Fall all-area series: Here are the top 2023 Savannah-area high school softball players

South Effingham and Effingham County were, once again, the top softball teams in the Greater Savannah area this season.

The teams battled it out for the Region 2-6A title, with South Effingham taking two of three, winning the third and deciding game 2-1 in a 10-inning affair.

The cross-county rivals met once again in the Class 6A Elite Eight in Columbus, with a berth in the Final Four on the line, and South Effingham prevailed once again in a memorable 2-1 victory.

The All-Greater Savannah softball team includes players from South Effingham and Effingham dominating the roster like they dominated during the season.

Boston College-bound senior Bailey Kendziorski is on the squad after taking home Region 2-6A Pitcher of the Year honors along with USC-Beaufort signee Emma Reynolds of Effingham County, who was named the region's Player of the Year.

South Effingham's Adam Newland is the Savannah Morning News Softball Coach of the Year for the second season in a row.

"What I'll remember most about this season is that it was a culmination of everything our group of seniors had built," Newland said. "We had a group of seniors with Bailey (Kendziorski), Whitney (Thompson), Jaden (Burns), Sarah (Messex) and Emma (Darrow) that had been making an impact, and setting a standard, over the last four years. All the work they put in paid off this year."

The first-team selections will be recognized at the The Coastal Empire High School Sports Awards on Friday, June 7, at the Johnny Mercer Theatre at the Savannah Civic Center, where the Softball Player of the Year will be announced. The show is produced with support from Chatham Orthopaedic Associates.

For more information about the show and to opt into email updates, visit its website and you can also follow it on Facebook.

Top softball players to watch in 2023 Top returning softball players to watch in Greater Savannah area in 2023

South Effingham & Effingham in Elite 8 Rivalry between Effingham schools leads both to GHSA softball state playoff Elite 8

Kendziorski commits to Boston College Why South Effingham softball star Bailey Kendziorski committed to this ACC school

Here is the 2023 All-Greater Savannah Softball Team:

Bailey Kendziorski, South Effingham, sr., P

Kendziorski helped lead South Effingham to the Region 2-6A title, and the Final Four in the Class 6A playoffs. She went 20-1 on the season with an ERA of 1.07, striking out 202 batters in 137 innings pitched. She also had a triple, a home run and drove in 22 runs at the plate. She was selected as the Region 2-6A Pitcher of the Year and was an All-State first-team selection. Kendziorski has signed to play at Boston College.

Emma Reynolds, Effingham County, sr., 3B

Reynolds was named the Region 2-6A Player of the Year after helping lead the Rebels to the Final Six in the Class 6A state playoffs. She hit .417 with 43 hits, including 16 doubles, with 27 runs and 39 RBIs and was an All-State selection. Reynolds has signed with USC-Beaufort.

Megan Coleman, Effingham County, jr., 2B

Coleman earned All-Region 2-6A first-team honors after an impressive season. She hit .424 with a .495 on-base percentage with 39 hits, 29 runs and 15 RBIs.

Olivia Morgan, Effingham County, jr., SS

Morgan hit .347 with an OBP of .426 with 33 hits, including 10 doubles, 17 RBIs and 35 runs. She helped the Rebels finish the season with a record of 26-7 and was an All-Region 2-6A first-team selection.

Whitney Thompson, South Effingham, sr., 3B

Thompson was a key for the Mustangs once again as she hit .356 with an OPS of .928. She had 42 hits, with 11 doubles, two homers, 34 RBIs and 32 runs. The East Georgia State College signee was an All-Region 2-6A first-team selection.

Danni Lynn, South Effingham, fresh., OF

Lynn had a breakthrough season with the Mustangs and was an All-State first-team selection. She had 45 hits, hitting for a .446 average with an OPS of 1.283. She had 10 doubles, two triples, seven homers, 34 RBIs and 22 runs scored.

Jaden Burns, South Effingham, sr., C

Burns was an anchor for the Mustangs behind the plate. She hit .352 with a .424 OBP and an OPS of .929. She had seven doubles, three homers, 32 RBIs and 23 runs scored. She was an All-Region 2-6A first-team pick and a second-team All-State selection. Burns has signed to play at Wingate University.

Ansleigh Giordano, Effingham County, soph., P

Giordano stepped into the role as the Rebel's No. 1 pitcher and had a stellar season. She went 14-4 with an ERA of .913 wit 132 strikeouts in 122 innings and was also a standout at the plate where she hit .293 with an OBP of .403. She had two homers and 28 RBIs and was an All-Region 2-6A first-team selection.

Jillian Austin, Savannah Christian, soph., P

Austin helped SCPS win the Region 3-3A title and was named the Region's Player of the Year. She went 12-9 with a 3.17 ERA and struck out 98 batters in 109 innings. She hit .375 with an OPS of .935, with six doubles, three triples, 24 RBIs and 34 runs for the Raiders, who finished the season a win away from the Elite Eight with a record of 20-10.

Payton Livingston, Savannah Christian, jr., OF

A standout defensively in center field, Livingston also swung a big stick for the Raiders — earning Region 3-3A Offensive Player of the Year honors. She hit .443 with an OBP of .505 and an OPS of of 1.041. She had 43 hits, with five doubles, two triples, 22 RBIs with 48 runs and 28 stolen bases in 28 attempts. She also went 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in the pitching circle.

Skylar Lee, Bryan County, sr., C

Lee was an All-Region first-team pick for the third consecutive season. She was a standout behind the plate and hit .465 with 33 hits, seven doubles, two homers and 29 RBIs. She has signed to play at Georgia College & State University.

Sarah Messex, South Effingham, sr., 1B

Known for her clutch presence at the plate, Messex came through with big hits in the biggest moments for the Mustangs. She hit .309 with an OPS of .977. She had six doubles, a triple, five homers, 30 RBIs and 22 runs scored and was an All-Region 2-6A first-team selection.

SECOND TEAM

Emma Darrow, South Effingham, sr., 2B

Alyssa Martin, South Effingham, freshman, INF

Gracie LaFleur, Effingham County, soph., C

Kenzie Ergle, South Effingham, jr., SS

Izzy Wilkins, South Effingham, jr., Util.

Ava Wingate, Effingham County, jr., P

Leighton Stallcup, Savannah Christian, jr.

Aubrey Ragins, Richmond Hill, fresh., IF

Julia Ronk, Savannah Christian, jr.

Chaynie Cornwell, Savannah Christian, jr.

Natalie Sanders, Calvary Day, jr.

Adeline Zaragoza, Islands, jr., SS

Mya Armstrong, Liberty County, fresh., P

Liz Harvey, Bryan County, jr., SS

Honorable mention

Bradwell -- Leah Denmark, Lexi Carson, Alyssa Haynes

Bryan County -- Cam Parker

Calvary Day -- Emma Overby, Reese Jenkins, McKenzie Clayton

Effingham County -- Sarah Grace Hinely

Islands -- Gabby Narvaez, Hailey Hill

Jenkins -- Tashiyah David, Gracin Bote

Liberty County -- Cadie Martin

Richmond Hill -- Amani Stanley, Adriana Williams

Savannah Christian -- Hannah Jane Gard, Ava Rolen

St. Vincent's -- Loki Thompson

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Here are the top 2023 Savannah-area high school softball players