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Prep Softball: Top 108 players to watch as the 2024 season is underway

jose quintero, victorville daily press
·7 min read

The 2024 high school softball season is officially underway, especially in the Desert Sky League, which began league play last week.

Other leagues in the area won’t get started until later this month. The Mojave River League openers are scheduled for March 27.

With the season here, it’s time to look at some of the area’s top players to keep an eye on.

The list is full of talent across the board in the High Desert; however, the Mojave River League is loaded with star players.

Among the returning talent, Sultana’s Savannah Vanderpool highlights the list in the MRL as the top pitcher.

Prep Baseball: Top 104 players to watch as the 2024 season is underway

As a sophomore, she racked up 158 strikeouts in the circle to earn the MRL’s Pitcher of the Year award. Vanderpool helped the Sultans to a second-place finish in the league standings. She went 10-11 over 22 appearances with a 5.96 ERA.

Sultana’s Savannah Vanderpool, left, celebrates with teammates Avery Rodriguez and Isabel Avalos after the sixth inning on Thursday, March 19, 2023. Sultana defeated Apple Valley 9-5.
Sultana’s Savannah Vanderpool, left, celebrates with teammates Avery Rodriguez and Isabel Avalos after the sixth inning on Thursday, March 19, 2023. Sultana defeated Apple Valley 9-5.

Vanderpool, a junior, should eclipse that strikeouts mark as she's struck out 134 batters this season through 72 innings in the circle.

Leading the way for Oak Hills this year is Maddie Romo, who as a senior has racked up three home runs and 18 RBIs through 10 games this year.

As a junior, Romo slugged 10 home runs, to go along with 46 RBIs, 25 runs and hit for a .530 average.

Oak Hills' Maddie Romo delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against Silverado on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Oak Hills beat Silverado 12-0 on the road in the season-opener.
Oak Hills' Maddie Romo delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against Silverado on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Oak Hills beat Silverado 12-0 on the road in the season-opener.

Romo has stepped up as the top pitcher for the Bulldogs this season as she sports a 6-1 record in the circle with a 2.08 ERA and 62 strikeouts over 37 innings.

The meetings between Romo’s Bulldogs and Vanderpool’s Sultans figure to be quite the pitcher's duel.

Currently, Sultana is ranked 98th in the state, according to MaxPreps.com, while Oak Hills is at 83rd. Those teams will square off on April 1 at Oak Hills.

In the Desert Sky League, the top teams Granite Hills and Barstow appear to be the top squads. They are both currently unbeaten in league play. Granite Hills is currently 3-0, while Barstow is 2-0.

Silverado’s Alexis Rodriguez tries to slides past Barstow catcher Mariah Rodriguez during the the fourth inning on Monday, April 24, 2023. Silverado defeated Barstow 12-2 to capture the Desert Sky League title.
Silverado’s Alexis Rodriguez tries to slides past Barstow catcher Mariah Rodriguez during the the fourth inning on Monday, April 24, 2023. Silverado defeated Barstow 12-2 to capture the Desert Sky League title.

Barstow is led by catcher Mariah Rodriguez, who was named the 2023 Daily Press Female Athlete of the Year, and earned a spot on the All-CIF-Southern Section Division 5 team.

Last year, Rodriguez led Barstow’s offense with a .542 batting average, and also slugged six home runs, including four grand slams, with 50 RBIs, 40 runs and four stolen bases.

Granite Hills’ potent offense is led by a pair of underclass players.

Emily Marks, a sophomore, currently leads Granite Hills with a .703 batting average, 23 RBIs and 15 runs. Mylie Shepard, a junior, is right behind with .583 average, 11 RBIs and 17 runs.

Granite Hills' Emily Marks returns to the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning against Victor Valley on Thursday, March 14, 2024 in Victorville. Granite Hills defeated Victor Valley 20-2.
Granite Hills' Emily Marks returns to the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning against Victor Valley on Thursday, March 14, 2024 in Victorville. Granite Hills defeated Victor Valley 20-2.

The unbeaten DSL teams square off on March 21 at Granite Hills.

