Section V softball's best hitters: 89 players hoping to guide their teams to a playoff run

Anything better than a home run on senior night? Ask Webster Schroeder's Biz Baglieri and Sarah Ferruzza. Each senior sent a homer over their home field fence during a 10-0 win over Honeoye Falls-Lima Monday night following an emotional pregame ceremony.

With a stacked batting lineup like Webster Schroeder's on one end, and a junior pitcher like Liana DeValder tossing a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts on the other, the 17-2 Warriors should be taken seriously when the Section V Class AA postseason begins with Saturday's first round games.

Many of the area's best hitters are back after legendary 2023 postseason performances. Rush-Henrietta catcher Elizabeth Gleghorn's walk-off hit in extras granted the Royal Comets their first-ever Section V title. Honeoye Falls-Lima's Kate Dailor smacked home runs in the section semifinal and final. Webster Thomas' Maddie Hicks hit a grand slam in regionals while Maddie Throumoulos went yard in the state semifinal. Wellsville's Makenna Dunbar hit two homers in regionals and another in the state semifinal. Friendship/Scio's Nevaeh Ross even smashed an unforgettable home run in the state final.

Here are some of Section V's best bats ahead of postseason play beginning Saturday:

Ferruzza, Baglieri bag home runs

On Monday, catcher Sarah Ferruzza blasted a three-run homer over the left field fence, and first baseman Biz Baglieri — .520 BA, 24 R, 9 RBIs, 14 BB, 9 SB, .820 SLG, .625 OBP — hit a solo shot in the fourth. Baglieri is a luxury at leadoff hitter. The Boston commit's powerful left-handed swing mirrors one who bats cleanup. Baglieri collected two hits, a home run, 3 RBIs and 3 runs against HF-L. Ferruzza bats fifth and caught a runner attempting to steal second. She'll play at Nazareth.

Junior pitcher and No. 2 hitter Liana DeValder — .426 BA, 14 R, 16 RBIs, .703 SLG, 6 SB — was untouchable throughout Monday's no-hitter. Freshman shortstop Kinsley Keil — .462 BA, 20 RBIs, 16 R, 7 W, .525 OBP, .615 SLG is having a nice season as Schroeder's No. 3 hitter. Coach Meaghan Keil's Warriors bounced back from a 1-0 loss at Class B power Wellsville (14-1) on Mother's Day.

"My mentality going up to the plate is, 'See ball, hit ball'," Baglieri said.

"I was like, 'I need to get a hit,'" Ferruzza said. "I just needed to make some contact, and I did."

Rush-Henrietta's clutch hitters

Junior Elizabeth Gleghorn and Kadyn Hartel are part of Rush-Henrietta's battery that leads a senior-less Royal Comets squad. Gleghorn, one of the area's best catchers, leads the team with a .481 batting average and 17 RBIs during their 10-9 start. She's also scored 23 runs and struck out just thrice in 52 plate appearance. Hartel, a junior pitcher, is batting .438 with 25 runs as one of the area's most elite slappers. Coach Lynn Rotola's young roster returns a wealth of talent, and shouldn't be taken lightly in the Section V Class AAA postseason.

"That was our first win in school history. It's something that we've all probably never felt before. And losing a lot of seniors was rough. ... But I think our team is working through it, and we're very excited for sectionals this year," Gleghorn said.

Mercy Monarchs' bats are back

Mercy's roster is young, but enough lively bats are back from the Monarchs' 2023 Section V Class A2 championship run. Ava Verdi and Bella Mitrano are coach Rick Sylvester's only seniors. Verdi, an outfielder, is one of Mercy's most consistent hitters with a .410 batting average. Junior third baseman Annika Van Damme with batting .429 with 16 RBIs and a .538 on-base percentage. Freshman pitcher Leah Sperry has powerful pitches and a mighty swing. She's batting .331 with three home runs and five doubles in her second season. The Monarchs are 12-7 and within reach of a top-4 seed in Class A.

"I think our defense is really tight. We need to get the bats going a little bit more, but they're coming alive, and I think we're going to be really great in sectionals," Verdi said.

Section V softball's top hitters

Athletes were nominated by Section V coaches and the Democrat and Chronicle staff. Coaches can email mslaughter1@gannett.com to include their softball players. Stats may not be up to date.

