We are a week away from district softball tournaments starting, so it is time to take a look around at the area’s top teams. Below is a look at all of the area’s teams mentioned in the most recent state rankings as released by the Softball Coaches Association.
CLASS 2
Let me start by saying, southwest Missouri is absolutely loaded in Class 2. Of the 17 teams mentioned in the latest rankings, 12 of them are area squads. There is a real path to the area sending three teams to the final four in this class.
We will start with Warsaw, which was tied for first with Skyline in the latest poll. The Lady Wildcats have won 15 straight since losing to Bentonville (Ark.) to start the season. That includes wins over fellow No. 1 Skyline, No. 3 Diamond, No. 4 Mt. Vernon, No. 10 El Dorado Springs and RV East Newton.
Brylee Brewster is quite literally at the center of everything for Warsaw. In the circle, Brewster has thrown 79 innings with 178 strikeouts. That is 15.7 strikeouts per seven innings. Brewster has given up just eight runs sporting an ERA of .709. The Missouri State signee has just one more walk (6) than she does no-hitters (5). At the plate, Brewster has a .488 batting average.
Haylee Cobb and Adison Sherrill are both hitting over .400 for Warsaw. Cobb has a.475 batting average with a .549 on-base percentage. Sherrill is at .415 and .564 in the two categories. Elizabeth Winters is just shy of that .400 mark with a .395 batting average and an on-base percentage of .478.
Brylee Brewster discusses tremendous season, commitment to MSU – CLICK HERE
Skyline, which is tied for No. 1 in the Class 2 rankings, has a 24-1 record with a 4-0 loss to Warsaw being the only blemish.
The Lady Tigers have been solid one through nine in the order with a .353 batting average. Many different parts of the lineup bring slug with two players who have three home runs, a player with seven triples and seven doubles and another player with nine doubles. Contact is key for this group with just 92 total strikeouts in 732 plate appearances.
The pitching staff is giving up 1.1 runs per game with both primary pitchers having ERAs below 1.00. They can pitch to contact with a team fielding percentage of .955.
Skyline is doing this with a young team featuring just one senior on the roster.
No. 3 ranked Diamond has been one of the most consistent spring softball programs over the past half decade with a combined 136-24-1 record with three final four appearances and two state titles including this season. The defending state champion Wildcats are 22-6 overall this year.
Lauren Turner has been a force for Diamond anchoring the defense at shortstop, helping out in the circle pitching and being the most dangerous hitter on the team. She has a 1.360 OPS with 10 home runs, 29 RBI and 36 runs scored. She has also thrown 30.2 innings with 43 strikeouts and a 0.91 ERA and 0.71 WHIP.
Sara Roszell has also eaten a lot of innings in the circle throwing a team-high 89.1 innings with 86 strikeouts and a 4.31 ERA.
The Wildcats are also getting healthy heading into the postseason with Taelyn Reeder returning from injury. She has been limited to just 35 innings pitched this season, but has 68 strikeouts and a 1.40 ERA in those innings. She is hitting .417 with a .936 OPS at the plate.
Aubrey Ball and Talyn Daniels both have OPS total over 1.000. Ball is at 1.029 OPS with 24 Rbi and 29 runs scored. Daniels has a 1.031 OPS with 27 RBI and 25 runs scored. She is second on the team with four home runs.
No. 4 Mt Vernon is 20-7 on the season with three losses coming to No. 3 Diamond and one each to No. 1 Warsaw and Skyline and Class 1 No. 1 Concordia. The seventh loss was to Pittsburg (Kan.) which is a 13-2 Class 5 team in Kansas.
The top of the order has been strong for Mt. Vernon led by Molly Daniels in the leadoff spot. She has a .526 batting average with 35 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Cheyenne Bieber is at a .507 batting average with 14 doubles, four triples and eight home runs leading to 39 RBI. Rae Downing has five doubles, six triples and 10 home runs with 27 RBI behind a .443 batting average. Emily Schbuert has knocked 14 doubles and three home runs with 36 RBI and a .474 batting average. Lily Burk brings a .423 batting average with nine doubles and five triples.
As a team, Mt. Vernon is hitting .382.
In the circle, Schubert and Bieber lead the way. Schubert is 12-7 with a 1.74 ERA. She has struck out 110 over 96.1 innings pitched. Bieber is 7-0 with a 3.86 ERA striking out 77 in 49.1 innings.
No. 6 Fair Grove is rolling in the first season with Bill Voorhis as head coach. The Lady Eagles are 18-3 overall with losses to Skyline, Stockton and Mt. Vernon.
Seniors lead the charge for Fair Grove. Gracie Crandall is leading the defense at shortstop. Gretta Morris has found success slapping after swinging from the right side prior to this season. Brooke Daniels is hitting over .500 with an on-base percentage north of .600 while providing defense and leadership at catcher. She leads the team in runs scored with 35 and is approaching the program’s single-season record for stolen bases at 31 and counting. Meadow Carter is a dependable utility player who steps in wherever she is needed.
