Keep an eye on these 60 high school softball players in Wisconsin this season
The high school softball season is underway with the WIAA state tournament the destination.
The state tournament will be held June 6-8 at Goodman Diamond in Madison.
Here's a look at 60 of the top players competing this season.
Taylor Baker, sr., Sun Prairie East
First-team Wisconsin Fastpitch Coaches Association all-state selection in Division 1. Batted .463 with eight home runs, 11 doubles and 29 RBI. Finished 17-4 in the circle with 213 strikeouts in 133-plus innings pitched and an ERA of 0.89. Will play collegiately at South Dakota State.
Gwen Baker, sr., Milton
First-team all-state selection in D1. Was a unanimous first-team all-Badger East selection at pitcher. Finished 22-4 with 261 strikeouts in 161 innings pitched and an ERA of 0.39. Will play collegiately at Butler.
Maddy Balsiger, sr., Germantown
Second-team all-state last season in D1. Finished with .487 average, seven home runs, 34 RBI and 41 runs scored. First-team all-Greater Metro at outfielder/infielder. Will play collegiately at Belmont.
Brooklyn Berrens, so., Iola-Scandinavia
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Central Wisconsin Conference East at catcher. Batted .635 with four home runs, 36 RBI and 44 runs scored. Had inside-the-park grand slam in Division 4 state title game to help Thunderbirds clinch state title.
Katie Bignell, sr., Durand-Arkansaw
Second-team all-state in D2. First-team all-Dunn-St. Croix at infielder/catcher. Batted .432 with a home run and 26 RBI.
Paige Bodenheimer, so., Kaukauna
First-team all-FVA at outfielder. First-team all-state in D1. Batted .548 with 46 hits and 16 RBI. Also swiped 32 bases in 33 attempts.
Alona Boydston, sr., Kenosha Indian Trail
Second-team all-state in D1 at catcher. First-team all-Southeast Conference. Hit. 493 with 33 RBI. Will play collegiately at Butler.
Kennedy Christopher, so., Oak Creek
First-team all-state pick in D1. First-team all-Southeast Conference at infielder and the league's player of the year. Hit .477 with six home runs and 33 RBI.
Jacqueline Cox, jr., Hartland Arrowhead
Second-team all-state in D1 at outfielder. Finished with three home runs and 14 RBI. First-team all-Classic 8. Will play collegiately at Villanova.
Brooklynn Danielson, so., Kenosha Bradford
Second-team all-state in D1 at pitcher. First-team all-Southeastern Conference. Will play collegiately at Eastern Illinois.
Hildie Dempsey, jr., Jefferson
First-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Rock Valley at outfielder. Batted .456. Verbally committed to play at University of Central Florida.
Saveea Freeland, sr., Cambridge
Second-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Capitol South and was the league's player of the year. Batted .565 with a home run and 13 RBI with 14 stolen bases. Will play collegiately at Illinois State.
Jenna Fincutter, sr., Johnson Creek
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Trailways South. Batted .536 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI.
Katie Geydoshek, jr., Green Bay Preble
Second-team all-state in D1 at pitcher. First-team all-Fox River Classic Conference. Was 19-4 with a 1.03 ERA and 248 strikeouts in 122-plus innings. Verbally committed to Loyola (Chicago).
Gretta Grassel, sr., Boscobel
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League at pitcher and the league's player of the year. Batted .453 with four home runs and 19 RBI. Was also 12-6 in the circle with a 0.85 ERA and 254 strikeouts in 124 innings pitched. Will play collegiately at Mississippi State.
Jayla Harter, sr., Random Lake
Second-team all-state in D4/5. Unanimous first-team all-Big East at pitcher and the league's player of the year. Finished 15-4 in the circle with an ERA of 2.25. Also had 107 strikeouts in 115 innings pitched. Batted .515 with six home runs and 30 RBI.
Drew Hinrichs, sr., Watertown
First-team all-state pick in D1 at catcher. First-team all-Badger East selection. Will play collegiately at Northern Iowa.