Nicole Allen, Fairport: The senior centerfielder and Stony Brook commit is in her fifth season. Allen registered the first hit and scored a run in the 2022 Section V Class AA final; .443 BA, 27 H, 4 2B, 6 3B, 14 RBIs, 24 R, 5 BB.

Biz Baglieri, Webster Schroeder: (See above).

Kailyn Ball, Elba: Freshman catcher is batting .390.

Haylee Beesley, Waterloo: Leadoff hitter; .492 BA, .820 SLG, 30 H, 8 2B, 6 3B, 10 RBIs, 32 R, 7 BB.

Brazen Beckwith, Wellsville: Catcher and No. 2 hitter for New York State's No. 1 ranked Class B team.

Madison Boyce, Alexander: Senior pitcher; 20-for-46, .435 BA, 2 HR, 2 3B, 11 RBIs, 10 BB, 18 R, 7 SB.

Jessia Breedy, Franklin: Sophomore pitcher collected two hits in the Rochester City Athletic Conference championship game.

Ariana Buchiere, Canandaigua: The senior centerfielder and four year starter is committed to St. Bonaventure; .475 BA this season, .415 career BA.

Sawyer Burke, Wellsville: Leadoff hitter and centerfielder for the Lions (14-1), whose 1-0 win over Webster Schroeder marked their 14th straight win.

Kelley Burnett, Canandaigua: Senior catcher and four year starter is batting .434 this season and .418 for her career. She's caught 6 runners stealing this year and 22 in four year.

Kendall Buttles, Aquinas: Leadoff batter with a .306 BA and .895 OBP as a seventh-grader.

Hannah Carpenter, Brockport: Sophomore provides power in the middle of the lineup; team high 11 XBH, 5 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 20 RBIs, second on the team with .571 BA and 16 R, .980 SLG, positive BB/K ratio.

Juliana Catalano, Fairport: Senior infielder and Manhattanville commit is in her fifth season registered the game-winning RBI-double in the 2022 Section V Class AA final; .407 BA, 24 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 22 RBIs, 17 R, 3 BB.

Laurel Cius, Attica: Senior four year varsity player; 18-50, 360 BA, 2 2B, 4 BB, and 12 RBIs.

Ella Cooley, Irondequoit: Junior centerfielder; .367 BA, 20 H, 11 R, .450 OBP.

Grace Cotsonas, East Rochester: Sophomore outfielder/catcher leads team in hits, runs and a .566 BA; .657 OBP, .536 SLG, 1.293 OPS.

Catelin Couillard, Midlakes: Senior in her third season bats leadoff; .352 BA, .493 OBP; team high 35 R, 11 RBIs.

Jessie Crye, Avon: Sophomore pitcher; .325 BA,13 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 13 R.

Carli Daniels, East Rochester: Senior centerfielder; .520 BA, .625 OBP, .750 SLG, team high 1.375 OPS.

Kate Dailor, Honeoye Falls-Lima: Senior catcher; 40 IP, 6 PB, 3 PIK, 13 SBA, .525 BA, .592 OBP, 17 RBIs, 1.050 SLG.

Annika Van Damme, Mercy: (See above).

Abbie DeRock, Letchworth: Senior pitcher.

Liana DeValder, Webster Schroeder: (See above).

Makenna Dunbar, Wellsville: Outfielder and No. 3 hitter for the NYS top ranked Class B team.

Emma Dunman, Honeoye Falls-Lima: Junior pitcher; .364 BA, .431 OBP, 9 RBIs, .659 SLG.

Morgan Dunman, Honeoye Falls-Lima: Junior; .362 BA, .434 OBP, 9 RBIs, .511 SLG.

Coral Enscoe, Bishop Kearney: Shortstop; .458 BA, .500 OBP, 12 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBIs, 23 R.

Maddie Fallows, Pittsford Mendon: Junior catcher; 25-52, .481 BA, .557 OBP, 1.134 OPS, 2 3B, 10 RBIs, 23 R, 8 SB.

Sarah Ferruzza, Webster Schroeder: (See above).

Giana Ficcaglia, Penn Yan: Senior pitcher; .405 BA, 17 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 16 R, 4 BB, 7 SB.

