Play Ball! Meet the top 64 softball players in the Lafayette Area
LAFAYETTE — The days in Indiana are getting longer and the dew from the grass is melting into what should be another competitive year for softball.
High School girls softball in the Lafayette Area is set for its first at bats and games starting this Wednesday.
This season offers a wide range of talented players from 4A to 1A. Hitters that dot the streets with home runs, infielders and outfielders who make plays and pitchers that will pound the strike zone.
More: National Signing Day 2023: Greater Lafayette Area athletes sign letters of intent
With a strong core of athletes to choose from, it's time to rank the top 64 softball players from the Lafayette Area in 2024. The list includes a preseason starting rotation for big schools 4A-3A and small 2A-1A.
J&C Big Schools Preseason First Team
1. Chelsea Parker
School: Harrison
Position: 1B
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .466 with one home run, five triples, 10 doubles and 42 RBI.
Summary: Parker signed to DePaul during the November college signing period after a stellar 2023. Parker led her team in RBI and guided the Raiders to a semistate semifinal appearance after winning sectional against McCutcheon.
2. Ava Mobley
School: Harrison
Position: C
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .396 with five home runs, two triples, 10 doubles amd 48 RBI.
Summary: Mobley provides depth and pop to this deep Harrison lineup. Mobley is signed to play softball at Bradley.
3. Adrianne Tolen
School: West Lafayette
Position: SS
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .517 with four home runs, eight doubles and 41 RBI.
Summary: Not only is Tolen one of the area's top basketball players, Tolen gets the job done with her glove and bat in the infield for the Red Devils. Tolen set the single season RBI record for West Lafayette in 2023.
4. Aubrey Miller
School: McCutcheon
Position: OF
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .429 with three home runs, a triple, three doubles and nine RBI.
Summary: Watch for a power surge from Miller who brings a mix of power at the plate and speed in the outfield.
5. Rilee Clifton
School: Lafayette Jeff
Position: C
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .362 with eight doubles, four home runs and 22 RBI.
Summary: Another rising underclassmen who has a quick popup rate at catcher and will make her impact felt as a power hitter.
6. Christina Susdorf
School: Crawfordsville
Position: C
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .397 with two home runs, a triple, nine doubles and 24 RBI.
Summary: Susdorf was a bright spot for an Athenians squad that finished 3-23 last season. Susdorf made the Journal & Courier 2023 team.
7. Rylan Gick
School: Harrison
Position: P
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Pitched 132.1 innings, 173 Ks, 2.43 ERA.
Summary: Gick possesses a lively arm that has shown the ability to go deep into games. Gick's performance in the circle will help dictate how far Harrison goes in this season's IHSAA Class 4A playoffs.
8. Taylor Van Meter
School: Rensselaer Central
Position: SS
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .410 with eight doubles and one home run for the Bombers.
Summary: Another agile athlete in the outfield who found success as a guard for the Bombers' basketball team. Now she looks to lead Rensselaer Central on the softball diamond in 2024.
9. Piper Ramey
School: North Montgomery
Position: P/3B
Class: Junior
2023 stats: Batted .519 with four home runs, two triples, 11 doubles, 37 RBI. Struck out 104 and walked 39 in 90 1/3 innings in the circle.
Summary: Gifted 2-way player for the Chargers who put up gaudy numbers at the plate in 2023. Watch for North Montgomery to make greater progress after finishing 9-17 last season.
10. Ashley Dunk
School: Harrison
Position: SS
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .402 with three home runs, five triples, nine doubles and 31 RBI.
Summary: Dunk had a breakout 2023 and bolsters a deep lineup at Harrison, favored to make another deep run in the state playoffs.
11. Bree Johnson
School: West Lafayette
Position: 1B
Class: Junior
2023 stats: Batted .389 with one home run, two triples, four doubles, 28 RBI.
Summary: Consistent bat and glove at first base. Johnson makes solid contact at the plate and will allow the Red Devils to compete against reigning sectional champion Western.
12. Miliana Herring
School: Lafayette Jeff
Position: UTIL
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .372 with 2 doubles, a triple and a home run.
Summary: Herring had a solid season at the plate in 2023 and looks to make enhanced contributions defensively in the outfield.
Journal & Courier Big Schools Second Team
Whitney Duell – Harrison - 2B - Senior - Batted .397 with six doubles and 26 RBI
Evy Pitt - Lafayette Jeff - OF - Junior Batted .349 with 6 doubles, 2 triples. and 12 stolen bases.