In the Cross Valley League, University Prep appears to be the favorite to repeat as league champion, with Academy for Academic Excellence poised to make a run at the crown.

University Prep is currently ranked 124th in the state, according to MaxPreps.com, while AAE is 161st.

University Prep’s Dani Jackman, who led the state and was 12th in the nation with 76 RBIs as a junior last year, leads the way this year. Jackman’s monstrous junior season stats earned her a spot on the All-CIF-SS Division 5 team.

University Prep's Dani Jackman singles up the middle in the fourth inning against Cajon on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
University Prep's Dani Jackman singles up the middle in the fourth inning against Cajon on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Through nine games, AAE is currently unbeaten at 7-0-2. The offense is led by a freshman and a senior.

Kayla Berg, a freshman, leads the team with a .688 average with three home runs, 14 RBIs, 21 runs and 10 stolen bases. Paityn Thibodeaux, a senior, is second on the team with 16 hits. She has a .516 batting average with two home runs, 15 RBIs, 14 runs and 12 stolen bases.

In the Agape League, three returning players earned All-CIF-SS honors last year.

Hesperia Christian’s Eden Skinner and Gabrielle Stoops both earned a spot on the All-CIF-SS Division 7 team last year.

Skinner led the Patriots with a .564 average, to go along with five home runs, 32 RBIs, 27 runs and nine stolen bases. Stoops ended the season with a .442 average, 14 RBIs, 25 runs and 17 stolen bases.

Academy of Careers & Explorations' Araceli Manzo was named to the All-CIF-SS Division 6 squad as a junior last year. Manzo tallied 62 RBIs, which was fifth in the state last year, and also scored 51 runs, 17th best in California. Manzo led the Eagles, the defending Agape League champions, with a .728 average, to go along with six home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Here’s a full list of the High Desert’s top players to keep an eye on this season.

More: Oak Hills’ Rylie Gresham-Center is the Victorville Chevrolet High School Athlete of the Week

Agape League

2023 standings: 1. Academy of Careers & Exploration 9-0; 2. Hesperia Christian 6-3; 3. Silver Valley 3-6; 4. Lucerne Valley 0-9

Academy of Careers & Exploration — Kamie Costa, junior; Aniya Edwards, senior; Araceli Manzo, senior; Danaka Pelayes, senior; Addison Shockley, sophomore.

Hesperia Christian — Hailey Hoffman, junior; Macy Piorkowski, senior; Riley Piorkowski, freshman; Edin Skinner, sophomore; Gabrielle Stoops, senior; Elyse Vander Weide, sophomore.

Lucerne Valley — Chloe Evans, junior; Ariana Garcia, freshman; Cheyenne Watson, junior; Leanne Watson, freshman.

Silver Valley — Brionna Andrews, junior; Makenzie Connor, junior; Angelina Estrella, senior; Destiny Ortiz-Leon, junior.

Cross Valley League

University Prep’s Paityn Zimmerman throws to first base during the fourth inning against Apple Valley on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Apple Valley defeated University Prep 12-7.
University Prep’s Paityn Zimmerman throws to first base during the fourth inning against Apple Valley on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Apple Valley defeated University Prep 12-7.

2023 standings: 1. University Prep 10-0; 2. Riverside Prep 8-2; 3. Academy for Academic Excellence 6-4; 4. Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy 4-5; 5. Excelsior 1-9; 6. Big Bear 1-9

Academy for Academic Excellence — Haylee Berg, sophomore; Kayla Berg, freshman; Aiden Carlson, senior; Gracie Farber, senior; Emily Garcia, sophomore; Hayden Gonzales, sophomore; Paityn Thibodeaux, senior.

Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy — Bella Cruz, senior; Hillary Felix, senior; Isabelle VanLear, junior.

Excelsior — Evangeline Archuleta, junior; Tristen Gonzalez, junior; Rylie Hunsaker, junior; Destinee Martinez, junior; Samantha Minghelli, junior; Audie Nottingham, junior.