Laney Flynn, Irondequoit: Senior third baseman; .455, 27 hits, 4 homeruns, 13 RBI, 17 runs, .500 OBP.

Ryleigh Fontana, Victor: Junior centerfielder; .394 BA, .429 OBP, .913 OPS, 8 RBIs, 19 R, 20 1B, 6 2B, 9 SB.

Emily Ford, Webster Thomas: Junior outfielder; .500 BA, 1.411 OPS, 23 H, 12 1B, 5 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR.

Elizabeth Gleghorn, Rush-Henrietta: (See above).

Lilly Goldberg, Pittsford Mendon: Senior pitcher; 23-45, .511 BA, 6 2B, 1 3B, 19 RBIs, .621 OBP, 1.310 OPS, .689 SLG.

Sara Goodsell, Canandaigua: Senior has moved in from the outfield to SS and has done well defensively and batting .387.

Kadyn Hartel, Rush-Henrietta: (See above).

Maddie Hicks, Webster Thomas: Senior pitcher; .420 BA, 9 2B, 2 HR.

Merideth Holland, York: Batting .472 with a .568 on-base percentage.

Petra Hunt, Pittsford Sutherland: Freshman pitcher is already in her third season.

Isi Hurlbut, Fairport: The senior is in her second season and is headed to Alfred State; .435 BA, 20 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 22 RBIs, 17 R, 3 BB.

Kinsley Keil, Webster Schroeder: (See above).

Jayde Kurrasch, East Rochester: Freshman catcher leads team in doubles, .512 BA, .571 OBP, team high .755 SLG, 1.326 OPS.

Emma LaBour, Midlakes: Freshman cleanup hitter is in her second season; .421 BA, .485 OBP, tied for second on the team with 26 R, second on the team with 23 RBIs.

Kaitlyn Landers, Batavia Notre Dame: Senior shortstop and co-captain; .419 BA, 13 hits, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 0 SO in 8 games.

Gabby Lyons, Pittsford Sutherland: Sophomore shortstop is batting .445 already in her fourth season.

Riley Madigan, Aquinas: Sophomore catcher is batting .375.

Ella Maley, Penfield: Sophomore centerfielder and leadoff hitter is batting .333.

Ella Maloney, Webster Thomas: Junior catch is batting .435.

Madison Marchiole, Brighton: Junior leads team in RBIs; .451 BA, 23 H, 14 1B, 6 2B.

Avi Martinez, School of the Arts: Shortstop and No. 2 hitter had two hits and a triple in Saturday's RCAC championship victory.

Ruby Marrapese, Webster Thomas: Junior centerfielder; .476 BA, 20 H, 17 1B, 2 2B, 1 3B.

Calla McCombs, Bloomfield: Sophomore catcher; .537 BA, .604 OBP, .805 SLG.

Olivia Miles, Midlakes: Senior shortstop bats second in her fourth season; team high .485 BA, .500 OBP and 28 RBIs, second on the team with 26 R.

Emily Nasca, East Rochester: Junior outfielder is the team's RBI leader; .538 BA, .657 OBP, .615 SLG, 1.272 OPS.

Vanessa Ng, Brighton: The senior is quick on the bases; .510 BA, 26 H, 19 1B, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 16 R.

Gwyn Panek, Waterloo: Batting .541, .951 SLG, 33 H, 6 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 27 RBIs, 31 R, 7 BB.

Bree Parsons, York: Batting .343 with a .361 OBP.

Maeve Petitti, Brockport: Senior slapper hits leadoff and sets the tone; .580 BA, .675 OBP, team high 24 runs, second on the team with 17 RBIs; 5 3B, 2 HR, 26-26 SB.

Carmella Phelan, Bishop Kearney: Junior pitcher eclipsed 700 career Ks Tuesday; .644 BA, .682 OBP, 3 2B, 5 3B, 14 RBIs, 29 R.

Emily Pietrzykowski, Alexander: Hitting 12-for-42, .286 BA, 1 HR, 1 3B, 4 2B, 5 RBIs, 12 R, 6 BB, 9 SB.

Hope Reddington, SOTA: Centerfielder and No. 4 hitter hit two HRs in the RCAC championship game.

