AT THE PLATE: See Jacksonville high school softball top teams, players to watch in 2024

The 2024 Florida High School Athletic Association softball season begins this week. See top teams and players to watch across Northeast Florida.

9 TEAMS TO WATCH

Baker County

Arm alert. With the one-two combination of juniors Rylee Walker (8-8, 1.69 ERA, 89 K) and Chloe Woods (10-1, 1.19 ERA, 103 K), the Wildcats have more than enough pitching for almost every opponent. The question mark is run production, but most of Baker County's best hitters are back for the new season's start, including Brooklyn Davis (.315), Baleigh Shields (.351) and Haley Marker (.402, 4 HR) on the infield.

Baldwin

An early favorite to make a return trip to the state final four. This lineup is thoroughly loaded, with top batters including infielders Jazmine Ramos-Merced (.430, 10 2B, 8 HR, 33 RBI) and Kendall North (.283, 9 2B), catcher Cali Hartung (.348, 5 HR) and outfielder Chloe Gotto (.396, 7 2B). And in the circle is Seminole State College signee Shaylen Byrd (24-5, 1.86 ERA, 229 K). Expect another banner year in B-Town.

Creekside

Among the best all-around teams in St. Johns County. They'll bring back the precision of Daytona State College signee Kaylee Martineau (20 BB, 1.74 ERA, .366 average) along with battle-tested seniors Bella Campbell (.363, 6 2B, 25 RBI), Cora Middleton (.442, 7 2B, 28 RBI, 1.126 OPS) and Riley Waters (.371, 7 2B, 2 HR). Creekside narrowly missed a 20-win season.

Middleburg

Two years removed from their 2022 state trophy, the Broncos have their eyes on another season to remember. Pitchers can't relax for a moment against Kerra Clarida (.397, 11 HR, 40 RBI), who can take almost any pitch out of the park. Outfielders Madison Wesley and Mika Wesley are also back, as well as Kaelyn Hagan at short, Alyssa Prather at catcher and the pair of Morgan Beckham and Lily Bennett in the circle.

Paxon

If everything comes together, the Golden Eagles might be the main obstacle standing between Baldwin and a Gateway Conference repeat. There's power at first in senior Mackenzie Pitzer (.479, 12 2B, 6 HR, 32 RBI) and proven contact from outfielder Addison Brown (.338, 19 steals), catcher Jaela Palmer (.403, 4 HR, 21 RBI) and all-around athlete Kennedy Waymer (.435, 20 steals). Freshman Kassidy Edwards showed promise as both pitcher and hitter in preseason.

Ponte Vedra

The Sharks bring back one of Northeast Florida's best batteries, always a foundation for a contender. Troy signee Caiden Oliva is an extra-base machine with 23 doubles, 12 triples and 11 homers in her Sharks career, while Aoife Weaver steps up to the No. 1 pitcher role after a strong freshman year (6-1, 2.88 ERA, nine doubles).

Ridgeview

It begins with the battery. Ridgeview brings back a good one with pitcher Saige Bialek (1.94 ERA), who was nearly unbeatable down the stretch in her freshman year, and catcher Haylee McCrea (.523, 15 2B, 28 RBI), newly signed with Eastern Florida State College. An outstanding defensive team, the Panthers return key starters like Ky Torrence at second and Hannah Crosby in the outfield, while adding transfer Megan Jeffers after her .742 sophomore year at St. Johns Country Day.

University Christian

The reigning Class 2A state champions get one more year with the all-around weapon that is Sophia Kardatzke. Signed with USC Upstate, the All-First Coast player of the year was utterly dominant both as pitcher (22-1, 1.33 ERA, 227 K) and slugger (.632, 13 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 50 RBI, 1.947 OPS). Is a repeat in store? Jaleigha Harris and Kate Dell'Alba, both seniors, further strengthen a roster that can compete with anybody in Class 2A.

West Nassau

The Warriors' batting order might be the school's deepest in years. Center fielder Reese Green (.391, 10 doubles, three homers, 16 RBI) and catcher Sydney English (.367, seven doubles, five homers, 17 RBI) are four-year starters signed with Troy and Santa Fe College, respectively. With seniors Kinleigh Carter and Mariah Kinard (Florida Gateway) joining Green in the outfield, and Madison Driggers and Peyton Studt leading the infield, West Nassau can contend as long as pitching comes together.

