Here are 58 Athens-area high school softball players you need to see in 2023

Chris Starrs

The Athens area should again have a number of high school softball teams contend for deep state playoff runs in 2023.

In 2022, two teams made runs to their respective classification's Final Four with Apalachee placing second in Class 6A and Prince Avenue fourth in Class A Division I. Oconee County finished in the top five of Class 3A while six other teams reached the state playoffs.

Preseason volleyball watch list: Here are 63 Athens-area players you need to see in 2023

Here are the OnlineAthens.com and Athens Banner-Herald 2023 softball preseason players to watch:

Apalachee

Alyssa Wilder, Senior

Last season, Wilder hit .556 with 19 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 27 RBIs and 54 runs as the Wildcats went 33-5, won the Region 8-6A championship and advanced to the finals of the Class 5A state playoffs in Columbus. She was also named the region’s Defensive Player of the Year and was the Class 6A State Player of the Year. Wilder is a Georgia Tech commit.

Apalachee's Ryleigh Sapp (9) throws a pitch during a GHSA high school softball game between Lanier and Apalachee in Winder, Ga., on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Apalachee's Ryleigh Sapp (9) throws a pitch during a GHSA high school softball game between Lanier and Apalachee in Winder, Ga., on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.

Ryleigh Sapp, Senior

The Region 8-6A Pitcher of the Year had 22 wins, 250 strikeouts and an 0.89 ERA as the Wildcats went 33-5, won the Region 8-6A championships and advanced to the finals of the Class 5A state playoffs in Columbus. She was also a first-team Class 6A All-State selection.

Madeline Peters, Senior

Destiny Montgomery, Junior

Madison Maney, Junior

Jordan Turner, Junior

Athens Christian

Bryn Carter, Senior

Leeah Wilson, Junior

Lindsey Mills, Senior

Presley Hembree, Sophomore

Hannah Kennedy, Sophomore

Claire Wood, Junior

Ellianna Christian, Freshmam

Blair Carter, Freshman

K.T. Turner, Freshman

Commerce

Desiree Trudel, junior

Last season at Apalachee, Trudel hit .447 with 15 home runs, 14 doubles, 47 runs and 51 RBIs. She was also named Region 8-6A’s Player of the Year.

Amelia Holloway

Mazie Fields

Camden Thomason

Jackson County

Maegan Brownlee, Senior

Kylen Hewell, Senior

Raeghan Thompson, Senior

Marley Grounds, Senior

Katelyn Czentnar, Junior

Lauren Glander, Sophomore

Emma Mardos, Junior

Emery Schiffmann, Freshman

Ryleigh O’Brien, Sophomore

Alyssa Peurifoy, Sophomore

Jefferson

Audrey Burton, Senior

Avery Hays, Senior

Addison Self, Junior

Ally Baldwin, Sophomore

Jenna Rapp, Freshman

Madison County

Reagan Fulcher, Senior

As a junior Fulcher hit .464 (and hit .349 as a sophomore) and is a Southern Wesleyan University commit.

Mary Drayke Summers, Senior

Marlee Brown, Junior

Michaela Cromer, Sophomore

Bailey Smith, Sophomore

North Oconee

Kendall Wells, Junior

As a freshman, Wells was the Regin 8-4A Co-Player of the Year, but spent most of the 2022 season injured. She was able to come back for the team’s final 10 games, hitting .652 with three doubles, one triple, five home runs, 12 RBIs and 12 runs.

North Oconee's Mackenzie Geddings (20) celebrates with North Oconee's Maddie Johnson (3) after scoring a run during a GHSA high school softball game between North Oconee and Oconee County in Watkinsville, Ga., on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. North Oconee won 13-3.
North Oconee's Mackenzie Geddings (20) celebrates with North Oconee's Maddie Johnson (3) after scoring a run during a GHSA high school softball game between North Oconee and Oconee County in Watkinsville, Ga., on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. North Oconee won 13-3.

Maddie Johnson, Senior

In 2022, the pitcher/designated hitter – a first-team All-Region selection – went 9-8 with a 2.96 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 134.2 innings pitched and contributed on offense with a .392 batting average, 14 RBIs and 13 runs as the Titans went 18-14 and advanced to the third round of the Class 4A state playoffs.

Morgan Bond, Senior

Mackenzie Geddings, Senior

Kaleigh Bond, Senior

Bailey Bowen, Senior

Lily Branch, Junior

Oconee County

Madison Hawkins, Senior

Josie Shoemaker, Senior

Brennan Lowe, Senior

Callie Woods, Senior

Walker Smith, Junior

Taylor Saxon, Sophomore

Oglethorpe County

Abby Jones, Senior

Prince Avenue Christian

Audrey Vandagriff, Senior

The Alabama commit hit .641 with seven doubles, five triples, 12 home runs, 38 RBIs, 82 runs and 57 stolen bases as the Wolverines went 27-10, won the Region 5A Division 1 championship and advanced to the Elite Eight in Columbus in the Class A Division 1 state playoffs. She committed no errors in center field and was the state runner-up for Class A State Player of the Year.

Ella Osborne, Senior

As a junior, the shortstop hit .444 with 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 38 RBIs and 46 runs as the Wolverines went 27-10, won the Region 5A Division 1 title and advanced to the Elite Eight in Columbus in the Class A Division 1 state playoffs. She was a first-team All-Region and All-State selection.

Bailey Throckmorton, Senior

In 2022, the pitcher/outfielder went 19-2 in the circle with two saves, 92 strikeouts and a 2.00 ERA as the Wolverines went 27-10, won the Region 5A Division 1 championship and advanced to the Elite Eight in Columbus in the Class A Division 1 state playoffs.

Kylee Simmons, Sophomore

Mollie Prince, Sophomore

Taylor Thomas, Junior

Berkley Dunn, Freshman

Rachel Biggs, Junior

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Here are 58 Athens-area high school softball players to watch in 2023

Advertisement