There is pop up and down the lineup with Addison Voorhis and Hali Stokes hitting five home runs each. The team has combined for 18 home runs in 21 games. Shayla Haddock is seemingly always on base with a batting average of .595 with an on-base percentage of .667.
In the circle, Aubrie Voorhis has 14 wins and 63 strikeouts with a 1.54 ERA.
Stockton is in the rankings at No. 7 with an 11-6 record. The team has battled all season led by a quartet of players.
Junior shortstop Gracie Abercrombie has driven in 20% of Stockton’s runs with 31 RBI and a 1.379 OPS. She have five home runs and two grand slams. The outfield is anchored by junior Raelyn Henderson with a 1.395 OPS, 18 RBI and 30 runs scored. She has also used her speed to swipe 29 bases. Ellie Pettit has had a big two-way impact with a .981 OPS and one grand slam at the plate and 100 strikeouts in the circle. Zoe Rains is making an immediate impact as a freshman. The catcher has a perfect fielding percentage with 21 hits, 19 RBI and 25 runs scored.
No. 8 Miller moved up from Class 1 to Class 2 this season, but that has not slowed the Cardinals in the slightest with a 16-3 record. All three losses came by two runs or less.
Rachel Nunez has led the offense so far this season with a .596 batting average and ridiculous 1.948 OPS. She has seven home runs on the season. She also has 17 stolen bases. Loghann Leivan has been strong both ways for Miller with a .536 batting average and a 1.605 OPS. She leads the team in stolen bases with 20. In the circle, Leivan has a 0.91 ERA over 38 innings pitched.
Ashlynn Helton (.583 OBP/1.304 OPS), Kendall Neely (.557/1.117), Tori Hollister (.529/1.178), Camden Stockton (.484/.552), Chloe Hendricks (.384/1.088) and Kaylee Thom (.386/.902) all have an OPS above .900. Hollister has thrown the most innings so far this season with 62 innings pitched and a 2.01 ERA.
El Dorado Springs slid into the rankings tied for No. 10. The Bulldogs are 10-4 on the season.
Senior Lily Taylor is the top hitter with a .538 batting average with four doubles and 14 RBI. The junior trio of Tayah Garringer, Brook Coale and Sage McCullough are all hitting .400 or better. Garringer is at .500 with three triples, 13 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Coale brings a .429 batting average with a team-high 21 RBI and 17 stolen bases. McCuulough is right at .400 with 23 Rbi and a team-high 23 runs scored to go with 18 stolen bases.
Sophomore Lacyn Perrodin leads the way pitching with 93 strikeouts and a 3.20 ERA over 70.1 innings pitched.
Houston is just outside the rankings, but the Lady Tigers have gotten on a roll of late. After losing five games in a row, Houston is on a five-game winnings streak to push its record to 13-7.
Aaron and Evans have been mashing at the plate. Aaron has a 1.658 OPS with seven home runs, eight doubles, 36 RBI and 28 runs scored. Not to be outdone, Evans has a 1.676 OPS behind nine doubles, six home runs and two triples with 29 RBI and 28 runs scored. Cavaness has a 1.268 OPS with 26 RBI and 31 runs scored.
Ashley Gilbert and Gracyn McNiell also have posted OPS marks above 1.000 at 1.155 and 1.081. Gilbert has 16 RBI and 15 runs scored while McNiell has 13 RBI and 26 runs scored. Ava Koch has had a strong freshman campaign in a utility role with a .914 OPS and 27 runs scored and 18 RBI. She has thrown 34.2 innings with 22 strikeouts. Lilly Kincaid leads the team in innings pitched with 49.1 and 33 strikeouts.
East Newton is a young squad starting seven underclassmen, but the Patriots have been able to post a 9-7 record against tough competition to receive votes in the state poll. All seven losses have come to teams in the state rankings. As a team, East Newton has a .935 fielding percentage.
Buffalo is in the midst of its best season since becoming a spring program in 2021 with a 14-4 record, which has the Lady Bison receiving votes in Class 2. They are doing this with a new coach in Tara Whetzell bringing a new culture and expectations this season.
Brookyln Righter (catcher) and Leah White (pitcher) are the key to the team. This is the third season for the two starting as a battery. They have especially come on in the last eight games with four no-hitters, two of which were perfect games, with 105 strikeouts in the current nine-game winning streak.
As a team, Buffalo is hitting .349 with a .459 on-base percentage. White (.522 batting average) and Righter (.464 batting average) have had big impacts in the past eight games. Olyvia White is hitting .609 and Addie Armstrong .448 in that eight-game sample.
Willow Springs placed fourth at state last season and is receiving votes in the latest state poll with a 12-9 record this season.
Shelby Hutching leads the Lady Bears at the plate and is a key pitcher in the circle. She is hitting .403 with 31 RBI and 24 runs scored offensively. Pitching, Hutching is 4-2 with a 3.60 ERA.
