Softball: Meet the 2024 Nine Who Shine, the Poughkeepsie Journal's players to watch

Stephen Haynes, Poughkeepsie Journal

Last spring was an excellent season for local high school softball, highlighted by Marlboro getting to a state final and Franklin D. Roosevelt reaching the subregional. Fortunately for many of these area teams, several of their best players are returning, and there are many others who could be poised for big seasons.

With consideration to past performance and team success, and with potential factored, the Journal selected some of the stars who are expected to shine brightly this spring and several others who should stand out.

2024 Softball Nine Who Shine

Roosevelt teammates congratulate Cali DeLawder at home plate after her home run against Minisink Valley during a May 26, 2022 softball game.
Roosevelt teammates congratulate Cali DeLawder at home plate after her home run against Minisink Valley during a May 26, 2022 softball game.

Cali DeLawder

School: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Grade: Senior

Position: Catcher

What makes Cali shine? The Rhode Island commit is one of the most dominant hitters this area has produced and she begins her final high school season with a resume that already includes two Section 9 championships, multiple program records and four Journal All-Star selections. In addition to her excellent defense behind the plate, DeLawder last season batted .600 with a 1.766 OPS, six homers, two triples, 41 RBI and 25 runs, leading Roosevelt to the Class A regional semifinals.

Baseball: Meet the 2024 Nine Who Shine and the Journal's players to watch

They're lovin' it: FDR makes good on Big Mac bet, winning Section 9 softball title

Edge of the seat: Birkenstock scores dramatic walkoff, sending Marlboro to state final

Marlboro's Kalista Birkenstock takes a swing against Warwick during a March 26, 2024 softball game at Marlboro High School.
Marlboro's Kalista Birkenstock takes a swing against Warwick during a March 26, 2024 softball game at Marlboro High School.

Kalista Birkenstock

School: Marlboro

Grade: Senior

Position: Shortstop

What makes Kalista shine? Contact skills and blazing speed have made the slap-hitter a menace for opposing teams, often turning routine groundballs into hits. The Florida Gulf Coast commit helped Marlboro reach the Class B state final, scoring the dramatic winning runs in the subregional and state semifinal. Birkenstock last season hit .584 with a 1.370 OPS, 42 stolen bases, four triples and 36 runs.

Marlboro's Leah Gunsett delivers a pitch against Warwick during a March 26, 2024 softball game at Marlboro High School.
Marlboro's Leah Gunsett delivers a pitch against Warwick during a March 26, 2024 softball game at Marlboro High School.

Leah Gunsett

School: Marlboro

Grade: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Leah shine? With an effective array of off-speed pitches and guile under pressure, she excelled last spring, leading the Iron Dukes through narrow victories in the playoffs en route to a state final. The Oswego commit went 17-3 with a 1.62 ERA and 166 strikeouts. She also hit .333 with 19 RBI.

Ketcham's Paige Hotle takes a swing during a May 10, 2023 softball game against John Jay-East Fishkill.
Ketcham's Paige Hotle takes a swing during a May 10, 2023 softball game against John Jay-East Fishkill.

Paige Hotle

School: Roy C. Ketcham

Grade: Sophomore

Position: Catcher

What makes Paige shine? Hotle has been a starter — and a star ― since the seventh grade and that experience, along with stellar play, has made her a respected leader even within a senior-laden core. Hotle last spring hit .462 with a homer, 26 RBI and 21 runs and was excellent defensively. Ketcham this season will feature a trio of standout sisters including Kathryn Hotle, a Sacred Heart commit, and Grace Hotle, a talented seventh-grader.

Arlington's Alyssa Liguori fields a bunt from John Jay's Hope Angioletti during Monday's game on April 17, 2023.
Arlington's Alyssa Liguori fields a bunt from John Jay's Hope Angioletti during Monday's game on April 17, 2023.

Alyssa Liguori

School: Arlington

Grade: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Alyssa shine? She earned a reputation as a freshman for delivering in big games and she has maintained it, helping lead the Admirals on playoff runs in Section 1 Class AA. The St. Thomas Aquinas commit often befuddles lineups with an excellent curveball and she had 180 strikeouts in 123 innings last season, earning league Pitcher of the Year honors for a second time.

Roy C. Ketcham's Jenny Nardelli covers second base as John Jay's Morgan Doughty slides in during Wednesday's game on May 10, 2023.
Roy C. Ketcham's Jenny Nardelli covers second base as John Jay's Morgan Doughty slides in during Wednesday's game on May 10, 2023.

Jenny Nardelli

School: Roy C. Ketcham

Grade: Senior

Position: Second base

What makes Jenny shine? With her consistent excellence at the plate and in the field, she led Ketcham in a breakthrough season that culminated in a run to the Section 1 Class AA semifinals. The University at Albany commit batted .465 with a 1.241 OPS, three homers, 24 runs and 21 RBI, earning league Player of the Year and all-section honors.