10 NORTHEAST FLORIDA SOFTBALL PITCHERS TO WATCH

P Molly Allbritton, Sr., Palatka: In her third year as the Panthers' primary starter, she's coming off an 8-6 season with 104 strikeouts and a 2.48 ERA. She's also developed as a hitter, batting .315 in 2023.

P McKenna Bejarano, Sr., Orange Park: The Raiders quietly climbed into the playoff chase with 15 wins, and Bejarano was at the center of the turnaround. She struck out 175 batters, slashed her ERA by two and a half runs (to 1.49) and comes back to lead Orange Park along with infielder Zoe Pascoe (.530, 12 doubles).

P Jessica Camacho, Sr., St. Joseph: An 8-8 team last year, the Flashes can go as far as Camacho leads them, which could be a long way. The Eastern Florida State College commit batted .568 with 13 doubles and a 1.732 OPS last year, while striking out 159 batters in the circle. Neyzza Vega and Michela Norquist also hit above .450 last year.

P Kadence Compton, Jr., Fort White: The junior has been the centerpiece of Fort White's roster for more than three seasons now, going 8-7 with a 2.15 ERA last year and bashing a career-high five home runs.

P Kaitlyn Gilmore, Sr., Bishop Kenny: Relentless in the circle and committed to Pensacola State College, Gilmore is a fourth-year No. 1 starter who struck out 206 batters last year with an 0.82 ERA. She also bats at a .316 clip, making noise in a batting order that also returns shortstop Ava Farnham (.258, 5 3B).

P Chloe Jenkins, Sr., Mandarin: Splitting pitching duties last year, she went 5-1 with a 1.26 ERA. Mandarin's lineup is nearly intact from a 15-win 2023, with high-contact returners including Ava Schreiber (.375), Blake Thomas (.381) and Ryleigh Booth (.303).

P Grace Jones, Sr., Episcopal: Signed with Mercer, Jones was thoroughly devastating in the circle (344 K, 1.02 ERA) and also packs a heavy proportion of the batting punch (.605, 13 doubles, six triples, six homers, 41 runs). If the Eagles develop more batting depth along with sophomores Claire Cinnamond and Riley Valent, this team will go far.

P Riley Kapparis, Sr., Yulee: Signed with Edward Waters, she's been a consistent extra-base producer at the plate (.387, 10 2B, 3 HR last year) in addition to her pitching performances, which included a 2.85 ERA in 2022.

P Charlotte Maddox, Jr., Oakleaf: The 8-9 record doesn't tell the complete story for the Dartmouth commit, who struck out 86 with a 1.77 ERA against a bruising schedule. She also batted .409 in a quality battery with Alabama State-signed catcher Meshayla Pettaway.

P Tiffany Semack, So., Fletcher: As a freshman, she contributed both from the circle and from the plate, batting .447 with 17 RBI and finishing with a 3.35 ERA in her first high school season.

15 NORTHEAST FLORIDA BATTERS TO WATCH

3B Abbie Anson, Sr., Sandalwood: A long-ball threat for the Saints. Anson, who signed with Lynn this month, cleared the fences six times for Sandalwood in 2023 to go with a .382 batting average.

OF Kaitlyn Carolino, Sr., Fernandina Beach: A College of Coastal Georgia commit, Carolino reaches base at a steady clip for the Pirates. There's senior leadership in abundance .for Fernandina Beach, including Kelsey Curry and Coral Trotter, coming back from a 15-8 season.

OF Aleda Cashwell, So., Bolles: On a roster with multiple starters to replace, Cashwell looks like a Bulldog building block for years to come. She batted .403 with eight doubles and 12 stolen bases in her freshman year.

C Emily Delgado, So., Columbia: Among Northeast Florida's most promising prospects behind the plate. She hit .410 with eight doubles last year on a Tigers team that finished 16-8.

OF Olivia Garcia, Sr., Atlantic Coast: The top performer for the Stingrays last year, the Edward Waters University commit batted .373 with a 1.017 OPS. Atlantic Coast should be among Jacksonville's most improved rosters, with Emma Cano (.407 average) entering her sophomore year and several promising newcomers.

OF Miranda Harmon, Jr., Nease: She's committed to West Florida and energizes the Panthers from the top of the lineup (.530, 5 2B, 5 HR, 15 steals, 1.564 OPS). With Taylor Burton and Corinna Cioffi also back, Nease returns the core of the 2023 squad.

