From domination in the circle, to home run leaders, this year's race for MaxPreps National Softball Player of the Year is as tight as it gets.
Below are 10 players leading the way for high school softball's highest honor. We are open to nominations and understand we may have missed potential candidates. You can email steve.montoya@viacomcbs.com with any players we should consider for our MaxPreps All-America teams.
All 10 nominated players have full statistical information entered into MaxPreps. Teams that do not enter stats make forming the nominations much more difficult.
Read on for a look at the top contenders for Player of the Year (in alphabetical order).
Past MaxPreps National Player of the Year winners
2010 — Kasey Fagan, Dunnellon (Fla.)
2011 — Paige McDuffee, The Woodlands (Texas)
2012 — Kenzie Conrad, Keystone (La Grange, Ohio)
2013 — Casey Stangel, Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)
2014 — Johanna Grauer, Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.)
2015 — Tannon Snow, Chino Hills (Calif.)
2016 — Caroline Hedgcock, Downers Grove South (Downers Grove, Ill.)
2017 — Taylor Dockins, Norco (Calif.)
2018 — Montana Fouts, East Carter (Grayson, Ky.)
2019 — Sydney Supple, Oshkosh North (Oshkosh, Wis.)
2020 — No award (Pandemic)
2021 — Sophia Simpson, Barbers Hill (Texas)/Jordy Bahl, Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.)
Softball Player of the Year watch list
Julia Apostolakos, Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)The
junior does it all for the Griffins. In the circle she is 19-0 with a
0.35 ERA. She has allowed 5 runs in 100 innings of work. At the
plate, she is batting .710. The USF commit has multiple hits in 18 of
the teams 23 games.
Katelyn Cochran, North Augusta (S.C.)The
UCF commit has nearly 800 strikeouts during her time with
the Yellowjackets, which includes missing one full season because of the
pandemic. This year she has 12 complete game shutouts and six no
hitters.
Jocelyn Erickson, O'Connor (Phoenix) Patty
Gasso and Oklahoma are adding another big stick to their lineup with the
addition of the Class of 2022 utility player. The senior is third in the country with 25 home runs and finished with a .624 batting
average.
Madison Knight, Patterson Mill (Bel Air, Md.)The
senior has at least 10 strikeouts in every game she has appeared in.
The Syracuse signee has fanned 268 batters in 117 innings. She
can also smash as she is batting .562 with 10 home runs.
Payton List, Beaver (Pa.)The
senior flamethrower has an 0.22 ERA and has 200 strikeouts in 95
innings. She is also riding a 12-game hitting streak and has a
.649 on-ase percentage. The Class of 2022 star is committed to
Virginia Tech.
Ryan Maddox, Clovis North (Fresno, Calif.)The lefty ace has an 0.36 ERA and has allowed seven earned runs. The junior has toed the rubber in 136 innings and has struck out 264 batters. She also swings a good bat as she is hitting over .500.
Maddie McKee and
Ava Brown, Lake Creek (Montgomery, Texas)Mckee,
a LSU commit, is a wiz with her glove at SS and can do it all at the
plate. The junior is batting .559 with seven home runs. Her 2023
teammate and Florida commit has been an absolute beast in the circle and
at the dish. Brown is 25-0 with a 0.57 ERA for the nation's No. 2
team. She also has blasted nine bombs.
Katelynn Oxley, Bartow (Fla.)The
sophomore has been basically flawless in the circle. She has 300
strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run in 124 innings. In 12 games,
she has at least 15 strikeouts and has thrown six no hitters.
Corine Poncho, Notre Dame (Crowley, La.)The nation's home run leader destroyed the ball in 2022. Of her 49 hits, 32 were bombs. She drove in 72 runs and finished with a 17-game hitting streak. The senior helped her team win a Division III state title.
Keagan Rothrock, Roncalli (Indianapolis)The No. 1 player in the Class of 2023 and centerpiece of the top-ranked team in the country is off to another phenomenal start. The powerful right-handed pitcher has struck out 264 batters in 111 innings of work and is 19-0 in the circle. She also has hit 10 home runs at the plate.