Pawling's Josie O'Leary rounds the bases and heads for home during a May 12, 2022 softball game against Arlington 'B'.
Pawling's Josie O'Leary rounds the bases and heads for home during a May 12, 2022 softball game against Arlington 'B'.

Josie O'Leary

School: Pawling

Grade: Senior

Position: Shortstop, pitcher

What makes Josie shine? The Manhattanville commit batted .558 with 46 runs and 27 stolen bases and was named Section 1's League 3-D Pitcher of the Year. The two-time Journal All-Star has helped make the Tigers a perennial playoff team.

John Jay's Arielle Reddick takes a swing during an April 24, 2023 softball game against Mahopac.
John Jay's Arielle Reddick takes a swing during an April 24, 2023 softball game against Mahopac.

Arielle Reddick

School: John Jay-East Fishkill

Grade: Senior

Position: Catcher

What makes Arielle shine? She turned heads last spring, in her first season as a starting catcher, anchoring the lineup and helping lead the Patriots to the Section 1 Class AA quarterfinals. Reddick hit .453 with 21 runs and 17 RBI while helping guide a young pitching staff through difficult competition.

Haldane student Callie Sniffen hit a program-record 12 home runs in 2023 for the combined Putnam Valley/Haldane softball team.
Haldane student Callie Sniffen hit a program-record 12 home runs in 2023 for the combined Putnam Valley/Haldane softball team.

Callie Sniffen

School: Putnam Valley/Haldane

Grade: Junior

Position: First base

What makes Callie shine? The Haldane student quickly established herself among the elite power hitters in the area last spring. Sniffen batted .517 with a program-record 12 homers along with three triples, 12 doubles and 46 runs, leading this upstart team to the Section 1 Class B quarterfinals.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Kayla Baez delivers a pitch during an April 2022 softball game.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Kayla Baez delivers a pitch during an April 2022 softball game.

Others to watch

Adriana Alessandro, Spackenkill, C/1B, So.; Eliza Baden, Pine Plains, C/SS, So.; Kayla Baez, Roosevelt, P, Sr.; Emma Barton, John Jay, 3B, Sr.; Kaelyn Brenner, Ketcham, P, So.; Sophia Camacho, Lourdes, CF, Sr.; Katrina Carmel, Spackenkill, SS/OF, Sr.; Taylor Castellani, Marlboro, 2B, So.; Lyndsey Cole, Pawling, 1B, Jr.; Morgan Doughty, John Jay, C/SS, So.; Lyla Dwyer, John Jay, P/OF, Jr.; Ava Eraca, Arlington, 3B, Jr.; Addy Farinaccio, Pine Plains, OF, Fr.; Rachael Fraser, Lourdes, 3B/P, Sr.; Kaitlyn Gordon, Marlboro, CF, Jr.; Abbey Greenspan, Roosevelt, SS, So.; Ciara Grey, Webutuck, SS, So.; Cadie Hanaburgh, Spackenkill, SS/P, So.; Ella Hanaburgh, Spackenkill, 2B, Sr.; Emma Hanlon, Highland, SS, Sr.; Sam Harris, Arlington, P/2B, So.; Dani Heady, Millbrook, C, Sr.; Kathryn Hotle, Ketcham, 3B, Sr.; Emma Jackson, Marlboro, C, Jr.; Bryana Kelliher, Beacon, C, Sr.; Emma Kozlowski, Ketcham, 1B, So.; Ava Krakower, Spackenkill, 3B, Sr.; Madison Krueger, Webutuck, P, Jr.; Mikaela Mammola, Pawling, P/SS, Sr.; Abbey Mayes, Pine Plains, CF, So.; Ella McDonough, New Paltz, C/INF, Sr.; Mea Metz, Ketcham, OF, Jr.; Angelina Nesheiwat, Roosevelt, OF, Sr.; Alexa Pavese, Highland, P, Jr.; Jocelyn Pepe, Arlington, C, Sr.; Delainey Reid, Highland, C, So.; Kyla Richardson, Beacon, CF, Sr.; Katherine Ruffy, Beacon, SS, Jr.; Molly Saunders, New Paltz, OF, Jr.; Brooke Sikula, Pine Plains, P/1B, So.; Christiana Simou, Ketcham, CF, Sr.; Noelani Sokolik, Lourdes, P/3B, Jr.; Jax Sweed, Roosevelt, P/1B, So.; Cadence Tetor, Dover, So.; Autumn Tompkins, Pawling, C, Jr.; Gabby Torre, New Paltz, P/Utility, Fr.; Grainne Williams, Webutuck, 3B, Sr.; Reese Winkelman, Spackenkill, CF, Sr.; Sanaiya Whitted, Roosevelt, OF, Jr.

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Softball: The Journal's 2024 Nine Who Shine and players to watch

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