The month of February means high school softball is right around the corner. In the Lone Star State teams have already begun scrimmaging as they prepare for regular season play in just a few weeks. And although some still won't see the dirt under the snow for a while, it's time MaxPreps begins its preseason softball coverage.
Below are the top players from each state. These standouts were selected based on 2021 statistical information entered in MaxPreps, postseason local and national honors, college commitments, and or player rankings by ExtraInnings Softball, FloSoftball and Softball America.
Additional preview material will be released in the coming days and weeks:
Feb. 8 — Top 25 Players in the Class of 2022
Feb. 9 — Top 25 Players in the Class of 2023
Feb. 15 — Preseason MaxPreps Top 25
Feb. 18 — Top team in each state
Alea Johnson, Fairhope, Sr.Second-team 2021 MaxPreps All-America pick and LSU pledge has already mowed down 697 batters in her career and threw six no-hitters this spring.
Alaska
Emily McCutcheon, South Anchorage (Anchorage), Jr.Returns after a dominant sophomore season. The utility infielder batted .557 and blasted 15 home runs.
Arizona
Riley Flynn, Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), Sr.Second-team MaxPreps All-America selection and Harvard commit led the Gators to the school's first 6A state championship after going 16-2 in the circle.
Arkansas
Alyssa Houston, Benton, Jr.A multi-sport star on the hardwood and on the softball diamond. She was a key piece in the Panther's run to a 5A state title in 2021.
California
Sydney Somnerdike, Villa Park, Sr.The Arizona signee stacked up the awards last year. She was a second-team MaxPreps All-America pick and California Gatorade Player of the Year after striking out 336 batters.
Colorado
Nikki McGaffin, Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins), Sr. The Colorado High School Activities Association State Player of the Year and Arkansas signee finished the fall 23-3 in the circle with 1.02 ERA.
Connecticut
Sophie Garner-Mackinnon, Hall (West Hartford), Sr.The Duke commit is a powerful right-handed pitcher who hits the upper 60s. She is the reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Delaware
Ryleigh Thomas, St. Mark's (Wilmington), Jr. Delaware commit does it all as she is a dominant pitcher and a major weapon as a hitter. As a sophomore, she finished with a 0.25 ERA with over 200 strikeouts.
Florida
Alyssa Zabala, Doral Academy (Doral), Sr.Louisville commit finished her junior year with a complete game two-hitter in the 6A state championship, where the Firebirds beat Winter Springs 5-0.
Georgia
Taylor Tinsley, George Walton Academy (Monroe), Sr. The UCLA signee was named the Walton Tribune's Athlete of the Year after leading her squad to a Region 8-A Private championship this fall.
Hawaii
Ailana Agbayani, 'Iolani (Honolulu), Sr.The daughter of former MLB player Benny Agbayani will play infield at BYU, but she was also named the 2019 Hawaii Pitcher of the Year.
Idaho
Delaney Keith, Skyview (Nampa), Sr.Second-team MaxPreps All-America pick posted a .730 on-base percentage last spring. When she wasn't walked, she hit .670 with 18 home runs.
Illinois
Taylor Pannell, Rock Island, Sr. Tennessee softball commit had a monster junior season batting .571 and smashing 17 home runs. She also drove in 53 runs.
Indiana
Keagan Rothrock, Roncalli (Indianapolis), Jr. Named to first-team MaxPreps All-America team after she finished her sophomore season with seven no hitters and a 0.13 ERA for one of the country's top teams.
Iowa
Jalen Adams, Fort Dodge, Sr.The Iowa commit went 25-1 and led Fort Dodge to its first Class 5A state title.
Kansas
NiJa Canady, Topeka, Sr.A first-team MaxPreps All-America pick, she led the Trojans to a 25-0 record. Went 21-0 in the circle and also smashed 16 home runs at the plate.
Kentucky
Millie Roberts, Daviess County (Owensboro), Sr.The Auburn commit brings major power that any team would love to have in their lineup. She added 14 more home runs to her school record last season.
Louisiana
Maci Bergeron, Notre Dame (Crowley), Sr.The first-team MaxPreps All-America pick and future LSU Tiger led the country in the spring with 30 home runs. She now has 62 bombs total at the prep level.
Maine
Chantelle Bouchard, Biddeford, Sr. A 2021 Maine All-State selection after batting .513 with six home runs.
Maryland
Madison Knight, Patterson Mill (Bel Air), Sr.The Syracuse signee and second-team MaxPreps All-America pick went 14-0 in the circle and also hit .597 with 14 long balls as a hitter. Her team went 22-0.
Massachusetts
Giana Lacedra, Lowell, Sr.The UMass-Lowell commit is the three-time Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year. She finished 2021 with a 13-1 record and an 0.27 ERA.
Michigan
Lillian Vallimont, Trenton, Sr.The powerful catcher and future Wolverine ended 2021 with a .563 batting average and 14 home runs.
Minnesota
Sydney Schwartz, Chanhassen, Sr.The 5-foot-10 ace and slugger returns as the Gatorade State Player of the Year. She went 21-2 in the circle with a 0.95 earned run average.
