runs, 49 hits, 16 doubles and 37 RBIs.

P - Lauren Mathis, West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), Junior
The Georgia commit led her team to the 2016 Class 9A state title with a 25-1 record while posting a 0.15 earned run average. Named Miss Florida Softball, Mathis struck out 272 batters in 138 innings while allowing just three earned runs and 36 hits. Mathis dominated her opponents in the state Final Four, allowing only five hits, no earned runs and striking out 26 batters in 13 innings pitched.

P - Sydney Bates, Western (Davie, Fla.), Senior
Bates was named the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Large School Player of the Year when she went 20-4 with a 0.38 ERA, pitched five no-hitters and recorded 279 strikeouts. The Florida State signee hit .549 this season with six home runs, nine doubles, a pair of triples and 29 RBIs.

P - Veronica Westfall, Siegel (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Senior
Westfall won 40 games in leading the Stars to the state finals. In 269 innings, Westfall allowed just six earned runs and struck out 353. In addition, the Middle Tennessee State signee batted .412 with 23 doubles and scored 63 times.
P - Maddie MacGrandle, Frisco (Texas), Junior
MacGrandle led the Raccoons to a 31-3 record and a berth in the Class 5A state tournament semifinals. She was 31-3 with a 0.81 ERA in the circle, striking out 385 batters in 207 innings. The two-time District 9-5A MVP also batted .529 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs. She has committed to Texas A&M.

P - Sydney Holman, Belton (Texas), Senior
In leading the Tigers to a 31-4 record, Holman hurled four perfect games and seven no-hitters. Additionally, she had an earned run average of 0.45, striking out 327 batters. She will play at Abilene Christian.

P - Maddy Dwyer, Orange Lutheran (Calif.), Junior
Orange Lutheran's ace won an Orange County-best 26 games, struck out 173, pitched a dozen shutouts and posted a 1.10 ERA. The Stanford commit was named by the Register as the Orange County Softball Pitcher of the Year.

P - Maddy Barone, Silver Lake Regional (Kingston, Mass.), Senior
Barone led the Lakers to a 23-1 record. A two-time All-Scholastic D1 Player of the Year, she posted a 21-1 record with a 0.76 ERA and 190 strikeouts against just 14 walks in 128 innings. Barone batted .467 with 13 extra-base hits, 29 RBIs and 38 runs scored, recording a .481 on-base percentage and a .747 slugging percentage. She has signed with Southern New Hampshire and was named the National High School Coaches Association's Softball Player of the Year.

P - Madi Huck, Hayes (Delaware, Ohio), Senior
Huck compiled a 23-1 record with a 0.50 ERA, 230 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 140 innings, leading the Pacers (23-1) to the D-I district semifinals. A first team all-state selection, the Kent State signee hurled six no hitters and batted .556 with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs.

P - Audrey Dodd, McCracken County (Paducah, Ky.), Senior
Named Kentucky's Miss Softball, Dodd was unbeatable with a 17-0 record and 0.56 ERA. The Mustangs finished the season with a 42-4 record finished as the state runners-up. Dodd will play college softball at Georgetown College.

P - Jaime Schmier, Sherwood (Sandy Spring, Md.), Senior
Schmier has never lost in four years of varsity softball at Sherwood. In leading her team to its fifth-straight title, she finished the season with a 20-0 record and 0.64 ERA. Schmier, who will play at Washington & Jefferson, was 40-0 in her final two seasons.

C - Dejah Mulipola, Pacifica (Garden Grove, Calif.), Senior
The Arizona-bound senior capped her stellar Pacifica career with a .484 batting average, and continued her outstanding defense. The Empire League MVP is regarded by many as the top catcher in the Class of 2016.

C - Reagan Wright, Mansfield Legacy (Texas), Senior
The UT-Arlington signee hit 15 homers, hit .515, and more than half of her hits went for extra bases. Wright scored 58 runs and had 49 RBIs in 35 games for the 5A Region II semifinalist.

C - Marilyn Rizzato, North Forney (Forney, Texas), Senior
The Louisiana Tech signee drove in 73 runs in 39 games, leading North Forney to the Class 5A Region II semifinals. Rizzato batted .615 and hit 16 homers. The District 12-5A MVP averaged nearly two hits per game, finishing with 72, and nearly half of her hits went for extra bases. In eight playoff games, Rizzato hit .643 with four home runs, nine runs and 17 RBIs.

IF - Mackenzie Boesel, Orange Lutheran (Calif.), Senior
A slick-fielding shortstop, Boesel was just as good at the plate, leading 30-4 Orange Lutheran with a .418 batting average and 46 hits, while finishing second in RBIs (32) and runs scored (35). The Trinity League MVP will attend South Carolina.