Dani Rawles – West Lafayette - P/UTIL - Senior - Made 11 appearances, 29 strikeouts, 37 walks, 7.66 ERA, batted .349 with one home run, four triples, two doubles, nine RBI.
Kaidynn Peckinpaugh – McCutcheon - P/1B - Sophomore - Batted .457 with two triples, five doubles, 11 RBI.
Izzy Ascarelli – West Lafayette - P/OF – Sophomore - Made 18 pitching appearances, 2.26 ERA, 107 strikeouts, Batted .452 with a triple, double and 11 RBI.
Kaitlyn Whitaker – Twin Lakes - 1B - Senior – Batted .364 with four doubles and 18 RBI.
Ellie Wilcoxson – West Lafayette - UTIL - Junior - Batted .295 with 11 RBI.
Sayler Teal - Lafayette Jeff - P/Utility - Junior - 3.74 ERA with 100 K's in 78 innings.
Mallorie Beutel – McCutcheon - 3B - Junior - Batted .375 with seven doubles, nine RBI.
Ella McManomy – North Montgomery - C - Sophomore – Batted .427 with four doubles, 19 RBI.
Journal & Courier Preseason Small Schools First Team
1. Lexi Miller
School: Delphi
Position: P
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Posted a 2.46 ERA with 314 strikeouts in 179 innings pitched and batted .381 with nine triples, eight doubles and 24 RBI.
Summary: Good luck trying to make contact against Miller who pounds the strike zone and can elevate and drop pitches at different levels. Miller is the reigning Journal & Courier Small Schools Player of the Year after a dominant performance in the circle plus a supplemental bat that helped Delphi win its second regional championship in history. Miller is committed to Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Illinois.
2. Kortney Surber
School: Clinton Central
Position: Outfielder
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .523 with nine home runs, five triples, 14 doubles and 63 RBI.
Summary: A gifted outfielder who covers ground and makes quick reads left and right, Surber has signed a scholarship to University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.
3. Hunter Biddle
School: Benton Central
Position: C
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .321 with a triple, three doubles, 16 RBI.
Summary: Another talented catcher in the Lafayette area who will be relied upon to make an even greater offensive contribution. Benton Central graduated four seniors in 2023.
4. Avery Layton
School: Rossville
Position: P
Class: Junior
2023 stats: Batted .521 with 33 RBI and delivered 246 strikeouts in 121.1 innings and a 1.75 ERA
Summary: Another dominant pitcher in a small schools region with a surplus of pitching. Layton also gets the job done at the plate by slicing line drives in the gap. Layton won J&C Small School Player of the Year in 2022.
5. Zoe Foxworthy-DeJournett
School: Fountain Central
Position: SS
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .500 with eight home runs, eight doubles and 21 RBI.
Summary: Foxworthy-DeJournett tore the cover off the ball and helped Fountain Central finish 11-13 in 2023.
6. Bella Dominguez
School: Tri-County
Position: C
Class: Junior
2023 stats: Batted .473 with two triples, five doubles, 10 RBI.
Summary: Dominguez is expected to grow her numbers after an impressive 2023. She became known for her quickness behind the plate as a catcher, a smooth through swing and stole 17 bases.
7. Lacey Pickering
School: Delphi
Position: SS
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .312 with one home run, one triple, six doubles and 13 RBI.
Summary: A stealthy glove on the infield, Pickering made steps as a hitter for the Oracles in 2023. Delphi chases its second straight regional championship with Pickering in the heart of its lineup.
8. Summer Wynn
School: North Newton
Position: SS
Class: Senior
2023 stats: Batted .594 with four home runs, four triples, six doubles, 25 RBI.
Summary: Wynn pounded the ball and became one of the most reliable infielders in Indiana, posting a .969 fielding percentage in 2023.
9. Julia Mazur
School: Central Catholic
Position: OF
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .375 with two triples, five doubles, 20 RBI.
Summary: Came on strong for her freshman campaign and is the Knights returning leader in batting. A strong arm from the outfield to infield, Mazur is forecast to drive the ball more for power in 2024.
10. Hannah Merkle
School: Faith Christian
Position: P/UTIL
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .452 with four triples, three doubles, 22 RBI. Threw 102 innings, 2.45 ERA, 102 strikeouts, 25 walks.
Summary: Became a reliable pitcher and gapped a slew of pitches for the Eagles in 2023. Faith Christian should take a step forward into sectional championship contention in 2024.
11. Kaylyn Wheeler
School: Faith Christian
Position: SS
Class: Junior
2023 stats: Batted .357 with one home run, one triple, 10 doubles and 22 RBI.