IF Sydney Huggins, Jr., Jackson: The Tigers' program has found new life in the past couple of seasons, with Huggins a big part of the Northside school's improvement. She batted .471 last season with five doubles, three triples and 30 RBI.

2B Alaina Kinsall, Sr., Keystone Heights: It's rare to see Keystone missing the playoff chase, but with returners like Kinsall and Abbie Roach, the Clay County school has hopes of a better 2024. Kinsall batted .458 with six doubles and five steals last year.

3B Haley Law, Sr., Suwannee: As a junior, Law was an extra-base machine at third base, whacking 12 doubles to go with a .487 batting average. Suwannee looks like a postseason contender again, with Braylyn Federico and Gracie Watley also back in the lineup after strong 2023 performances.

C Leann McCready, Sr., Menendez: Not many players in St. Johns County reached base more consistently in 2023 than McCready, a Mount Olive commit who batted .420 with nine doubles and a team-high 21 RBI. Menendez can't be ignored: Juniors Meghan Dawson and Maddie Brown split duties in the circle, and Karalina Hunter is coming off a .382 season in the outfield.

SS Lucie McDonald, Jr., Bartram Trail: A middle infielder bound for Middle Tennessee, McDonald delivers punch with the bat (13 homers in two years) far in excess of her 5-5 frame. The Bears should fare better than their 11-10 campaign last spring and will be loaded with seniors, including Olivia Conley in the circle, Addison Maliga behind the plate and Ciara Belanger, Tiana Hairston and Kiera Strub on the infield.

OF Kadriana Mincey, Sr., Trinity Christian: A winning combination of contact and power. She hit .423 with four home runs last year and signed this month with Texas Southern. With Mercer signee Hannah Rivers also returning, Trinity has a formidable one-two senior pair in the lineup.

OF Ella Morris, Sr., Fleming Island: She's heading for Rhode Island after a .343 season in 2023. Despite a tough district that includes Clay and Ponte Vedra, Morris and juniors like Olivia Sikes and Mallory Blackwell give Fleming Island a strong chance to improve on last year's 10-15 mark.

C Bailey Parker, Sr., Clay: The senior hit .348 last year with 10 doubles and returns on a batting order that also returns senior Kendyll Mann (.318, 11 RBI) and adds newcomer Kaelye Rouw. Parker forms a battery with pitcher McKinsey Bardroff, who recorded a 1.81 ERA last year.

3B Daci Sarver, Sr., Providence: Reliable on defense at the hot corner, the Mars Hill signee is also a proven run producer with 26 RBI in 2023. She's among the top returners in a lineup that also includes Summer Stearns and Grace Pearson.

2024 FHSAA SOFTBALL DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS

District 1-7A: Atlantic Coast, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Mandarin, Sandalwood

District 3-6A: First Coast, Fletcher, Gainesville Buchholz, Nease, Oakleaf, Tocoi Creek

District 2-5A: Columbia, Gainesville, Middleburg, Orange Park, Ridgeview, Tallahassee Lincoln

District 3-5A: Beachside, Clay, Englewood, Fleming Island, Parker, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine

District 2-4A: Baker County, Paxon, Westside, White

District 3-4A: Bishop Kenny, Raines, Ribault, Riverside, Stanton, Yulee

District 4-4A: Daytona Beach Seabreeze, Menendez, Port Orange Atlantic

District 2-3A: Florida High, Gadsden County, Marianna, Suwannee, Taylor County

District 3-3A: Bradford, Crescent City, Interlachen, Keystone Heights, Palatka, Pierson Taylor

District 4-3A: Baldwin, Bolles, Episcopal, Fernandina Beach, Jackson, West Nassau, Wolfson

District 2-2A: Bishop Snyder, Eagle's View, First Coast Christian, St. Johns Country Day, St. Joseph, Trinity Christian

District 3-2A: Christ's Church, Harvest Community, Parsons Christian, Providence, Seacoast Christian, University Christian

District 4-2A: Countryside Christian, Father Lopez, Gainesville St. Francis, Peniel Baptist

District 5-1A: Aucilla Christian, Hamilton County, Hilliard, Madison County, Wakulla Christian

District 6-1A: Bell, Branford, Fort White, Mayo Lafayette, Union County

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school softball 2024: Northeast Florida teams, players to watch