Here are 21 surprise standout players for Seacoast high school softball in 2024

At the outset of the high school softball season, we featured 32 players to watch from across the Seacoast in the states of New Hampshire and Maine.

Now, as the teams have reached the second half of their respective schedules, we take a look at 21players who are having stellar seasons, perhaps even greater than what was expected from them at the beginning of the year.

Nine schools are represented on the list which includes four freshmen, eight sophomores, five juniors and four seniors.

Let's take a look at the surprise standout softball players:

Amelia Anderson, St. Thomas Aquinas, junior, first base

Anderson led the Saints in several offensive categories through 10 games this season, including batting average (.649), on-base percentage (.675) and hits (24).

“She has turned into a threat offensively and packs a punch in our lineup,” St. Thomas Aquinas head coach MacKenzie McGrath said. “When (Anderson) gets in the box, I know she’s going to put up a fight and get on base any way she can.”

Anderson has 17 RBIs, has scored 17 runs and has yet to strike out. She has reached base in all of STA’s first 10 games, and has hit in nine games, including eight multi-hit games.

“She has worked hard to become a better hitter and it’s shown,” McGrath said. “We are just over halfway through the season and she already has more hits than she did last year.”

Anderson’s highlight game this season was going 4-for-5 with a double and four RBIs in a 15-0 win over Somersworth.

Nya Avery, York High School, sophomore, outfield

Avery got varsity experience last year as a freshman, and is making further strides so far in her sophomore season. Through York's first five games of the season, Avery is batting .412 with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Her round-tripper was a 220-foot blast against rival Wells.

York head coach Kevin Giannino said Avery's bat speed is second only to all-state teammate McKayla Kortes.

"We knew it was just a matter of time before (the bat speed) would translate into power production," Giannino said. "She's an outstanding athlete who plays both corner outfield positions for us and has really solidified the middle of our lineup. Her year end numbers should place her among the team leaders in a number of categories.”

Kristen Bickford, Exeter High School, senior, third base/pitcher

Bickford is a four-year starter for the Blue Hawks, and the senior captain is having her best season at the plate.

Through Exeter’s first 11 games of the season, Bickford his hitting better than .500 with 19 hits. She also has driven in 14 and scored 12.

“She brings senior leadership and experience to us,” Exeter head coach Kristen Morissette said. “She’s confident in big moments and really has stepped up offenisvely and defensively this year.”

Bickford has had a couple of three-hit, multi-RBI games and spun an 8-0, four-hit shutout against Alvirne.

“Pitching is a secondary position for her, but she has stepped up and and taken some innings this year,” Morissette said. “She’s a team-first player.”

Laura Boughton, Oyster River High School, sophomore, designated hitter/catcher

Oyster River head coach Chad Michaud said Bougton has made a “big leap in her game and her contributions” in her second varsity season with the Bobcats.

“She has gone from limited playing time to a regular in the middle of the lineup,” Michaud said.

Boughton, through the first nine games of the season, was batting .429 with an on-base percentage of .556.

“She’s strong with a quick bat which leads to good power at the plate,” Michaud said. “She has worked hard over the off-season and this spring to improve her plate discipline and reduce strikeouts.”

Big hits of the season was a “hustle” double in a 3-2 win over Campbell, and an RBI double in a 7-0 win against Hollis-Brookline.

Hannah Chesley, Newmarket High School, freshman, center field/utility

Chesley, Newmarket’s leadoff hitter, has shined in her freshman season, hitting .400 with an on-base percentage of .471.

Chesley started for the Mules last year as an eighth-grader, and both her batting average and OBP are 200 points higher in 2024.

“(Chesley’s) consistency has been key for us this year,” Newmarket head coach Todd Berry said. “In addition to her play on the field, her leadership, work ethic and commitment to success has stood out this year.”

Chesley has reached base every game this year and has two three-hit games. She has the second highest average on the team, and is tied for second in runs scored.

Elizabeth Cook, Dover High School, junior, catcher

Cook is in her third year playing varsity for the Green Wave, and has made a seamless transition behind the plate.

“She’s had an amazing year (offensively) and is doing a great job behind the plate with the underclassmen pitching staff,” Dover head coach Melvin Torres said.

Torres said Cook has been a “clutch hitter all season.”

In a 23-4 win over Bedford, Cook went 4-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs and scored three runs

Then, in an 11-10 win against against Nashua South she went 3-for-4 with five RBIs. Her home run in the seventh gave Dover the lead.

For the season, Cook is hitting .571 with three homers and 16 RBIs.

Emilie Crutchfield, Dover High School, junior, outfield

Crutchfield started the season with the junior varsity but was recently summoned and “has done an outstanding job defensively and offensively,” says Dover head coach Melvin Torres.

Crutchfield blasted a game-tying solo home run in the seventh inning against Nashua South, and then delivered a game-winning, two-run, walk-off double in the eighth.

She is batting .400 with a homer, two doubles and five RBIs for the Green Wave.

Maeve Hickok, Oyster River High School, senior, first base

Hickok is steadily climbed the ladder in the deep and potent Oyster River lineup.