Millie Reed, Fairport: Third three year player is headed to SUNY Oneonta; .400 BA, 16 H, 5 2B, 11 RBIs, 3 BB, 9 R through 12 games.

Lola Rivera, Northstar Christian: Freshman pitcher is batting .438.

Amarah Robinson, School of the Arts: The Silver Hawks' No. 3 hitter and third baseman has college softball future. Collected two hits and an RBI-double in the RCAC final. "She's a heck of a hitter," coach Diaz said.

Madalyn Robinson, Attica: Eighth-grader;14-39, .359 BA, 3 2B, 1 HR, 10 BB, and 12 RBIs.

Brooke Rodas, Kendall: Sophomore catcher is batting .429.

Morghyn Ross, Friendship/Scio: Sophomore catcher; .487 BA, 9 1B, 7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 24 RBIs, .610 OBA, 16 R, 17 SB.

Nevaeh Ross, Friendship/Scio: Senior pitcher broke her own Section V record with 26 Ks in Friday's 10-inning 3-2 win over Avoca/Prattsburgh; .500 BA, 8 1B, 5 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 25 R, 14 SB, .588 OBP.

Melissa Sawyer, Alexander: Team captain and catcher leads team in most hitting categories, including her .568 BA and 19 RBIs.

Brea Smith, Elba: Sophomore pitcher is batting .390.

Lexani Smith-Beauregard, Aquinas: Eighth-grade pitcher is batting .478.

Lauryn Smith, Fairport: The senior shortstop is in her third season; .386 BA, 22 H, 1 2B, 2 3B, 9 RBIs, 14 R, 4 BB.

Loretta Sorochty, Batavia Notre Dame: Senior pitcher and co-captain; .323 BA, 10 H, 1 2B, 11 RBIs, 10 R, 3 BB in 8 games.

Leah Sperry, Mercy: (See above).

Audrey Steinorth, Victor: Junior shortstop; .467 BA, .492 OBP, 1.159 OPS, 12 RBIs, 9 R, 16 1B, 12 2B.

Lindsay Stuck, Wellsville: Third baseman and cleanup hitter for the Lions.

Molly Sweeney, Webster Thomas: Junior first baseman; .514 BA, 1.205 OPS, 18 H, 15 1B, 3 2B.

Colleen Talty, Caledonia-Mumford: Sophomore catcher is batting .382.

Maddie Throumoulos, Webster Thomas: Senior third baseman; .422 BA, 19 H, 14 1B, 4 2B, 1 HR.

Hailey Trank, Penn Yan: The senior has started four years at catcher. She'll play softball and volleyball at Nazareth; .356 BA, 16 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBIs, 19 R, 9 BB, 7 SB.

Mia Treleaven, Batavia Notre Dame: Sophomore first baseman/pitcher; .600 BA, 18 H, 5 2B, 11 RBIs, 11 R, 1 SO in 8 games.

Abigail Schutz, Avon: The junior switch hitter can slap and bunt; .333 BA, 13 H She can hit either left or right.

Josslyn Siembor, Eastridge: Freshman second baseman; .396 BA, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR.

Ava Verdi, Mercy: (See above).

Leigha Walker, Holley: Senior leadoff hitter is batting .389.

Keira Weber, Perry: Sophomore pitcher; .358 BA, 21 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBIs.

Madison Westerberg, Waterloo: Junior shortstop has 27 career HRs, 11th all-time in NYS and unofficially third all-time in Section V history; .517 BA, 1.067 SLG, 31 H, 3 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 30 RBIs, 29 R, 7 BB.

Tangel Williams, Waterloo: Batting .525, .803 SLG, 32 H, 5 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 26 RBIs, 26 R, 6 BB.

Kaili Witherell, Haverling: Junior pitcher.

Ashlyn Wright, Bloomfield: Junior pitcher; .555 BA, .633 OBP, .925 SLG.

Zanyah Yisrael, Perry: Freshman leadoff hitter; .491 BA, .509 OBP, 27 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 10 RBIs.

Nadia Zach, Penfield: Senior shortstop and No. 3 hitter is batting .340.

— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He has been reporter for 14 years. Follow him @MarquelSports on X and on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V softball's top hitters heading into 2024 playoffs