IF - Hayley Busby, O'Connor (Phoenix), Junior
Busby hit .528 with 67 hits, 43 runs scored, 26 doubles, 14 home runs and 70 RBIs on O'Connor's 29-win team. The Virginia commit was the Gatorade State POY.

IF - Katelyn Kemmetmueller, Rogers (Minn.), Senior
The Minnesota signee drove in 24 runs and batted .468 for Rogers. In the circle her numbers were impressive: 13-1, 0.42 ERA, 172 strikeouts in 100 innings. She was named the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's POY.

IF - Genny Soltesz, Mattawan (Mich.), Senior
Named the 2016 Kalamazoo Gazette Softball Player of the Year, Soltesz dominated at the plate. She led Mattawan in hits (66), runs scored (53), walks (23) and batted .559. She has signed with Columbia.

IF - MacKenzie Nutt, Sparkman (Harvest, Ala.), Junior
The Auburn commit led Sparkman to the state 7A title with a team-best 12 home runs, 76 RBIs and 17 doubles while batting .444 with 63 runs and 21 walks. She also stole 18 bases.

IF - Kourtney Gremillion, St. Amant (La.), Senior
Gremillion will join her sister Kara at Louisiana-Lafayette. She led St. Amant to a 25-6 record and a quarterfinals appearance in the State 5 Tournament when she batted .610 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs.

IF - Martha Tooley, Eagle (Idaho), Senior
The future College of Idaho Coyote hit an Eagle-high career 40 home runs. As a senior, when Eagle went 29-0 and won the MaxPreps mythical national title, she batted .592 with a 1.112 slugging percentage. She had 58 hits, 13 doubles, 12 home runs, 57 RBIs and scored 42 runs.

IF - Madison Naujokas, Marist (Chicago), Senior
Naujokas led Marist to a 30-6 season when she batted .491 and drove in 48 RBIs. She hit 16 doubles and four triples and will play at James Madison.

IF - Aniesa Maulupe, Carson (Calif.), Senior
Despite being walked 27 times, Maulupe batted .692 and drove in 35 runs on 36 hits (10 homers) as Carson won 22 games. The Long Beach State signee's slugging percentage was 1.423 and her on base percentage was .793.

OF - Mara Kemmer, Desert Vista (Phoenix), Senior
Kemmer was Arizona's top Small School Player of the Year in 2015 (when she played at Chandler Valley Christian) and the top Large School POY in 2016 at Desert Vista. The UNLV signee had a 1.09 ERA, 14-1 record and 142 strikeouts in 87 innings. When not pitching, she played center field and hit .551 with 16 stolen bases.
OF - Jessica Shields, Huntley (Ill.), Senior
Shields, who hit .536 with 42 runs scored, five doubles, three triples and 67 steals, helped lead the Red Raiders to their second-consecutive regional title and a school-record 26 wins. She had a .613 on-base percentage and hit .727 with runners in scoring position. Shields has signed with Wisconsin-Parkside.

OF - Simone McKinney, Harrison Central (Gulfport, Miss.), Senior
McKinney was a key component in a state 6A title for the Red Rebels. She batted .605, scored 45 runs, collected 69 base hits and stole 21 bases. She will attend Jones County Junior College.

OF – Mary Hannah Smith, Baker (Mobile, Ala.), Senior
Smith was among the national leaders with 96 runs scored and had a team-best 34 steals. The Lehigh signee added eight homers, 91 hits, 57 RBIs and .505 average.

UTIL - Payton McBride, Deer Park (Texas), Senior
The Texas A&M signee led Deer Park to a 34-4 season and a national ranking most of the season. McBride had 50 base hits, 16 doubles, four homers and 41 RBIs. She also walked 30 times and batted .579 with an .872 slugging percentage. She batted .579 with runners in scoring position and had 15 two-out RBIs. In the circle, she was 17-4 with four saves, a 1.78 ERA and had 138 strikeouts in 126 innings.

UTIL - Madison Aughinbaugh, St. Mary's Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), Senior
Aughinbaugh posted an 18-1 record with a 0.45 ERA, leading the Knights (21-2) to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament finals. Aughinbaugh struck out 241 batters in 141 innings, allowing just 61 hits and issued only 36 walks. The two-time Washington Post first team All-Met selection also batted .416 with 11 doubles, 30 runs scored and a .561 slugging percentage. She has signed with Fordham.

UTIL - Brooklin Lee, Dickson County (Dickson, Tenn.), Senior
Lee led the Cougars to a 41-7-1 record and a second Class AAA state championship in three years when she posted a 28-6 record with a 0.85 ERA and 289 strikeouts in 197 innings. She batted .388 with five home runs, 37 runs and 38 RBIs. She led Dickson County to the Class AAA state title game each of the past four seasons.