OHIO’S BEST
Top 24 Ohio statewide high school softball players in 2024
state of Ohio continues to produce high-quality high-school softball players who will put their talents on display this spring.
As a preview to this season, the high school sports staff of the USA Today Network’s 21 Ohio newspapers and websites compiled a who’s who of the Buckeye State’s prep softball players.
1. Haley Ferguson, Beavercreek
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division I last year with a 0.95 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 1471⁄3 innings. Ferguson batted .539 with 41 hits, 24 RBIS and four home runs in 76 at-bats. She has signed with Michigan.
2. Carsyn Cassady, Watkins Memorial
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division I after a 20-win season despite missing some time with an injury. Cassady had a 0.62 ERA and three nohitters in 112 innings. Cassady has signed with Michigan State.
3. Kat Meyers, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne
The senior pitcher earned first-team all-state in Division I last season and had a 1.20 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 56 innings. She has signed with Michigan.
4. Sydnie Watts, Austintown-fitch
The junior pitcher was the only underclassman to earn first-team all-state in Division I a season ago. Watts had seven no-hitters and a 0.38 ERA in finishing 21-0. As a batter, Watts had a .492 average in 61 at-bats with 30 hits, 23 RBIS and six home runs. She has committed to Georgia Tech.
5. Gabby Gradishar, Warren Champion
The junior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division III last year with a 17-5 record and 0.94 ERA in 1342⁄3 innings with 249 strikeouts and 12 shutouts. At the plate, Gradishar batted .629 with 61 hits, 46 RBIS and 18 home runs in 97 at-bats. She is committed to Penn State.
6. Carter Wachtel, Wooster Triway
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state and the Principals Athletic Conference Player of the Year last season. Wachtel pitched 1331⁄3 innings with a 0.84 ERA and 249 strikeouts. She had a .506 average at the plate with five home runs and 28 RBIS. She has signed with Georgia Tech.
7. Camrynn Linneman, Taylor
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division II last season and Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year. She went 15-6 with a 0.86 ERA, 266 strikeouts and 10 shutouts in 1211⁄3 innings. As a batter, Linneman hit .617 with 50 hits, 11 home runs and 57 RBIS in 81 at-bats. She will play at Dayton.
8. (tie) Jordyn Wycuff, Watkins Memorial
The senior catcher was first-team all-state in Division I with a .570 average and 44 RBIS in 100 at-bats. Wycuff had 11 home runs, 13 doubles and six triples while striking out only four times. She has signed with Ohio University.
8. (tie) Malena Toth, Canfield
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state last season with a 0.70 ERA. Toth had 275 strikeouts and two no-hitters. She has signed with Buffalo.
10. Mckennah Metzger, Aurora
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division I last year with an 18–4 record, 1.50 ERA, 117 strikeouts and 27 walks. At the plate, Metzger had a .558 average with 54 RBIS, 12 doubles and 11 home runs in 101 at-bats. She has signed with Coastal Carolina.
11. Ella Teubner, Lebanon
The junior outfielder was second-team all-state in Division I and first-team All-eastern Cincinnati Conference last season. Teubner had 48 runs, 49 hits, five home runs and 46 RBIS in 92 at-bats and is committed to Iowa.
12. Matti Benson, Louisville
The senior infielder was second-team all-state last season after batting .548 with 34 hits, 24 RBIS, eight doubles and eight home runs in 62 at-bats. She has signed with Maryland.
13. Ayla Ray, Austintown-fitch
The senior infielder was first-team all-state last year and batted .534 with six home runs, 39 hits and 19 RBIS in 73 at-bats. She has signed with Youngstown State.
14. Destiny Ruggiero, Akron Springfield
The senior outfielder was first-team all-state with a .512 batting average with 45 runs, 44 hits, 48 RBIS and 12 home runs in 86 at-bats. She is committed to Cleveland State.
15. Anna Wise, Brecksville-broadview Heights
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state in Divithe sion I. She went 25-3 with 145 strikeouts in 1392/3 innings and boasted a 0.70 ERA. She has signed with Ohio University.
16. Thea Staten, Bryan
The sophomore pitcher was first-team all-state in Division II last season. She pitched 161 innings and had a 23-1 record with a 0.54 ERA and 289 strikeouts. At the plate, she batted .452 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 33 RBIS.
17. Hayley Arnold, Centerville
The senior pitcher was second-team all-state in Division I with a 1.16 ERA. As a batter, Arnold hit .451 with 41 hits, 12 RBIS and one home run in 91 at-bats. She has signed with Stetson.
18. Zoey Burns, Greenville
The junior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division I last season with a 1.37 ERA and 17-4 record. She batted .459 with 45 hits, 57 RBIS and five home runs in 98 at-bats.
19. Camryn Spruell, Hillsboro
The senior pitcher and infielder was second-team all-state in Division II last season. Spruell had a .631 batting average with 53 hits, 11 doubles, 13 home runs and 55 RBIS. In the circle, Spruell was 18-3 with a 1.67 ERA and struck out 235 batters. She has signed with Ball State.
20. Alaina Eldridge, Carlisle
The senior third baseman was first-team all-state in Division III last season with a .600 batting average. She had 51 hits, 35 RBIS and six home runs in 86 atbats.
21. Brenna Fyffe, Springfield Kenton Ridge
The sophomore catcher was first-team all-state in Division II last season. She hit .549 with 56 hits, five home runs and 44 RBIS in 102 at-bats and was firstteam All-central Buckeye Conference.
22. Cora Hall, Thornville Sheridan
The junior pitcher and infielder was first-team allstate in Division II, going 8-3 with a 1.28 ERA, 81 strikeouts and 20 walks in 75 innings. She also hit .619 with 13 doubles, five homers and 39 RBIS. She has committed to Ohio University.
23. (tie) Madison Brentlinger, Lewistown Indian Lake
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division III last season with a 26-3 record and 1.53 ERA. She also batted .551 with 54 hits and 48 RBIS in 98 atbats.
23. (tie) Lexi Gray, Tallmadge
The senior catcher and leadoff hitter was secondteam all-state last season.
Others receiving votes
Genevieve Longsdorf, Cardington; Taylor Warehime, Granville; Jillian Morr, Lexington; Aislynn Slack, Logan; Sadie Binkley, Logan Elm; Karissa Smith, Clyde; Sydney Doyle, Clinton-massie; Lanie Wooten, Caledonia River Valley