Jenna James, sr., Fennimore
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League at infielder. Batted. 615 with a home run and 12 RBI. Will play collegiately at Winona State.
Braelee Jodarski, sr., Oshkosh West
Second-team all-state in D1. First-team all-Fox Valley Association at infielder. Batted .398 with six home runs and 36 RBI. Also scored 37 runs with 37 hits. Will play collegiately at Winona State.
Makenna Johnston, sr., Chippewa Falls
First-team all-state in D1 at infielder. First-team all-Big Rivers. Batted .455 with .579 on-base percentage, 40 runs scored and 21 RBI. Will play collegiately at Winona State.
Mikah Keller, so., Stevens Point
First-team all-state pick in D1. Unanimous first-team all-Wisconsin Valley selection at infielder. Batted .538 with 26 runs scored and nine RBI.
Kaitlyn Klismith, jr., Stevens Point
First-team all-state pick in D1. First-team all-Wisconsin Valley at infielder. Batted .556 with 30 hits.
Reese Koepke, sr., Stoughton
Second-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Badger East. Batted .547 with six home runs and 30 RBI.
Gracie Konkol, jr., St. Mary's Springs
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Flyway Conference at infielder.
Aly Lamonska, sr., Oakfield
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Trailways North at pitcher and was the league's player of the year. Finished 19-4 with a 1.66 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 118-plus innings. Also batted .480 with two home runs and 33 RBI.
Sydney Laursen, sr., West Salem
Second-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Coulee Conference at outfielder. Batted .489 with 45 hits, 36 runs scored and 22 RBI.
Addison Lavicka, sr., Athens
Second-team all-state in D4/5. Unanimous first-team all-Marawood North at infielder. Batted .459.
Melania Luostari, jr., Superior
Second-team all-state in D1. First-team all-Lake Superior. Batted .380 with four home runs and 30 RBI. Will play collegiately at Auburn University.
Peyton Mancl, jr., Pacelli
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Central Wisconsin South at pitcher. Finished 12-0 with a 2.21 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 79-plus innings pitched. Also batted .483.
Karly Meredith, jr., Kaukauna
Unanimous first-team all-Fox Valley Association at pitcher and the league's player of the year. Named the Gatorade state player of the year and was also a first-team member of the all-state team and the WFSCA's state player of the year in Division 1. Was a second-team selection on the MaxPreps All-American team. Batted .532 with 42 hits in 79 at-bats with five home runs, five triples, 12 doubles and 48 RBI. Was 26-0 in the circle with a 0.23 ERA. Finished with 239 strikeouts in 186⅔ innings pitched. Allowed just six earned runs to help lead Kaukauna to the Division 1 state title.
Whitney Meyers, jr., Grantsburg
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Lakeland West selection and the league's player of the year. Was 14-2 in the circle with a 1.38 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 101-plus innings pitched. Also batted .388 with seven home runs and 28 RBI.
Lilly Michek, sr., Highland
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Six Rivers West pick at catcher.
Kenna Mix, sr., New London
Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference pick at pitcher. Second-team all-state in D2/3. Helped lead the Bulldogs to the Division 2 state championship game. Finished 19-5 in the circle with a 1.86 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 142⅔ innings. Hit .407 with eight home runs, nine doubles and 35 RBI.
Kylee Molitor, jr., Reedsburg
First-team all-state in D2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Badger West pick. Batted .551 with 21 stolen bases and 39 runs scored. Will play collegiately at Wisconsin.
Cora Nelson, sr., Mishicot
First-team all-state in D2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Big East at outfielder. Batted .381 with two home runs and 24 RBI.
Kaeley Niemiec, sr., Menomonee Falls
Second-team all-state in D1. First-team all-Greater Metro at pitcher. Finished 16-5 with an ERA of 2.21. Struck out 200 batters in 130 innings pitched. Also batted .545 with a home run and 13 RBI.
Piper Olson, so., Grantsburg
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Lakeland West pick. Was 10-2 in the circle with a 2.52 ERA. Finished with 81 strikeouts in 61-plus innings.
