MEMPHIS AREA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL WATCH LIST: TOP PLAYERS IN 2021

Here are the top 20 Memphis-area baseball players (in alphabetical order) to watch in 2021

Gracie Brown, Arlington, Jr.: Brown had a strong 2019 season with a .387 batting average and 26 RBI. In her fifth game of 2021, Brown was 4-for-4 with two doubles against Desoto Central. Ally Callahan, Hernando, Jr.: The Central Arkansas commit is one of Mississippi's top run producers with 24 RBI, as the Tigers have gotten off to a stellar 17-1 start. Callahan is batting . 413 with 16 runs scored.

Jaclyn Carter, Hernando, Sr: The Northwest Mississippi Community College commit, is hitting .528 with 21 RBI and a team-high 28 hits.

Reagan Dale, Desoto Central, Fr.: Dale hit an impressive .481 this season to go along with nine runs scored and a team-high five stolen bases.

Timily David, Brighton, Jr.: The Central Arkansas commit has carved out a key spot in the talented Cardinals' lineup by hitting .389 with two doubles, four runs scored and five RBI.

Rylee Eyster, Hernando, Jr.: After leading the state with nine triples and 41 stolen bases in 2019, Eyster has returned to spark the Tiger offense with a .542 batting average, 28 runs scored and 17 steals through 18 games. Josie Gex, St. Benedict, Sr.: The Bryant University signee has been the workhorse for the Eagles' pitching staff, but was also the team's RBI leader in 2019. Lexi Griffin, St. Benedict, Sr.: The Northeast Mississippi Community College signee has been a mainstay at third base for the Eagles. Along with her top defensive skills, Griffin hit over .400 in 2019.

Brie Howard, Brighton, So.: Another of the area's top catchers, Howard has begun the season 6-for-6 throwing out opposing base stealers. On offense, she's batting .400 with three home runs and nine RBI. Howard homered twice against TRA on March 23.

Kalynn Howard, Covington, Sr.: Howard will look to at least duplicate her sophomore stats that included a .375 batting average, 41 runs scored, 32 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Emme Muizers, Hernando, Sr.: Muizers is riding a wave of confidence to Northeast Mississippi Community College by virtue of her team-leading four home runs this season. She is also hitting .381 batting average, four doubles and 18 RBI.

Ali Naumann, Tipton-rosemark, Sr.: The Dyersburg signee was a sophomore when the Rebels won 33 games in 2019.

Charli Rice, Tipton-rosemark, Sr.: The Union signee had a 1.74 ERA and 271 strikeouts in 2019. At the plate, she hit .359 with 42 RBI.

Julia Shaw, Hernando, Jr.: Shaw has joined forces with her twin sister, Janna, to make the Tigers one of Mississippi's top teams at any level. She's already matched her freshman-year win total (11) and has a 0.90 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. Taylor Smrt, Collierville, Sr.: Smrt had a sophomore year to remember in 2019 with an eye-popping .562 batting average, 50 runs scored and 56 RBI. Her nine home runs were also an impressive feat.

Jalynn Taylor, Lewisburg, Jr.: Taylor has 18 hits and a team-high seven doubles and 13 RBI through the first 13 games of the season.

Neely Taylor, St. Benedict, Jr.: As a freshman in 2019, Taylor hit a robust .506 from the second spot in the Eagles' lineup. This season, she's batting in the leadoff spot.

Lauren Vickery, Covington, Sr.: The Jackson State Community College signee was 7-0 with a 0.97 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched in 2019. Vickery also registered four saves.

Megan Vinson, Desoto Central, Jr.:

Her freshman-season ERA was 1.42, and was 0.15 before COVID-19 shut the season down in 2020. Vinson is just as dominant with a 0.33 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 21 innings of work this year. Offensively, she's hitting .467 with three home runs.

Savannah Wilbanks, Desoto Central, So.: The Jaguars' lineup contains many weapons and Wilbanks has delivered in the clutch this season with a team-high five doubles and 11 RBI.

Watch list is based on information submitted to The Commercial Appeal by Memphis area coaches prior to the start of the 2021 season.