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In the circle: 75 District 10 high school softball players to watch in 2024

Tom Reisenweber, Erie Times-News
·4 min read

District 10 traditionally features strong softball teams that make deep runs in the PIAA playoffs. This year could be no exception as D-10 has several programs loaded with top talent from last spring.

Among the returning players are 12 all-district selections, two region players of the year, one region pitcher of the year and several Division I, II and III players.

Some players to keep an eye on include Mercer sophomore Angelina Eakman, who is racking up strikeouts in the circle at a historic pace, along with AB and Brooklyn Cipalla in their only season together at Harbor Creek. Taylor Polach of Fairview is preparing to play for Memphis and Sharpsville star Lily Palko has already committed to Michigan. There are also several Division I recruits in D-10 that haven’t made up their mind yet.

Last season: Erie Times-News' All-District 10 and all-region softball teams

With all the excitement over returning stars, there is also the disappointment of injuries. Northwestern all-region shortstop Maddy Adams will miss her senior season with an injury, and North East standout Alex Cozzens is also out as she recovers from an injury in order to play basketball at Geneva. Sharpsville standout Keeley Whitaker, a Bryant recruit, is out for the season with a shoulder injury but will be back for her senior season, and Franklin standout outfielder Gabrielle Laderer recently broke her forearm and could miss significant time.

The following 75 District 10 softball players to watch this spring are based on all-region selections from last year and any college commits:

College commits

  • AB Cipalla, Harbor Creek, Sr., C — Saint Francis, all-district selection

Harbor Creek senior AB Cipalla signs her letter of intent to play softball at St. Francis.
Harbor Creek senior AB Cipalla signs her letter of intent to play softball at St. Francis.

  • Taylor Polach, Fairview, Sr., OF — Memphis, all-district selection

  • Lily Palko, Sharpsville, Jr., SS — Michigan, all-district selection

  • Mikaila Obenrader, Saegertown, Sr., P — Canisius, all-district selection, Region 2 pitcher of the year

  • Emalie Thomas, Cathedral Prep, Sr., C — Edinboro, first team all-region

  • Cam Chimera, Cathedral Prep, Sr., 1B — John Carroll, second team all-region

Cathedral Prep softball head coach Scott Baldi, left, congratulates junior Cam Chimera on her sixth-inning home run against McDowell at Mercyhurst University in Erie on April 18, 2023.
Cathedral Prep softball head coach Scott Baldi, left, congratulates junior Cam Chimera on her sixth-inning home run against McDowell at Mercyhurst University in Erie on April 18, 2023.

  • Keeley Whitaker, Sharpsville, Jr., 2B — Bryant, out for season with injury

  • Izzie Candiotti, Sharpsville, Jr., C — Robert Morris, second team all-region

  • Alex Cozzens, North East, Sr., DP — Geneva, out for season with injury

  • Gia Coletta, North East, Sr., 3B — Penn State Behrend

  • Maddy Adams, Northwestern, Sr., SS — Mercyhurst, out for season with injury

Returning all-region, first-team selections

  • Miranda Biles, Jamestown, Jr., P — all-district selection

  • Hannah Smith, Harbor Creek, Sr., OF — all-district selection

  • Angelina Eakman, Mercer, So., P — all-district selection, Region 1 player of the year

  • Madison Simmerman, Cathedral Prep, Sr., 3B — all-district selection

  • Gabby DeLuca, McDowell, Jr., P — all-district selection

  • Ava Gilmore, West Middlesex, Sr., SS/P

  • Lia Krarup, Wilmington, Jr., OF

  • Jordan Brest, Sharpsville, Jr., DP

  • Rylie Braymer, Saegertown, Jr., C — Region 2 co-player of the year

  • Rhia Paris, Saegertown, Sr., 2B

  • Jaydan Simmons, Cambridge Springs, So., 3B

  • Baelyn Randolph, Iroquois, Sr., SS

  • Kylee Miller, Cambridge Springs, Sr., OF

  • Kayla Crawford, Cambridge Springs, So., P

  • Rylee Vogt, Harbor Creek, Sr., 1B

Harbor Creek's Rylee Vogt makes contact with the ball against Sharon during the District 10 Class 3A semifinals in 2022 at the Penn State Behrend softball field.
Harbor Creek's Rylee Vogt makes contact with the ball against Sharon during the District 10 Class 3A semifinals in 2022 at the Penn State Behrend softball field.