Summary: Wheeler assumes a greater role in the batting rotation after the Patriots received a tough sectional draw, losing to eventual champion Delphi 1-0 in the semifinals. Wheeler has a quick glove and looks to assert herself as one of the area's best players.
12. Addi Gorbett
School: Rossville
Position: SS
Class: Sophomore
2023 stats: Batted .571 with 18 RBI
Summary: Gorbett made her presence felt at the top of the lineup and helped guide the Hornets to the IHSAA 1A Sectional Championship over Tri-County in 2023.
Journal & Courier Preseason Small Schools Second Team
Sydney Rainford – North Newton - P - Sophomore - Pitched 69 innings, 159 strikeouts and 20 walks. Batted .438 with two home runs, seven doubles and 14 RBI,
Kacey Kirkpatrick – Fountain Central - P – Senior - Posted 3.33 ERA, struck out 158 batters with 42 walks, batted .397 with seven home runs, a triple, eight doubles and 34 RBI.
Abie Pearson – Delphi - 2B - Sophomore - Batted .427 with four triples, six doubles and 12 RBI.
Keely Frier – Faith Christian - UTIL – Freshman - N/A
Marianne Whorrall - Seeger - 3B - Senior - Batted .388 with a .553 slugging percentage.
Izzy Scott – Faith Christian - C – Senior - Batted .362 with eight doubles and 15 RBI
Karma Kingery – Covington - C - Senior Batted .345 with a triple, five doubles and 23 RBI.
Kyndale Rice – Southmont - P/1B – Junior - Batted .452 with one home run, one triple, four doubles and 14 RBI.
Tyra Hammer – 3B – Senior - Batted .347 with a home run, a triple, 12 doubles and 17 RBI.
Jenna Grino – Southmont - OF – Junior - Batted .468 with one home run, eight doubles, 22 RBI.
Ashlyn Minniear – Frontier - OF - Junior – Batted .377 with seven home runs, two triples, three doubles and 27 RBI.
Mallory Mason - Southmont – 3B - Junior – Batted .495 with two triples, five doubles and 17 RBI
Haven Wilson – Clinton Prairie - C - Senior – Batted .364 with three home runs, three triples, two doubles, 20 RBI.
Mara Sharpe – West Central - OF - Senior - Batted .467 with three home runs, 11 triples, nine doubles and 23 RBI.
Brenna Riley – Clinton Prairie - 2B - Sophomore – Batted .427 with one home run, three triples, nine doubles and 18 RBI.
Jalie Glasford – West Central - P/INF – Junior - Batted .512 with two home runs, eight doubles and 31 RBI. Pitched 60 innings, 2.57 ERA, 64 strikeouts.
Grace Luck – Tri-County - P/SS – Sophomore - Batted .556 with three home runs, two triples, five doubles, 18 RBI. Pitched 66.1 innings, 89 strikeouts, 0.89 ERA
Jaden Erb – West Central - P/OF – Senior - Pitched 103.2 innings, 124 strikeouts, 26 walks. Batted .368 with one home run, one triple, nine doubles, 23 RBI.
Kaylyn Applegate - North White - Junior - UTIL- Batted .319 with one double and seven RBI.
Maddie Nevitt – Tri-County - P/ UTIL – Sophomore - Batted .406 with two home runs including a grand slam, four triples, five doubles and 23 RBI.
Maddie Justice - Carroll - 2B - Junior - Batted .447 with three home runs, three triples, six doubles and 19 RBI.
Kailee Bishop – West Central - C/SS - Junior – Batted .361 with eight home runs, 10 doubles and 35 RBI.
Morgan Carter - North White - UTIL- Junior - Batted .116 with one home run and three RBI.
Annika Smith – West Central - SS – Senior - Batted .471 with eight home runs, one triple and 15 doubles.
Rylie Lanum – Carroll - 3B – Senior - Batted .398 with 12 doubles and 27 RBI.
Grace Tyler – Tri-County - P / UTIL – Sophomore - Batted .441 with four doubles and 14 RBI.
Kaylin Randle – Carroll - SS – Junior - Batted .439 with seven home runs, five triples, six doubles and 27 RBI.
Kami Wilkerson – Tri-County - 3B - Junior – Batted .373 with one triple, six doubles and 20 RBI.
Melanie Crawford - North White - UTIL - Sophomore - Batted .340 with three doubles and seven RBI.
Olivia Stankard – Carroll - C – Sophomore - Batted .253 with three doubles and 11 RBI.
Corinne Latta – South Newton - UTIL - Senior - Batted .381 with one double and six RBI.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Meet the top 64 softball players in the Lafayette Area
