36 high school softball players in the Springfield area to watch for the 2024 season

Chatham Glenwood, Buffalo Tri-City/Sangamon Valley, Gillespie, Auburn and a slew of other softball teams will reload with all-state talent this season.

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Here are the top returning softball players in the Springfield area for 2024:

Shelby Ashcraft, Pana

The junior shortstop and pitcher is a returning Illinois Coaches Association Class 2A all-state second team selection. She hit .512 with 44 hits, 45 RBIs and 14 home runs. She totaled 65 strikeouts in 84 innings as a pitcher.

Gabbie Branson, Petersburg PORTA/A-C Central

The senior ace carried the Bluejays in the circle with a 14-11 mark in 25 appearances and 3.63 ERA. She totaled 133 strikeouts in 148⅓ innings. She also had a .266 batting average with 17 RBIs and two home runs.

Anika Camp, Hillsboro

The junior pitcher/infielder and all-South Central Conference first teamer hammered out a .448 average with 13 extra-base hits, 20 runs and 15 RBIs while also going 7-9 on the rubber. Catcher Sophia Blakenship (.385, 13 RBIs, 22 runs) and shortstop Alla Greenwood (.322, 10 runs) also return, the latter missing half of last season due to a broken thumb.

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Kate Cosgriff, Jacksonville Routt

The junior will be the team’s main pitcher after the Rockets finished 3-12 last season. Other returning starters include outfielders Faith Beddingfield and Jenna Varela as well as infielders Brianne Rogers and Grace Cleveland.

Cassie Feld, Chatham Glenwood

The senior infielder and pitcher reached ICA Class 3A all-state second team last season and will play at NJCAA Division II Parkland College. She hit .521 with 49 hits, 47 RBIs and team-best nine home runs. She was also 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA with 37 Ks in 36⅓ innings.

Kate Feld, Chatham Glenwood

This senior infielder is set to play at University of Illinois Springfield after this spring. She was all-Central State Eight Conference just like her twin sister, Cassie. She had a .333 average with 26 hits, 34 runs and 26 RBIs in 2023 — and additionally has 12 career home runs.

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Ele Feldmann, Staunton

The junior infielder and all-South Central Conference first team pick generated a .520 average with 52 hits, 33 runs and 39 RBIs. Senior Kylie Lucykow was another first teamer as an outfielder.

Italee Ford, Rushville-Industry

The sophomore pitcher certainly has a promising future ahead. She went 9-2 with a 1.41 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 64⅔ innings. She also led the offense with a .432 average, including 32 hits, 30 runs and 31 RBIs.

MacKenzie Gerard, Jacksonville

Senior pitcher/shortstop forged a .592 average with 29 hits, 11 runs and 19 RBIs to end up with all-CS8 laurels. She was also the primary hurler with 78 Ks in 81⅔ innings. She is a four-year starter, along with senior center fielder and first baseman Addie Blimling.

Emma Gipson, Gillespie

The senior pitcher is a two-time Small School Softball Player of the Year honoree by the State Journal-Register. She furnished a .457 average with 42 RBIs and seven home runs. She also posted a 22-3 mark as a pitcher with a 1.69 ERA in 157 innings. She tallied 241 strikeouts with just 44 walks. Fellow senior second baseman Lauren Bertagnolli also returns after missing most of last season due to injury.

Shelby Goodrich, Beardstown

Junior pitcher/infielder finished 10-3 in the circle while ushering a .379 batting average for the 19-12 Tigers. Shortstop Vanessa Nunez hit .400 while Bella Palmer followed suit with a .310.

Taryn Griffith, Chatham Glenwood

The consummate junior catcher made the all-CS8 list with a .510 average with 49 hits, 28 RBIs and two jacks.

Abby Hendricks, North Mac

The senior catcher garnered ICA Class 2A all-state third team accolades. She swatted 14 doubles and five homers with a .585 average. Other key returning starters include Taylor Keirs (.403) and Karleigh Prose (.300).

Lauren Herbst, Havana

The senior infielder and slap hitter boasted a .410 average with 14 stolen bases. Other key hitters include senior Libbie Johnson (.356), senior Jaylynn Sarnes (.312), sophomore Kaydi Miller (.354), senior Abby Cowell (.346) and senior Jadyn Stone (.315).

Hannah Hodgson, Havana

The junior pitcher/utility stepped up last season with a 7-2 record and 2.11 ERA. She is expected to become the go-to pitcher after the departure of Taryn Wickman.

Karlie Hoke, Petersburg PORTA/A-C Central

This senior catcher also stars in volleyball and basketball. She was most recently tabbed all-Sangamo Conference first team in basketball over the winter, to go along with her first team honors in softball last spring. She batted .383 with 26 RBIs. Fellow basketball standout Aubrey Vogel, a sophomore, is another player to watch. She posted a .365 average with 15 RBIs as a freshman.

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Tamaih Jefferson, Lanphier

The senior shortstop went 20-for-40 (.500) with 10 RBIs, three homers and 20 stolen bases to collect all-CS8 honors.

