See who made the Top 50 Pueblo-area softball players list
The 2023-24 fall sports season is finally upon us and what better way to kick off the new season than to highlight and showcase the top players to watch in each sport?
Each year the Chieftain gets together with local coaches to comprise a list of the top players to watch for the upcoming season.
Here is a list of the top 50 players to watch for this upcoming softball season, plus a few extras.
(Note: all information provided on this list was given by the head coaches of each program.)
More: A look at the 2023 softball schedules for Pueblo-area high schools
Class 2A
Dolores Huerta Prep
Nykeysha Stringfellow
Tommilynn Cruz
Maryjane Gonzales
Aries Rivera
Victoria Show
The following is a quote from head coach Shelby McGraw.
“Stringfellow was a shortstop previously, but she's going to be doing a lot of catching for us this year. She is definitely going to be our main catcher and maybe even pitching. She has a little bit of past pitching experience. She's a strong utility player all around and just an offensive strength for us as well. Cruz is a sophomore this year. She's going to be our main pitcher this year and she played first base and pitched last year for us. She's another solid utility player and leader with her experience playing. Gonzalez, we're excited about her. She has a bit of experience too so I'm excited to see what she's going to do for us. Rivera is another returning player for us after taking a year off and not layering she will be another utility player playing first second father and outfield. Show is only a sophomore but is a leader in the classroom and on the field. She will be playing middle infield for us.”
Class 4A
Pueblo Centennial
Roxie Rodriguez-Benabides
Adrianna Lopez
Ellie Zinanti
The following is a quote from head coach Nick Zinanti.
“Rodriguez-Benabides brings energy and passion to the field every day — she’s a ball player. Plus, she has pop in the batter's box and has good ball skills in centerfield with a good arm. On the offensive side, she’ll set the table for our lineup batting cleanup. Lopez finished the season last year with zero backward strikeouts. As a freshman, she finished third in the South-Central League in steals. She’s versatile on the defensive side as well, and likely to see game time at five to six different positions, a true team player! We are looking for her to make a big impact for us this year. Zinanti gained some valuable experience last year as a freshman. This year she’ll lead our staff from the circle and get time at first base. She is a good hitter with a good eye in the box, we look for her to make a big leap this season.”
Pueblo Central
Jade Mares
Raelyn (Elena) Martinez
Gianna Sandoval
Jazel Duque
Jaidyn Medina
Leyla Padilla
Charley Autobee
Mariah Romero
Giana Calderon
Jordan Cordova
Jazzmyn Alvarado
Maliyah Sandoval
The following is a quote from head coach Lita Sanders.
“Mares is a well-rounded athlete who is doing a great job of leading our team in every aspect of the game. She has demonstrated how important it is for our team to continue to believe in Central’s culture, family mentality and respect for the program, game and opponents. Martinez, Sandoval, Duque, Medina and Padilla are our juniors and have renewed energy and are doing their part to carry on the culture and grit that Central Softball is known for. Autobee, Romero, Calderon and Cordova are all sophomores and are steady and lead the team with their competitive spirit. Lastly, Alvarado and Sandoval are freshmen, and I am excited to see what these two can do when they get the opportunity to break into the lineup.”
Pueblo East
Marisa Gonzales
Dhani Maestas
Isis Cervantes
Chantel Durna
Nyla Gomez
Lucy Cervantes
Emily Hutchings
Annacayla Lucero
The following is a quote from coach Fred Espinoza.
“Our players to watch this year starts with Marisa Gonzales. She was our catcher last year but now she will be at third base and she is a beast at that position. Last season she had a batting average of .407 with 3 home runs. We are in a rebuilding year with some good athletes coming in as freshmen, but here are some other notable players to watch. I look for some good things from Maestas, Cervantes, Duran and Gomez. We have three extremely talented freshmen as well in Cervantes who will be a pitcher and infielder, Hutchings who will play shortstop and center field and lastly, I'm excited about Lucero as well.”
Pueblo South
Emilee Espinoza
Danika Bernal
Taryn Strasia
Kennedy Orona
The following is a quote from head coach Tana Strasia.
“Espinoza has just signed her letter of intent to play college softball at the very prestigious Swarthmore University in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Espinoza has been the Colt’s clean-up batter for the last two years and hits the ball extremely hard. She has a lot of softball IQ and is able to play this game at a high level, not to mention she's a remarkable leader. She is hardworking, adaptable, respectful and will be extremely hard to replace. We expect big things offensively and defensively from Espinoza this year. Bernal is our Dynamite. She signed her letter of intent to play with Trinidad State College. Danika has been Colt’s lead-off batter for two years now and starts our team's hitting rallies by example and enthusiasm. She has speed, and athleticism and is one of the hardest-working athletes I've ever coached. She's coachable, and in today's day, that's the best compliment you can give an athlete. We are young, but we are extremely tough. People thought we were going to be in trouble when we lost four starters, and such a lethal pitching/catching combo but we have our pitcher Orona and catcher Strasia. These freshmen will learn how to be hard workers and they will be great seniors and will better our program because of Espinoza and Bernal.”
Pueblo County
Olivia Nesbit
Makayla Parlett
Valencia Garcia
Ella Berg
Sophia Strasia
Sienna Estrada
Albanie Cordova
Jaleyn Faris
Ady Mittlestadt
Maddy Taulman
Aubree Peralta
The following is a quote from head coach Danielle Villegas.
“Nesbit will be a strong force in the circle and has a big bat. She works really hard at perfecting her craft. Sharing mound time with her is Parlett. Another strong pitcher, who throws hard and locates her pitches well. We have strong leadership coming from our seniors, Garcia, Berg, Strasia, Estrada and Cordova. At any given time, one or all of them can step up and be clutch. Middle infielder, Faris, is one of the toughest in the league. We are looking forward to her having a big year. As a team, everyone has worked really hard at improving in all areas of the game. You will see a more confident team, both physically and mentally. We are excited to get started and ready for a fun season. Other players to watch out for are Mittlestadt, Taulman and Peralta.”
More: Pueblo high school softball teams strike out at state tournament
Pueblo West
Bradie Poteet-Herrera
Addison Andrews
Abigail Fadenrecht
Kinsley Stiner
Kassidy Donley
Sammie Ortega
Acelyn Duran
Teren Sanchez
Gracie Briggs
Raelyn Jimenez
Jaelyn Jimenez
Caitlin Blomdahl
The following is a quote from head coach Rick Montes.
“Our players to watch of course Poteet-Herrera is my catcher. She is just very good back there and very knowledgeable. She's a beast and our leader. She is quiet but she's a good leader. On the rubber right now we have Andrews coming back from last year. Fadenrecht has really grown and could be pretty good for us. She worked for her butt off during the winter and she's kind of really excelled. Steiner will be a sophomore and she's really stepped up and the same thing — worked her butt off during the winter. She was up here all the time hitting and pitching, so she's really going to be in the mix. Then we got a freshman that we were kind of about in Donely. First base, we brought Ortega in to play from right field. Second base, we have a freshman coming in Duran. She is steady and has a good glove and a good bat. At shortstop Sanchez is coming back. She's a senior and she's pretty good. Then third base will be Briggs who is a pretty tough player too. Rae and Jae are in left and center field and Blomdahl will play right field for us.”
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on Twitter: @chowebacca. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: See who made the Top 50 Pueblo-area softball players list
