Here are 12 Greater Columbus high school softball players to watch in 2024 season
It might be tempting for the central Ohio softball community to pencil in some district champions even this early in the season.
Three-time defending Division I regional champion Watkins Memorial returns seven of nine starters, including four college signees or commits in pitcher Carsyn Cassady (Michigan State), utility player Ava McKee (Bowling Green), shortstop Maleya Thompson (Houston) and catcher Jordyn Wycuff (Ohio University).
All are seniors except Thompson, who is a junior.
Another district champion, Hilliard Bradley, also has seven starters back, and Lancaster – a district champion in 2021 and 2022, five-time defending league champion and district runner-up a season ago – is led by two Division I-bound pitchers in senior Reese Poston (Toledo) and junior Ashlin Mowery (Louisiana State).
Gahanna Lincoln, which was ranked as high as fourth statewide during the regular season last year but lost in a district semifinal, finds itself in a reload with three returning starters and a handful of impact underclassmen. The Lions had 416 stolen bases the past two seasons.
That’s why Bradley coach Kevin Moody considered an 11-5 win over Gahanna on March 27 a litmus test.
“It’s fantastic,” Moody said. “We have four seniors who understand what it takes to be a team. They’re tremendous leaders, they’re unselfish, they go out and play hard. We have a couple young kids filling in spots, a couple juniors in Cora (Moine, a shortstop) and Izzy (Sparks, a catcher) and the rest are freshmen and sophomores. The early part of the year is all about seeing who you are.”
Freshman Mickey Moody is emerging as a standout pitcher, and four-year starting third baseman Andrea Day has signed with Akron. Senior Jillian Meszaros (1B/P) will play at Wooster and catcher Loghan Cromer is a four-year starter.
Gahanna coach Matt Bailey, whose standouts include senior infielder Mattie Bailey (Muskingum) and junior shortstop Gabby Esterby, scheduled 15 of the top 16 seeds from last year’s district tournament. Last week included games in consecutive days against Bradley, Lancaster and 2023 district champion Newark, which ousted Gahanna in a district semifinal.
“We want to get these girls experience and let them see what’s out there,” Bailey said.
Highland, which won the Division II district title despite being the No. 8 seed and going only 14-12, returns 10 letterwinners but must replace second-team all-state pitcher Stevie Asher.
Both of last year’s Division III district champions, Johnstown and West Jefferson, also face reloads. West Jefferson graduated first-team all-state pitcher Brooke Mannon, who now plays at Arizona, and the Johnnies graduated much of their core after reaching a state semifinal.
In Division IV, Newark Catholic is seeking its third district championship in four seasons. Several seniors lead the way, including pitcher Avery Nagel, and she will be complemented in the circle by sophomore Veronica Bailey.
Here are 12 central Ohio softball players to watch this spring:
Brooke Aberle, Olentangy Liberty
The senior outfielder batted .630 last year with 17 stolen bases and a .741 slugging percentage. The Kent State signee earned first-team all-OCC-Central and all-district in Division I, leading the Patriots (16-6) to a district semifinal.
Sadie Binkley, Logan Elm
The sophomore pitcher had a debut season to remember last spring, going 10-7 with a 2.27 ERA, 160 strikeouts and 38 walks in 114 ⅓ innings as well as batting .460 with two home runs, 17 RBIs and 18 runs scored. Binkley was named first-team all-Southeast District and second-team all-state in Division II. Logan Elm (14-10) advanced to a district semifinal.
Anaya Bumpus, Hartley
A junior shortstop and outfielder who also is listed as a pitcher, Bumpus batted .515 as a sophomore with a team-high 34 hits, including four doubles. The Ohio University commit also stole a team-best seven bases, struck out only four times and had a .940 fielding percentage as the Hawks went 13-9-1.
Carsyn Cassady, Watkins Memorial
The senior pitcher and Michigan State signee has been at the center of the Warriors’ recent dominance, earning all-state honors three times and helping to lead Watkins to as many consecutive Division I regional championships. Cassady was 20-1 a year ago with a 0.63 ERA, 198 strikeouts and 27 walks in 106 innings and, through her first three seasons, was 74-5 with 745 career strikeouts. As a junior, she threw three no-hitters and a perfect game, and her only loss was in a state semifinal.
Kai Cornelius, Olentangy
A junior shortstop and Murray State commit who started at third base last year, Cornelius batted .500 with 36 hits, including three home runs and three triples, stole six bases and struck out only six times as the Braves (10-10) made a Division I district semifinal. Cornelius was named first-team all-OCC-Cardinal and second-team all-district.
Andrea Day, Hilliard Bradley
An Akron signee and four-year starter at third base, Day looks to lead the Jaguars back to regional for the second consecutive season and third time overall, all since 2017. Day batted .500 last season with 43 hits, 15 of which were for extra bases, as well as 12 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. She entered this season with a .428 career average.
Genevieve Longsdorf, Cardington
A senior pitcher who has signed with Buffalo, Longsdorf’s arm and bat will be counted on for a Pirates team that did not graduate any players and started five freshmen a season ago in going 12-11. Longsdorf won 10 games last spring with a 1.69 ERA and 209 strikeouts. She also batted .406 with 26 hits, five home runs and 26 RBIs, and was second-team all-district in Division III. Cardington will try to reach its fifth state tournament, all since 2017, under first-year coach and former program great Baylee Adams.
Kendall Manos, Hilliard Davidson
The junior shortstop batted .422 last year with a team-leading 35 hits, 16 RBIs as a leadoff hitter and 35 runs scored. An East Carolina commit, Manos is a two-time first-team all-OCC-Central honoree and was named second-team all-district in Division I as a sophomore. Davidson returns eight starters and 12 letterwinners from last year’s 7-10 team.
Sophie Minister, Westerville North
A four-year starting pitcher, Minister racked up 210 strikeouts in the Warriors’ run to a Division I district final last spring. She was named first-team all-OCC-Capital and all-district and honorable mention all-state. North went 15-7 last year and 50-23 in Minister’s first three seasons. She surpassed 600 career strikeouts last week.
Ashlin Mowery, Lancaster
The junior is poised to keep the Golden Gales among central Ohio’s elite after committing to Louisiana State in the fall. Mowery batted .493 with 10 home runs and 10 doubles last year. In the circle, she struck out 42 in 38 innings with a 2.76 ERA. Mowery, who earned first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state in Division I, split the pitching load with current senior and Toledo signee Reese Poston.
Taylor Warehime, Granville
A senior shortstop, Warehime batted .529 last season with 30 hits, eight home runs and 32 RBIs as the Blue Aces (16-8) reached a Division II district semifinal. Also a volleyball and basketball player, Warehime was named first-team all-district and all-state. Granville returns several starters, including senior third baseman and Muskingum signee Emily Travis (.471, 22 hits, 12 home runs in 2023) and junior outfielder Megan Lodge (.449, program-record 13 home runs).
Jordyn Wycuff, Watkins Memorial
A first-team all-district and all-state catcher in Division I, the Ohio University signee led the Warriors (28-2) in nine categories a season ago, including average (.570), hits (56), RBIs (44) and runs (48). She also had 11 home runs, tied for the team lead, and 19 stolen bases with only four strikeouts in 100 at-bats. Wycuff earned the Johnny Bench Award, named for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer catcher, as Ohio’s top softball player at her position.
The (Newark) Advocate and Marion Star contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio high school softball: 12 players to watch this spring
