With the 2010 softball season freshly completed, it's time to take a subjective look at the Top 10 players in Colorado, regardless of classification. The list is up for debate, as a few players left off can make an argument for cracking the Top 10, but here are MaxPreps' picks after close study of the season:
10. Becca Randall, Thomas Jefferson (Denver), Jr., shortstop: Yes, we know TJ didn't even qualify for the state tournament, but if you have seen this girl hit, you'll understand the pick. Many of her 11 home runs traveled in excess of 230 feet and she was robbed of a few more, considering her home park has a 230-foot center field fence. "I've never seen anyone hit the ball as hard as Becca," Spartans coach Kyler Jackson said.
9. Danielle Wikre, Berthoud, Sr., third base: The Spartans earned a surprise No. 1 seed in Class 3A and advanced to the state championship game, largely on the shoulders of Wikre. She had insane power numbers: 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, 1.282 slugging percentage, 1.908 OPS (on base percentage plus slugging percentage), and was solid all season at the hot corner. She homered twice in a 9-5 loss to Valley in the title game.
8. Ashleigh Wissel, Fruita Monument, Sr., third base: The senior spearheaded the Wildcats' surge into relevance by clubbing 10 home runs to go with 37 RBIs. After years as an afterthought in 5A, Fruita earned the No. 2 seed and was a narrow 3-2 loss to Rock Canyon away from reaching the championship game. Wissel was instrumental in leading the Wildcats to comeback wins against Pomona in the first round and Standley Lake in the quarterfinals.
7. Kelley Reeves, Ralston Valley (Arvada), Sr., shortstop: The Mustangs' longtime contributor was at it again at the state tournament, as her walk-off homer in the 10th inning capped a two-homer performance in a 4-2 win against Ponderosa in the first round. She hit three homers in the tourney (nine overall) and has generally been regarded as one of the finest hitters in the state the past two seasons. Ralston Valley has finished in the top four of 5A each of the past three seasons.
6. Mikayla Duffy, Grand Junction Central, Sr., pitcher: Besides tying teammate Jessica Romine for the state home run lead with 12 (to go with a .698 average and 49 RBIs), Duffy went 13-2 with 2.02 ERA. The left-handed hitter/pitcher established herself last season as one of the most feared all-around players in the state and didn't disappoint in her senior season. The only downer is that the Warriors were dispatched in the first round of the 5A tournament, 11-7 by Standley Lake.
5. Melanie White, Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch), Sr., pitcher: Few forecasted big things from Rock Canyon, a fifth-year program in its first season in 5A. But thanks to White, a tall right-handed pitcher bound for Marist, the Jaguars fought their way to the state championship game. They lost 5-2 to Legacy, but White established herself as one of the top players in the circuit by going 16-4 with an 0.43 ERA and 184 strikeouts.
4. Haley Hutton, Valley (Gilcrest, Colo.), So., shortstop: It would be easy to include Haley's sister, senior pitcher Taylor, on the list too, but it's impossible to ignore what the sophomore did in the leadoff spot this season. As seventh-seeded Valley rocketed its way to the 3A title, Haley Hutton led off two games with home runs and generally was impossible to get out. She finished the season with eight round-trippers, 11 triples, a .527 average and 46 runs scored.
3. Mariah Bledsoe, Erie, Sr., pitcher: No one will ever be able to break Bledsoe's record, only match it – and probably not that, either. On Saturday, Bledsoe became the first player to pitch her team to four consecutive titles. The final one, a 6-1 win against D'Evelyn, was the most challenging, as Erie did it in 4A after 12 seasons in 3A. For good measure, Bledsoe connected on her first career homer in her last high school at-bat in the top of the seventh. "I was crying before she got to second base," said Bob Bledsoe, her coach and father.
2. Elle Madsen, Wheat Ridge, Jr., pitcher: The prototype of an all-around player, Madsen went 22-1 in the pitching circle, batted .553, homered 11 times and drove in a state-best 53 runs. She also matched a national record this season by homering three times in one inning against Alameda. Her poise on the mound earned the Farmers a trip to the semifinals. "I've never seen Elle get rattled," Farmers catcher Brennan Wilkie said. Madsen's season did end on a sour note, however, when Erie scored eight runs against her in the semis. Madsen later was ejected for a hard tag at third base.
1. Rainey Gaffin, Legacy (Broomfield), Jr., pitcher: An easy choice, to be sure, but the long-legged, rocket-armed, athletic Lightning leader clearly rose to the top during the state tournament. With Shelby Babcock now at the University of Arizona after strong-arming Legacy to three straight 5A titles, Gaffin took over and the Lightning never skipped a beat, going 25-0. Gaffin was 23-0 and also batted .684 with three homers and 41 RBIs. She will play at Tennessee in 2012.
Paul Willis is a regular sports freelancer for The Denver Post and covered high school, college and pro sports for the Rocky Mountain News from 2000-09. You can reach him at gdpdub@aol.com.