Now in her senior year, Hickok has settled into the No. 5 hole. Through the first eight games of the season, Hickok is batting .391 with nine hits, including, five doubles and seven RBIs.

Hickok’s highlight game of the season was a 2-for-3 effort, both doubles, in a 7-6 win over Bow; Bow’s lone loss of the season.

"She’s a vital part of the lineup,” Oyster River head coach Chad Michaud said. “She has progressed tremendously as a softball player since the start of her jnior year. Her drive and dedication to improvement was evident over the course of last season. She can be found after practice or on weekends at the fields hitting off the tee and focusing on her hitting mechanics.”

Hickok will continue both her academic and softball career next year at Thomas College, a Division III program in Waterville, Maine.

Lilly Gennaro, Marshwood High School, junior, outfield

Gennaro finished her sophomore season with the Hawks batting in the high .200s, fast forward a year and her statistics look much different.

Through Marshwood’s first eight games of the season, Gennaro is batting .434. She also has three RBIs, has scored six runs and stolen seven bases.

“(Gennaro) has matured this year,” Marshwood High School head coach Peter Eastman said.

Eastman raved about Gennaro’s approach against Cheverus’ Addison DeRoche, one of the top pitchers in Maine.

“Two great at-bats,” Eastman said.

She also went 2-for-4 and scored the game-winning run in eighth inning of a 4-3 walk-off victory against Thornton Academy, and had a hit, an RBI and scored two runs in a 15-0 win over Sanford.

Piper Hindle, Portsmouth High School, freshman, second base

Hindle came into the preseason looking to earn a spot on the varsity team as a freshman. All she did was earn the starting job at second base.

“She has settled into her position nicely, consistently making it look easy,” Portsmouth head coach Sandy Dewing said. “Her glove work and smooth transition to throwing is a pleasure to watch. She is not afraid to get dirty in stopping a ball and her lateral movement is amazing. Someone who throws right handed and hits from the left side is something you don't see often.”

Hindle, through the first nine games of the season, was hitting .429 with an on-base percentage of .520.

“Her hitting is solid and consistent, both swinging away and laying down a bunt,” Dewing said. “Along with her speed on the bases, she’s a great all-around player. We look forward to watching her improve and her contributions to the team over the next three years."

Arden Langmaid, Winnacunnet High School, sophomore, center field

Langmaid earned a starting spot as a freshman on a team that advanced to the Division I state championship game.

She has continued to make a name for herself in her sophomore season.

Langmaid, through Winnacunnet’s first 11 games of the season, is hitting .420, and has 16 hits, which is tied for second on the team. She also has either scored or driven in a team-high 17 runs.

“She’s a slapper with a ton of speed and makes great reads and base-running decisions,” Winnacunnet head coach Bill Edwards said.

All these offensive stats are coming from the No. 9 spot in the batting order.

“She’s the kid I trust to flip the order over,” Edwards said. “She started right out of the gate this year. She’s very consistent and does a lot of great things at the plate.

Don’t sleep on Langmaid in center field, either.

“She makes a ton of plays and gets great reads on the ball for us,” Edwards said. “She gets to balls that a lot of kids don’t. She turns a lot of balls that should be a hit into an out. I can’t say enough good things about her (in center).”

Maddy Mann, Exeter High School, sophomore, outfield/designated hitter

Mann certainly has made the transition to Division I varsity this season for the Blue Hawks.

“(Mann) brings athleticism and versatility to the team,” Exeter head coach Kristen Morissette said. “She has a great arm, speed on the bases and an excellent bat.”

Batting eighth in a potent Exeter offense, Mann, a first-year varsity player, has three home runs, 11 RBIs, is batting over .300 and has scored 11 runs.

“She’s a smart softball player that has added depth and power to the batting order,” Morissette said.

Morissette called her an “exciting, versatile player” who can play both infield, outfield, and also serves as the backup catcher who has an “explosive bat.”

“She’s a fun and exciting young player,” Morissette said.

Rylee Marchand, Exeter High School, senior, first base

Who was going to play first base this year was a question mark for Exeter head coach Kristen Morissette, but Marchand was given the opportunity to play and ran with hit.

“She’s worked hard, she puts in the extra time and is a very coachable kid,” Morissette said. “If she makes a mistake she doesn’t dwell on it, she’s going to out there and work harder to make sure she doesn’t make that same mistake again.”

Marchand’s highlight hit of the season is when she raced around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

“Just an all-around great teammate who’s always smiling,” Morissette said. “To see her, as a senior, step into a sport that we were really unsure of at the beginning of the season, has really helped our team out.”

Sarah Orso, York High School, freshman, shortstop/pitcher

Orso has proven her worth as a more than a capable No. 2 pitcher behind McKayla Kortes.

Orso, in her first two starts in the circle, threw a no-hitter against rival Wells, and a one-hitter against Fryeburg Academy. The defending Class B state champions won both games, 15-4 and 8-2, respectively.

When not pitching, Orso plays shortstop and bats fourth in a deep York lineup. Orso is batting .552 with 13 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

"We’ve been waiting for Sarah’s arrival for a few years and she certainly is off to an impressive start," York head coach Kevin Giannino said. "She throws hard and hits the ball even harder. As her confidence and varsity playing experience grows she is capable of producing monster numbers and should be an annual all-conference player."

