Gainesville Sun All-Area: Who made the 2023 all-area big school softball team?
![Santa Fe softball player JÕlyn Guyden, 16, a sophomore, is a centerfielder for the Raiders. She was photographed for Spring sports all-area portraits at the Gainesville Sun in Gainesville, FL. Wednesday morning, June 21, 2023. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2023](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TvS3AesknxyqEHHzfQR60Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc0OQ--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-gainesville-sun/017fdd69151c4ba3cb8ea7280c391589)
When Santa Fe sophomore J’Lyn Guyden was 8 years old, she had hopes of starting gymnastics. However, her father had another idea.
“My dad decided I should try softball. So he stuck me in softball and I got out there and at first I didn’t really like it,” Guyden said.
The fact that Guyden didn’t know any of the other girls and that she hadn’t developed the skills needed to see the ball when hitting caused her some anxiety. But it wasn’t long after that Guyden found the confidence that pushed her to stick it out.
Just one year after her first season, Guyden made her league’s All-Star team.
“They pick certain girls to be on the All-Star team and from there, I thought I could probably go far with it,” Guyden said.
With a new sense of seriousness to her approach, Guyden started to develop her hitting. Guyden’s first hitting coach was the same guy who encouraged her to play softball to begin with. But she eventually went on to work with other hitting coaches.
And whoever is to credit, it paid off.
In her sophomore campaign at Santa Fe, Guyden posted a batting average of .529 with 37 hits and 26 RBIs.
From the field, Guyden isn’t half bad either. Primarily lining up in centerfield, Guyden was perfect with a 1.000 fielding percentage with 21 putouts.
Together, Guyden and the Raiders posted a 16-10 record, which featured a district championship and a trip to the Region 2-3A region semifinals.
However, it was Santa Fe’s 5-4 walk-off win over Trinity Catholic to clinch the district crown that sticks out to Guyden when she looks back at her season.
“That was my favorite moment because at the end of the game, everybody was happy, getting along and making TikToks all together,” said Guyden. “It was a good memory to be a part of.”
Santa Fe’s district championship win and its run through the playoffs gave the Raiders and their young roster a taste of success. Now, the bar is set for Guyden and the Raiders, who are already looking ahead to next spring.
“For myself, I would say to challenge the pitcher more than I do,” said Guyden when asked about her goals for next season. “And for my team, I would say to go to state. Because we should’ve went to state. But maybe this season just wasn’t our season, so maybe next season will be our season.”
Gainesville Sun 2023 All-Area Big School Softball First Team
Infield: Kiley Channell, Keystone Heights, senior − .493 avg., 37 hits, 32 RBI, 8 HR, 6 SB, .942 fielding
Infield: Alaina Kinsall, Keystone Heights, junior − .458 avg., 27 hits, 19 RBI, 5 SB, 1.000 fielding
Infield: Grace Mattson, Santa Fe, sophomore − .556, 45 hits, 25 RBI, 4 SB, .841 fielding
Infield: Emma Mansfield, P.K. Yonge, sophomore − .500 avg., 19 hits, 18 RBI, 3 HR, 3 SB, 1.000 fielding
Outfield: J'Lyn Guyden, Santa Fe, sophomore − .529 avg., 37 hits, 26 RBI, HR, SB, 1.000 fielding
Outfield: Sakiya Merriex, Columbia, sophomore − .388 avg., 31 hits, 15 RBI, 6 SB, .941 fielding
Outfield: Amy Crosby, Santa Fe, junior − .492 avg., 37 hits, 15 RBI, .911 fielding
Catcher: Madisen Crosby, Santa Fe, freshman − .524 avg., 44 hits, 27 RBI, HR, 13 SB, .985 fielding
Utility: McKenna O'Sullivan, Columbia, sophomore − .354 avg., 28 hits, 23 RBI, 3 HR, .909 fielding, 43.1 IP, 3.39 ERA, 30 K
Pitcher: Sarah Burns, Santa Fe, freshman − 69.1 IP, 1.31 ERA, 110 K
Pitcher: Zoryana Hughes, Columbia, senior − .333 avg., 12 hits, 4 RBI, 69.2 IP, 1.41 ERA, 86 K
Gainesville Sun 2023 All-Area Big School Softball Second Team
Infield: Takeirra Bakken, Bradford, senior
Infield: Addyson Hinds, Bradford, freshman
Infield: Lillyenne Mayhew, Buchholz, freshman
Infield: Karter Thorp, Gainesville, senior
Outfield: Rylie Blankenship, Bradford, junior
Outfield: Kirsten Hodges, Bradford, junior
Outfield: Abbie Roach, Keystone Heights, junior
Catcher: Juliana Abraham, Buchholz, sophomore
Utility: Kameron Sumler, Gainesville, senior
Pitcher: Kadence Massey-Hoadley, Keystone Heights, freshman
Pitcher: Lindsey Orton, Buchholz, senior
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Meet the Gainesville Sun's All-Area big school softball team