Ellie Peterson, jr., Northwestern
Second-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Heart O'North pick at pitcher. Was 18-4 with 0.71 ERA. Struck out 268 batters in 138 innings pitched. Also batted .485 with 28 RBI.
Reagon Proud, sr., Oshkosh Lourdes
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Trailways North at infielder. Batted .559 with five home runs and 25 RBI.
Cyri Reinwald, jr., Horicon
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Trailways South pick at catcher. Batted .412 with four home runs and 42 RBI.
Ruby Rengo, so., Grantsburg
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Lakeland West pick at catcher. Batted. 427 with 12 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBI.
Gina Rhiner, sr., Mount Horeb
Second-team all-state in D2/3. Was a first-team all-Badger West selection at outfielder. Batted .450 with six home runs.
Ava Risum, jr., Brodhead
First-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Rock Valley at pitcher. Batted .344 with a home run and 16 RBI. Was 10-1 in the circle with a 0.42 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 84 innings with five earned runs allowed. Will pay collegiately at Lindenwood.
Alyvia Robinson, sr., Oakfield
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Trailways North pick at infielder. Batted. 500 with 18 doubles and 36 RBI.
Rory Salvesen, so., Wittenberg-Birnamwood
Second-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Central Wisconsin Conference East at shortstop. Batted .488 with four home runs and 14 RBI. Also had 36 stolen bases.
Hailey Schaumberg, so., Sussex Hamilton
Second-team all-state in D1. First-team all-Greater Metro at outfielder. Batted .588 with two home runs and 30 RBI.
Allie Schwirtz, jr., Mayville
Second-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Flyway Conference. Finished 17-4 in the circle with a 1.60 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 149-plus innings pitched. Batted .293 with two home runs and 23 RBI.
Jaclyn Showalter, sr., Hartland Arrowhead
Was a first-team all-state pick in D1. Entered the state tournament batting .573 and finished with 16 home runs and 61 RBI. First-team all-Classic 8. Will play collegiately at Wisconsin.
Candace Skattebo, sr., Shell Lake
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Lakeland West.
Rylee Spindler, sr., Altoona
First-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Middle Border. Batted .525 with two home runs and nine RBI. Will play collegiately at Belmont.
Paige Steinmetz, sr., Chippewa Falls
Second-team all-state in D1 at infielder. First-team all-Big Rivers. Batted .371 with .451 on-base percentage, four home runs and 36 RBI.
Hailee Thompson, sr., Bonduel
Second-team all-state in D4/5. Unanimous first-team all-Central Wisconsin East pick at shortstop. Batted. 533 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI.
Saylor Timmerman, jr., Lakeland
First-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Great Northern pick. Will play collegiately at Arkansas.
Hannah Trzinski, sr., Pacelli
First-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Central Wisconsin South pick. Batted .441 with two home runs and 52 RBI. Was also 10-1 in the circle with a 2.73 ERA.
Peyton VandeLoo, jr., Freedom
First-team all-North Eastern Conference pick at pitcher. Finished 17-1 with an ERA of 1.12. Had 176 strikeouts and allowed just 19 earned runs. Helped lead the Irish to the Division 2 state championship.
Morgan Vertz, sr., Pulaski
Second-team all-state in D1. First-team all-Fox River Classic Conference at pitcher.
Sydney Vitangcol, jr., Wisconsin Lutheran
First-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Woodland West selection and the league's player of the year. Batted .632 with three home runs and 25 RBI. Also 17-3 with 0.43 ERA with 272 strikeouts in 129-plus innings pitched.
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Addison Wery, jr., Seymour
First-team all-state in D2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference and the league's co-player of the year at catcher. Batted .605 with 15 home runs and 39 RBI.
Lily Wolf, jr., Big Foot
First-team all-state in D2. First-team all-Rock Valley at infielder. Batted .486 with nine home runs and 26 RBI. Will play collegiately at Murray State.
Macie Zimmerman, so., Algoma
Second-team all-state in D4/5. First-team all-Packerland selection at pitcher.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Here are 60 of the best high school softball players in Wisconsin