Bizzy Pelletier, St. Thomas Aquinas, freshman, third base/outfield

Pelletier’s high school softball career at St. Thomas Aquinas couldn’t have started any better.

“Her freshman season is off to a great start,” STA head coach MacKenzie McGrath said. “I am excited to watch her grow these next three years.”

What has Pelletier done so far in 10 games that has McGrath smiling when thinking of the future?

She has a batting average of .486, which ranks third on the team, has an on-base percentage of .578, has 18 hits, including a home run and nine RBIs. She has drawn seven walks, stolen 10 bases and scored 25 runs.

“She’s very fast, and a smart base runner,” McGrath said. “When she gets on, she’s hard to stop.”

Pelletier’s best game came in a 13-1 Division III win over Newfound when she had three hits, homered, drove in three runs, and scored three times.

Bella Santini, York High School, sophomore, outfield

Santini, nicknamed "Big Hit Bella" by York head coach Kevin Giannino, drove in the game-winning run in last year's Class B state championship game, and has kept hitting so far in her sophomore season.

Santini is batting .409 and has nine RBIs.

“It seems whenever you need a big hit Bella is standing in the batter’s box," Giannino said. "All her RBIs this season has either put us in the lead or comfortably ahead and she is the best 2 strike hitter on the team. Just a fearless hitter with an uncanny ability to deliver in the clutch.”

The big hit so far this year season for Santini was a two-out, RBI bases-loaded single against Poland which proved to be the game-winning run.

Fenway Schouller, Winnacunnet High School, sophomore, second base

With a first name like Fenway, one would have to be star on the diamond – and Schouller certainly is becoming one for the Warriors.

Schouller drove in the game-winning run in Winnacunnet’s 4-3 win over Londonderry; just one of two losses for the Lancers this season. She also had two-RBI games in wins over Goffstown, Portsmouth and Spaulding, and a three-RBI game against Dover.

“She’s had some big hits for us this year,” Winnacunnet head coach Bill Edwards said. “She’s another kid who is super hard-working.”

Primarily a second baseman, Schouller can play any of the infield positions and can also play in the outfield.

“She makes every play she needs to make (at second) and, in a pinch, she can play short, third or the outfield. She can do anything you want, and that’s really a credit to all the work she’s done over the last few years.”

Laurali Shisler, Marshwood High School, sophomore, catcher/outfield

Shisler has made a big adjustment to the varsity game this season.

“She’s really stepped up so far this year into a more confident player,” Marshwood head coach Peter Eastman said. Shisler has settled into the fifth spot in the Marshwood lineup and is batting .345 with nine RBIs and seven runs scored.

“She has been a consistent hitter for us,” Eastman said. “Her offensive numbers have all improved from last year.”

Shisler was penciled into be the team’s primary catcher heading into the season, but she also seen time in center field.

“She’s been great in the field as well,” Eastman said.

Lila Smith, Exeter High School, junior, outfield/designated hitter

Smith split time between the varsity and junior varsity last season, and has seized the opportunity to being a full-time varsity player.

So much so that she leads the Blue Hawks with four home runs, from the seventh spot in the lineup. She also has 11 hits, 10 RBIs and 12 runs scored.

“We have a strong top of the lineup and she has added a boost to that,” Exeter head coach Kristen Morissette said. “She brings offensive power and depth to the batting order. With each game she gains more and more confidence which is great.”

Morissette also praised Smith’s play so far in the outfield this season.

Joslyn Snow, Winnacunnet High School, senior, first base

Winnacunnet head coach Bill Edwards thought Snow would have a good senior season, but the three-year varsity player has exceeded Edwards’ expectations.

“She’s had big hits in some of our big games this year,” Edwards said. “I can’t say enough about (Snow), she’s probably one of my favorite kids I’ve ever coached. She works really hard.”

Through the first 10 games of the season, Snow is batting close to .400, has 14 hits, including two doubles and two home runs, and 16 RBIs, which is third best on the Warriors.

“Our order is tough all the way through and she makes that middle to middle bottom so good,” Edwards said. “She’s batting close to .400 and that’s ridiculous, and not something I was expecting. She’s putting the ball in play and getting a lot of base hits. I am super happy and proud of her.”

Snow has also flashed the leather over at first base.

"She's making all the plays we expect her to make," Edwards said. "She has a very high softball IQ and does a great job of turning hits into outs for us."

Emma Surina, Newmarket High School, sophomore, third base/pitcher/catcher

Surina is second on the Mules in on-base percentage (.485) and leads the team in quality at-bats.

“She had key hits in big games,” Newmarket head coach Todd Berry said.

Defensively, Surina has pitched, caught and played third base.

Due to injuries, Berry was looking for a catcher and Surina answered the bell.

“What has impressed me the most – Emma's versatility and team-first attitude,” Berry said. “The team was without a catcher for three games, and Emma stepped up and caught.”

Surina has also pitched in three games, going 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: High school softball: 21 surprise Seacoast NH ME players in 2024