Mississippi
Tenly Grisham, Neshoba Central (Philadelphia), Sr.The Rockets were perfect last season and will seek a ninth-straight state title. Grisham was a major part of the success as she batted .583 and was named a first-team MaxPreps All-American.
Missouri
Cierra Harrison, Lee's Summit North (Lee's Summit), Sr.The Missouri commit finished her high school career with over 1,000 strikeouts. She finished the fall of 2021 with 20 wins and mowed down 369 batters.
Montana
Kennedy Venner, Billings Senior (Billings), Sr.Was named to the first-team Eastern AA All-Conference Team. The 5-9 right-handed pitcher has signed to play with Carroll College.
Nebraska
Hannah Camenzind, Skutt Catholic (Omaha), Sr.Hannah and her twin sister Lauren were dominant players in the state and captured a pair of state titles. Both join Arkansas recruiting class. Hannah hit 44 home runs during her time with the Skyhawks.
Nevada
Jordyn Ramos, Centennial (Las Vegas), Sr. The Purdue commit and member of the 2021 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada team batted .474 last spring.
New Hampshire
Madison Solt, Salem, Sr. The right-handed pitcher helped the Blue Devils win the school's 19th state championship in 2021.
New Jersey
Savannah Ring, Ramapo (Franklin Lakes), Sr. The University of Connecticut commit was named New Jersey Hitter of the Year after batting .570 and smashing 14 home runs.
New Mexico
RyLee Crandall, Artesia, Sr.The second-team MaxPreps All-America pick and Baylor did it all in 2021, hitting 10 home runs, batting .507, compiling a .958 fielding percentage with a 0.15 ERA in the circle.
New York
Atalyia Rijo, Corning-Painted Post East (Corning), Sr.Helped the Hawks win back-to-back Section IV Class AA titles. She is a three-time all-state player.
North Carolina
Karlyn Pickens, North Buncombe (Weaverville), Sr.The Tennessee commit is an incredible athlete. Not only does she bring it as a pitcher and all around player on the softball diamond, she has also scored over 1,000 points as a basketball star.
North Dakota
Abby Duchscherer, Kindred, Sr.The North Dakota Gatorade State Player of the Year in basketball, is also the first player from North Dakota to be recruited by Alabama.
Ohio
Lexi Paulsen, Bloom-Carroll (Carroll), Sr.The 2021 Eagle-Gazette Co-Softball Player of the Year and Ohio State commit finished 2021 with a 20-3 record with a 0.03 earned run average.
Oklahoma
Tallen Edwards, Southmoore (Moore), Jr.The Oklahoma State commit helped the Sabercats repeat as 6A fast-pitch softball champions in 2021.
Oregon
Addisen Fisher, Bend, So.A member of the 2021 Underclass MaxPreps All-America team after the powerful pitcher went 9-0 with 0.25 ERA striking 127 in 56 innings as a freshman.
Pennsylvania
Maranda Runco, Mid Valley (Throop), Jr.Villanova commit finished with a 24-3 record in the circle and was third in the country among sophomores blasting 19 home runs. She was first-team Underclass MaxPreps All-American.
Rhode Island
Hanna Hawley, Coventry, Sr.A standout catcher and hitter who was an instrumental piece leading the Oakers to a Division I State Championship in 2021.
South Carolina
Amanda Ahlin, Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Bamberg), Sr.Tennessee commit and two-time SCHSL all-state honoree hit .578 with five home runs last season and helped her team to an appearance in the state championship game.
Tennessee
Sydney Berzon, Baylor (Chattanooga), Sr.MaxPreps first-team All-American and LSU commit went 17-0 in the circle and led the Raiders to a sixth-straight title in 2021.
Texas
Savannah Geurin, Leander, Sr.Oklahoma commit and second-team MaxPreps All-American went 23-1 with an 0.93 ERA. She struck out 272 batters as a junior.
Utah
Avery Sapp, Spanish Fork, Jr.Was named a first-team Underclass MaxPreps All-American after hitting 10 home runs, batting .512 and pitching 128 innings while leading her team to the Class 5A state title.
Vermont
Dana Elkins, Enosburg Falls, Sr.A standout on the soccer field as well, Elkins helped the Hornets to a state-run runner up finish last spring.
Virginia
Katie Kutz, Bishop O'Connell (Arlington), Jr.Oklahoma State commit was nearly flawless in the circle as a sophomore as the Knights captured their ninth straight VISAA Division I title.
Washington
River Mahler, Monroe, Sr.Stanford commit was nearly impossible to get out with the Bearcats in 2021. She hit .714 and had multiple hits in all but three games.
West Virginia
Tayven Stephenson, St. Albans, Jr.The second-team 2021 Underclass MaxPreps All-American finished 20-3 overall striking out 245. She also hit 11 home runs.
Wisconsin
Paytn Monticelli, Cedarburg, Sr.The 6-2 pitcher and University of Wisconsin-Madison Softball signee was named the Wisconsin Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2021.
Wyoming
Avery Gray, Campbell County (Gillette), So.The starting pitcher in five of the six state tournament games and helped the Camels to its first softball state title.