Riverside Prep — Sophia Chavez, freshman; Alyssa Martinez, junior; Kendal Morgan, freshman; Jazlyne Torres, freshman; Samantha Urtiaga, junior.

University Prep — Saidy Gonzalez, freshman; Dani Jackman, senior; Carsyn Leon, freshman; Jayleen Lopez, junior; Kayla Lopez, freshman; Victoria Patino, sophomore; Ariana Romero, sophomore; Cemaira Romo, senior; Briseis Vargas, sophomore; Paityn Zimmerman, sophomore.

Desert Sky League

Silverado's Haylee Stanislawski delivers a pitch against Oak Hills during the second inning on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Oak Hills beat Silverado 12-0 on the road in the season-opener.
Silverado's Haylee Stanislawski delivers a pitch against Oak Hills during the second inning on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Oak Hills beat Silverado 12-0 on the road in the season-opener.

2023 standings: 1. Silverado 11-1; 2. Barstow 10-2; 3. Granite Hills 5-7; 4. Victor Valley 3-9; 5. Adelanto 1-11

Adelanto — Kylie Castanon, sophomore; Briana Davis, junior; Ce'onie Turner; Monica Flores, junior; Taylor Fullwood; Alyah Vidana.

Barstow — Chloe Bledsoe, senior; Kaylee Martinez, junior; Brooke Miller, senior; Riley Purdy, junior; Alyssa Ramsey, senior; Mariah Rodriguez, senior; Marley Zamora, senior.

Granite Hills — Saylor Croom, sophomore; Mariah Maestas, senior; Emily Marks, sophomore; Kathryn McCartney, sophomore; Mylie Shepard, junior; Mia Vasquez, senior.

Silverado — Amani Davila, junior; Alexis Rodriguez, sophomore; Janaeh Silva, sophomore; Haylee Stanislawski, senior; Alexandra Valdez, junior.

Victor Valley — Andrea Garcia, sophomore; Angie Lozano, junior; Kaylee Martinez; Susanna Ramirez, sophomore.

Mojave River League

Apple Valley’s Bethany Morrison celebrates as she rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against University Prep on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Apple Valley defeated University Prep 12-7.
Apple Valley’s Bethany Morrison celebrates as she rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against University Prep on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Apple Valley defeated University Prep 12-7.

2023 standings: 1. Oak Hills 9-1; 2. Sultana 8-2; 3. Apple Valley 7-3; 4. Serrano 4-6; 5. Burroughs 2-8; 6. Hesperia 0-10

Apple Valley — Sam Dollar, junior; Peyton Gaytan, sophomore; Ireland Jenkins, sophomore; Brynne Johnson, junior; Hailey Macias, sophomore; Bethany Morrison, senior.

Hesperia — Arnette Gonzalez, senior; Malena Griego, junior; Layla Mata, junior; Lola Sartoresi, junior; Marisa Thomas, senior; Angela Villalobos, junior.

Oak Hills — Destinee Estrada, senior; Rylie Gresham-Center, senior; Daylin Hoenisch, junior; Maddie Romo, senior; Amaya Sigala, freshman; Dallyse York, freshman.

Serrano — Samantha Conan, junior; Jamie Motley, junior; Autumn Pratt, junior; Cody Rameriz, junior; Samantha Thurber, senior.

Sultana — Isabel Avalos, junior; Hope Merrill, senior; Jordan Mullinax, junior; Katelyn Parrish, senior; Maria Perez, senior; Avery Rodriguez, junior; Savannah Vanderpool, junior.

CIF-SS Playoff Divisions

  • Division 4 — Oak Hills, Sultana

  • Division 5 — Apple Valley, Barstow, Serrano, Silverado

  • Division 6 — Adelanto, Granite Hills, University Prep, Victor Valley

  • Division 7 — Academy for Academic Excellence, Academy of Careers & Exploration, Burroughs, Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy, Hesperia, Riverside Prep

  • Division 8 — Excelsior, Hesperia Christian, Lucerne Valley, Silver Valley

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Prep Softball: Top 108 players to watch as the 2024 season is underway