Fellow junior Khila Smith is 6-4 pitching with a 2.30 ERA. She is hitting .387 with 24 RBI and 21 runs scored. Sophie Jackson and Chloe Jones are also juniors making a big impact. Jackson has a .396 batting average with an on-base percentage of .536 with 15 RBI. Jones has a .365 batting average and 27 runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Senior Aleisha Shanks is hitting .339 with 18 RBI and 26 runs scored.
CLASS 1
Plato is at No. 3 in Class 1 on the strength of an 18-7 record. The Eagles are riding a streak of three straight district titles and are in a strong position to make a run at a fourth.
The offense has been strong against a tougher schedule this season averaging 12.4 runs per game. They have only been held under 10 runs five times in 25 games.
Senior first baseman Carli Cook was a first-team all-state infielder last season and is on pace to repeat that feat this year. She is hitting .506 with 45 RBI, 42 runs scored and 20 extra base hits. Classmate Makayla Fletcher has slugged six home runs driving in 33 runs and scoring 47. She is hitting .493. Seirra Thompson is a third senior who is an offensive force with a .400 batting average, 40 runs scored, 19 walks and 26 stolen bases.
Junior catcher Leanne Wolfe is hitting .400 with 15 extra base hits and 28 RBI. Freshman centerfielder Maci Shalbot is hitting .507 with 38 total hits, 35 runs scored, 20 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
Taylor Utley is handling the pitching duties with a 15-6 record and a 3.01 ERA. She has 88 strikeouts and 17 walks. At the plate, Utley is hitting .507 with five triples, 36 runs scored and 25 RBI. She is also a returning all-state selection.
Liberal is tied for fifth in the state rankings with Lockwood. The Bulldogs are 12-7 on the year with four one-run losses. Jordan Goodell makes things go for Liberal. The senior pitcher is 12-4 with 128 strikeouts in 75 innings and a 2.05 ERA in the circle. Goodell, who will play for Crowder College next season, is hitting .552 with a .606 on-base percentage, 10 doubles, six triples and three home runs leading to 31 RBI and 35 runs scored. She leads Liberal in six different offensive categories and is second in two more.
Fellow senior Kale Hatfield is has a .481 batting average with a .547 on-base percentage. Her 26 total hits, five triples and 28 RBI are all second on the team. She also has four doubles and 23 runs scored.
Junior third baseman is leading the team with four home runs. She also has 22 RBI and a .466 on-base percentage. Sophomore Ava Garrett has a team-high 15 doubles to gow tih a .547 on-base percentage, 17 RBI and 28 runs scored. Classmate McKinley Porter is hitting .451 with a .578 OBP. Freshman shortstop Braylen Fieden has made an immediate impact with a .451 batting average, .567 OBP, six doubles, three triples and 32 runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Lockwood is a young team with just one senior starter, but that hasn’t stopped the young Tigers from a 16-6 record and No. 5 ranking in Class 1. Run prevention has been key for Lockwood giving up just 3.6 runs per game while scoring 7.6.
Kallie Griffin has 225 strikeouts against just 15 walks in the circle with a 2.25 ERA. She also leads the team in hitting with a .469 batting average and .553 OBP. The sophomore has six doubles and seven triples with 25 RBI and 29 runs scored.
Reese Whitesell and Peyton Lasater are both over .300 hitting as well. Whitesell is hitting .394 with 20 RBI and 25 runs scored. Lasater, who is also stepped up as a catcher in her freshman year, is hitting .303 with a .369 OBP.
Purdy softball has been a consistent force in spring softball since 2015 with at least 17 wins each season, six district titles and a state championship over that time.
This season, the Lady Eagles are 13-7 overall and ranked No. 7 in Class 1. Gabby Groomer is a weapon in the circle and at the plate. She has 105.1 innings pitched with 210 strikeouts and a 3.19 ERA so far this season pitching. Offensively, she leads the team with a .481 batting average and 1.601 OPS. More than half of her 25 hits have gone for extra bases with five doubles, four triples and five home runs leading to 24 runs scored and 23 RBI.
Lauren Brooks (.386), Shelbie Patterson (.346), Zoey Webb (.333) and Rosa Schad (.328) are all hitting over .300 on the season.
No. 8 Lincoln is 17-3 this season, which is the most wins since a district championship season in 2021.
Senior Braylin Paxton sets the tone in the circle with 103 strikeouts in 18 games. Her batting average against is .192. She is a contributor at the plate as well with a batting average of .404 and an on-base percentage of .544.
Alyssa Mellen is a defensive ace in centerfield committing just one error as a junior and none this season so far as a senior. She is hitting .394 with an on-base percentage of .474.
Rebekah Helland and Cadence Harvey are two starting juniors. Helland is hitting .404 with a .564 OBP and a .983 fielding percentage. Harvey has a .426 batting average with a .494 OBP and a .984 fielding percentage. Freshman Lillyann Mellen hits leadoff with a .486 batting average and .568 OBP.