Reaghan Jonas, Nokomis

The senior infielder/pitcher paced the offense with a .448 average. That included 43 hits, 20 runs and 33 RBIs — not to mention five home runs. Senior infielder Presley Mehochko dialed up 35 hits with a .376 average.

Ryleigh Kiel, Chatham Glenwood

The sophomore outfielder exploded with a team-best .604 batting average, including 19 doubles and 34 runs. She was named ICA Class 3A all-state second team.

Kendall Knauer, Springfield High

The senior catcher was all-CS8 with a .382 batting average. She mustered 34 hits and 25 RBIs. Fellow senior shortstop Emma Scheffler was another all-CS8 selection with a .371 average, including 35 hits, 32 RBIs and two home runs. That doesn’t include another star player mentioned below.

Libby Kulek, Sacred Heart-Griffin

The senior shortstop brandished a .350 average while first baseman Kendall Stotlar had a .355 average.

Olivia Kunz, Carlinville

The Cavaliers (19-10) matched their program record for most wins while this senior right fielder was all-South Central Conference first team. She had a .350 average with 36 hits, 22 runs and 22 RBIs.

Irie Lohrenz, Chatham Glenwood

The sophomore pitcher and ICA Class 3A all-state first teamer galvanized the CS8 champion Titans with a 16-1 mark and 2.20 ERA. She chalked up 123 Ks and just 16 walks. She also supplied a .357 average with 12 RBIs at the plate.

Faith Nestler, Pleasant Plains

The all-Sangamo Conference first teamer will buoy a strong pitching rotation. The senior ace threw 118⅓ innings with 159 Ks and 1.66 ERA. The Cardinals will also herald a promising freshman class.

Taylor Nolan, Staunton

The Bulldogs figure to be a force in the South Central Conference this year with its entire starting lineup unchanged, including Nolan. The senior standout reeled off 57 hits with a .548 average, including 45 runs, 39 RBIs and five bombs.

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Raegan Rezba, Rochester

The Rockets return everyone from last season, including all-CS8 picks Rezba, Samantha Gleckler and Eleanor Schudel. Rezba, a senior shortstop and center fielder, unleashed 43 hits and 21 RBIs with a .384 average.

Bella Roach, Litchfield

The senior catcher helped steer the Purple Panthers in the right direction with a .477 average, including 42 hits, 32 runs and 23 RBIs. Litchfield went 13-16 after managing just eight wins in the previous four seasons combined.

Naomi Roberts, Williamsville

The senior all-Sangamo Conference first teamer cranked out a .378 average with 31 hits, 23 runs, 17 RBIs and two home runs.

Kamryn Sturdy, Buffalo Tri-City/Sangamon Valley

The senior shortstop/pitcher was tabbed ICA Class 2A all-state first team with a .506 average. The Parkland College commit scored 30 runs and 30 RBIs with 10 doubles and one home run. She also had a 0.75 ERA in 9⅓ innings.

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Carly Szoke, Athens

The senior third baseman/outfielder earned all-Sangamo Conference first team with a .375 batting average. She totaled 30 hits, 15 RBIs and a home run. Fellow senior Layken Buch will help lead the pitching staff. She threw 32⅔ innings with a 3.21 ERA while supplying 27 hits and a .318 average at the plate.

Meena Taylor, Auburn/Lutheran

The junior pitcher/outfielder was voted ICA Class 2A all-state second team. She wound up with a .596 average and 62 hits as the Trojans (25-9) won their most games in program history. She also hurled a 1.24 ERA with 204 Ks and went 14-6. Her twin sister, Piper, was all-state third team with a .377 average and 31 RBIs.

Isabella Tiburzi, Carlinville

The junior first baseman was another all-South Central Conference pick like fellow teammate Olivia Kunz. She also had 36 hits with 31 runs and 22 RBIs. Junior Hannah Gibson also landed on the all-SCC first team with a 3.36 ERA in 66⅔ innings. She had 86 strikeouts.

Scout Tschantz, Buffalo Tri-City/Sangamon Valley

The senior second baseman/pitcher and ICA Class 2A all-state second teamer flourished with a .530 average, along with 38 runs, 35 RBIs and five home runs. Other key returning hitters for the Tornadoes include sophomore catcher Lexie Patton (.481), sophomore infielder Tiffany Farley (.408) and senior center fielder Kenzie Chandler (.387).

Mia Volpert, Springfield High

The junior pitcher and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville commit was tabbed ICA Class 3A all-state first team. She flourished with a 20-4 mark and 1.01 ERA. She totaled 242 Ks and just 13 walks in 145 innings. She also hit .525 with 53 hits, 42 RBIs and nine home runs.

Addison Wheatley, Auburn/Lutheran

The junior utility player was an ICA Class 2A all-state third team honoree with 42 hits, 53 RBIs and five home runs. She touted a .393 average on the team’s way to a second straight Sangamo title. Other key returning contributors include junior Taylor Patterson (.357), senior Mailee Schoen (.355) and senior Sydney Rabideau (10-3).

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Lily Woodworth, Buffalo Tri-City/Sangamon Valley

The sophomore pitcher made an instant impact and reached all-MSM Conference first team. She went 15-4 with a 2.83 ERA and 119 Ks in 109 innings.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Top high school softball players around Springfield for 2024