  • Hannah Wieczorek, Seneca, Jr., 2B

  • Jess Gage, Northwestern, Sr., 2B

  • Brooke Przybylski, Harbor Creek, Jr., SS

  • Georgia Weber, Harbor Creek, Sr., OF

  • Addison Lucas, Harbor Creek, So., P

  • Lydia Hallas, Hickory, Sr., 2B

  • Payton McCray, Corry, Jr., 2B

Corry Area High School sophomore pitcher Payton McCray throws against Fairview during a PIAA District 10 girls 3A quarterfinal softball game at Penn State Behrend in Harborcreek Township on May 23, 2023.
Corry Area High School sophomore pitcher Payton McCray throws against Fairview during a PIAA District 10 girls 3A quarterfinal softball game at Penn State Behrend in Harborcreek Township on May 23, 2023.

  • Alyssa Burlew, Corry, Sr., OF

  • Madey Myers, Hickory, Jr., OF

  • Mya Jewell, Hickory, Jr., DP

  • Sophia Garmong, Oil City, So., P

  • Lainie Harrington, Conneaut, Jr., C

  • Emily Dudenhoeffer, Cathedral Prep, Jr., OF

  • Kylie Shrock, Conneaut, Sr., DP

District 10 softball and more: Spring sports schedules, results for April 15-20

Returning all-region, second-team selections

  • Phoebe Eakman, Mercer, Sr., C

  • Miah Applegarth, Sharpsville, Jr., 3B

  • Graeson Grubbs, Wilmington, Sr., SS

  • Pressley Washil, Mercer, Sr., SS

  • Emily Davano, West Middlesex, Sr., OF

  • Haley White, Sharpsville, Jr., OF

  • Avery Harlan, Wilmington, So., OF

  • Karah Deal, Wilmington, Jr., DP

  • Ava Williamson, Wilmington, Jr., P

  • Morgan Dunton, Cambridge Springs, So., C

  • Maggie Triola, Saegertown, Sr., 1B

  • Sydney Proper, Iroquois, Jr., 2B

  • Alyssa Arblaster, Saegertown, Sr., SS

  • Kacie Mook, Saegertown, Sr., OF

Kacie Mook, Saegertown
Kacie Mook, Saegertown

  • Brianna Kope, Maplewood, So., DP

  • Phoenix Thomas, Iroquois, Jr., P

  • Rhinn Post, Maplewood, Jr., P

  • Ryan Shields, Fort LeBoeuf, So., C

  • Londyn Davis, Fort LeBoeuf, So., 1B

  • Maggie Konieczki, Harbor Creek, Sr., 2B

  • Kiernan Skelton, Fort LeBoeuf, Jr., 3B

  • Kendra Tobin, Fort LeBoeuf, Jr., SS

  • Zaya Rastetter, Northwestern, Sr., OF

  • Eden Lander, Harbor Creek, Sr., DP

  • Zoey Johnson, Northwestern, So., P

Northwestern High School pitcher Zoey Johnson throws against Union City during a girls softball game in Union City on May 16, 2023.
Northwestern High School pitcher Zoey Johnson throws against Union City during a girls softball game in Union City on May 16, 2023.

  • Kirsten Hicks, Franklin, Sr., C

  • Sadye Dyne, Corry, Jr., 1B/P

  • Dalani Bayer, Sharon, Jr., 2B

  • Gabrielle Laderer, Franklin, Jr., OF

  • Kaycee Porter, Corry, Sr., OF

  • Rilee Hanna, Franklin, Sr., OF

  • Claire Bodien, Sharon, Jr., DP/P

  • Hallie Miller, Hickory, Sr., P

  • Izzy Nageli, McDowell, Jr., C

  • Bella Dibble, General McLane, Sr., 2B

  • Kendall Mealy, Meadville, Jr., SS

  • Jaidyn Jordan, Conneaut, Sr., OF

  • Haven Teed, General McLane, Jr., OF

Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNreisenweber.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 high school softball: 75 players to watch in northwest PA