Ohio's best: The top 24 softball players in the state ahead of the 2024 season
The 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.
This is part of a series that included boys and girls basketball's top 24 players this winter and, in fall, included football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls soccer.
How they were ranked
USA TODAY Network Ohio staff across the state researched and compiled a list of its respective area's top players. The journalists voted on these players using a point system. Those points were tabulated to determine the top 24 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 147 ⅓ innings. Ferguson batted .539 with 41 hits, 24 RBI 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 in the circle, despite missing some time with an injury. Cassady had a 0.62 ERA and three no-hitters in 112 innings. Cassady, who plays club ball for Thunder Elite, has signed with Michigan State.
3. Kat Meyers, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne
The senior pitcher earned first-team all-state in Division I last season after leading Anthony Wayne to the state championship game. Meyers 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 for the reigning state champions. As a batter, Watts had a .492 average in 61 at-bats with 30 hits, 23 RBI 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 134 ⅔ 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 133 ⅓ innings with a 0.84 ERA and 249 strikeouts. She had a .506 average at the plate with five home runs and 28 RBIs. Wachtel 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. In the circle, she went 15-6 with a 0.86 ERA, 266 strikeouts and 10 shutouts in 121 ⅓ innings. As a batter, Linneman hit .617 with 50 hits, 11 home runs and 57 RBI in 81 at-bats. She also had 23 stolen bases. Linneman will play at the University of Dayton.
8. (tie) Jordyn Wycuff, Watkins Memorial
The senior catcher was first-team all-state in Division I with a .570 average and 44 RBI 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. Watkins reached state for the third consecutive season.
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 in leading Canfield to the Division II state final. 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 just 27 walks. At the plate, Metzger had a .558 average with 54 RBI, 12 doubles and 11 home runs in 101 at-bats. She has signed with Coastal Carolina after previously committing to Kent State.
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 RBI in 92 at-bats and is committed to Iowa. Her club team is Ohio Hawks National.
12. Matti Benson, Louisville
The senior infielder was second-team all-state last season after batting .548 with 34 hits, 24 RBI, eight doubles and eight home runs in 62 at-bats. Benson has signed with Maryland and plays club ball for Ohio Hawks National.
13. Ayla Ray, Austintown-Fitch
The senior infielder was first-team all-state last year and helped Fitch to the Division I state championship. Ray batted .534 with six home runs, 39 hits and 19 RBI in 73 at-bats. She has signed with Youngstown State.
14. Destiny Ruggiero, Akron Springfield
The senior outfielder is a three-sport athlete for Springfield and was first-team all-state in Division I in softball. Ruggiero had a .512 batting average with 45 runs, 44 hits, 48 RBI and 12 home runs in 86 at-bats. She is committed to Cleveland State for softball and plays club ball for Thunder Elite 18U.
15. Anna Wise, Brecksville-Broadview Heights
The senior pitcher was first-team all-state in Division I last year. She went 25-3 with 145 strikeouts in 139 2/3 innings and boasted a 0.70 ERA. Wise has signed with Ohio University.
16. Thea Staten, Bryan
The sophomore pitcher was first-team all-state in Division II last season, one of two freshmen to receive the honor. Staten 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 RBI. SBLive Sports listed her as one of the top 20 freshmen in the country after last season.
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 RBI and one home run in 91 at-bats. Arnold has signed with Stetson and plays club for Ohio Hawks National.
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 RBI 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 RBI. In the circle, Spruell was 18-3 with a 1.67 ERA and struck out 235 batters. She has signed with Ball State and plays club ball with the Cincy Doom National 18U team.
20. Alaina Eldridge, Carlisle
The senior third baseman was first-team all-state in Division III last season with a .600 batting average. Eldridge, who also plays basketball and volleyball, had 51 hits, 35 RBI and six home runs in 86 at-bats.
21. Brenna Fyffe, Springfield Kenton Ridge
The sophomore catcher was first-team all-state in Division II last season, one of two freshmen to be honored. Fyffe hit .549 with 56 hits, five home runs and 44 RBI in 102 at-bats and was first-team All-Central Buckeye Conference. She plays club ball for the Ohio Hawks.
22. Cora Hall, Thornville Sheridan
The junior pitcher and infielder was a first-team all-state honoree 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 RBI. 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. Brentlinger also batted .551 with 54 hits and 48 RBI in 98 at-bats. She was named Central Buckeye Conference Player of the Year.
23. (tie) Lexi Gray, Tallmadge
The senior catcher and leadoff hitter was second-team all-state last season for a team that went 26-8 and won the Division II state championship.
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
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio high school softball's top 24 players for 2024
