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Summit County high school softball: 15 Greater Akron players to watch in 2024

Brad Bournival and Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal
·3 min read

The seasons change and so do the names, but one thing is certain: Greater Akron is always a player when it comes to the state softball race.

Last season, Tallmadge took home a Division II state title, while St. Vincent-St. Mary, Walsh Jesuit, Mogadore and Brecksville reached the regional level.

With that in mind, here are 15 players from Summit County, plus Highland and Wadsworth, to watch:

Rachel Baker is back for Manchester after a sophomore season in which she went 14-2 with 185 strikeouts.
Rachel Baker is back for Manchester after a sophomore season in which she went 14-2 with 185 strikeouts.

Rachel Baker, Manchester, jr., P

Baker led Manchester to a Division II district final as a sophomore with a .506 batting average that included a .701 slugging percentage and 28 RBIs. She was 14-2 as a pitcher with a 0.88 ERA with 185 strikeouts.

Tallmadge junior Sydney Becks celebrates after her inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning of the Division II state final against Canfield at Firestone Stadium, Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Tallmadge junior Sydney Becks celebrates after her inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning of the Division II state final against Canfield at Firestone Stadium, Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Sydney Becks, Tallmadge, sr., OF

Best known for her inside-the park home run last season in the Division II state final for the champion Blue Devils, Becks led Tallmadge in batting average (.597) and drove in 19 runs from the nine spot in the lineup.

Madison Burkhart, Coventry, sr., RHP/1B

Burkhart is coming off a junior season in which she batted .500 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs. She was also 11-1 with a 1.91 ERA and logged 80 strikeouts.

Mogadore's Katie Gardner is coming off a junior season in which she excelled in the circle and at the plate.
Mogadore's Katie Gardner is coming off a junior season in which she excelled in the circle and at the plate.

Katie Gardner, Mogadore, sr., RHP

Gardner will look to build off a junior season in which she was first-team All-Ohio. She led the Wildcats to a district title and went 12-3 with a 1.47 ERA and logged 90 strikeouts. She also batted .538 with 37 runs and 21 extra-base hits.

Tallmadge catcher Lexi Gray makes the tag last season in a Division II state semifinal.
Tallmadge catcher Lexi Gray makes the tag last season in a Division II state semifinal.

Lexi Gray, Tallmadge, sr., C

Gray is coming off a second-team All-Ohio junior season for the state champion Blue Devils. She batted .377 with 23 RBIs and 38 runs last season. Gray also had a .412 on-base percentage.

Alyssa Hochstetler of Springfield applauds her teammate Erin Stubbs after Stubbs hit a three-run double during the seventh inning of a 2022 Division II district semifinal at Firestone Stadium.
Alyssa Hochstetler of Springfield applauds her teammate Erin Stubbs after Stubbs hit a three-run double during the seventh inning of a 2022 Division II district semifinal at Firestone Stadium.

Alyssa Hochstetler, Springfield, sr., 2B/OF

Hochstetler, an Ohio Northern commit, had a phenomenal junior season in which she batted .559 with 52 hits, 48 runs and 30 stolen bases in 30 attempts.

Tallmadge pitcher Riley Jackson throws against Canfield during the first inning of the Division II state final against Canfield last season.
Tallmadge pitcher Riley Jackson throws against Canfield during the first inning of the Division II state final against Canfield last season.

Riley Jackson, Tallmadge, sr., RHP

Jackson was the key in the circle for the Division II state champion Blue Devils. She is coming off a junior season in which she went 17-5 with a 1.69 ERA and 175 strikeouts.

Olivia Kidd of Mogadore rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a softball game at Rootstown on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
Olivia Kidd of Mogadore rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a softball game at Rootstown on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Olivia Kidd, Mogadore, sr., C

Kidd was first-team All-Ohio as a junior last season after leading the Wildcats to a district title and batting .642 with 32 RBIs and 14 doubles.

St. Vincent-St. Mary's Avarie Mays hits a solo home run against Marlington during a regional semifinal at Nordonia on Wednesday.
St. Vincent-St. Mary's Avarie Mays hits a solo home run against Marlington during a regional semifinal at Nordonia on Wednesday.

Avarie Mays, STVM, jr., 1B/3B

Mays played a major role in the Fighting Irish's district title as a sophomore, batting .418 with a .740 slugging percentage and 1.148 OPS. She also had five home runs and 25 RBIs.

Emma Oshel of Stow-Munroe Falls fouls off a pitch during a softball game at home against Hudson in April of 2021.
Emma Oshel of Stow-Munroe Falls fouls off a pitch during a softball game at home against Hudson in April of 2021.

Emma Oshel, Stow, sr., 1B/3B

Oshel is a University of Malone signee who led the Bulldogs to a district semifinal. She batted .524 with 14 doubles, three home runs and 33 RBIs. She had an .853 slugging percentage and 1.438 OPS.

Springfield center fielder Destiny Ruggiero continues to be a standout for the Spartans.
Springfield center fielder Destiny Ruggiero continues to be a standout for the Spartans.

Destiny Ruggiero, Springfield, sr., OF

Coming off a first-team All-Ohio junior season, Ruggiero is committed to Cleveland State. She batted .512 with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs last season.

Zoey Schmitt, Walsh Jesuit, sr., OF

Schmitt helped the Warriors to a second straight district title when she batted .542 with a .712 slugging percentage, 1.296 OPS and had a .585 on-base percentage.

Caleigh Shaulis has been the unquestioned glue to a Walsh Jesuit softball team that has won two straight district titles.
Caleigh Shaulis has been the unquestioned glue to a Walsh Jesuit softball team that has won two straight district titles.

Caleigh Shaulis, Walsh Jesuit, jr., C/OF

Shaulis helped the Warriors to a second straight district title as a sophomore, batting .507 with five home runs and 34 RBIs.

Natalie Susa is back as the ace of Walsh Jesuit after an injury hampered 2023 for the right-hander.
Natalie Susa is back as the ace of Walsh Jesuit after an injury hampered 2023 for the right-hander.

Natalie Susa, Walsh Jesuit, sr., RHP

Susa was the Greater Akron Player of the Year in 2022 and is a Minnesota signee. She was injured in 2023 after going 14-3 with 1.29 ERA and 175 strikeouts as a sophomore.

Sienna Tepley has long been a standout for Walsh Jesuit's softball team.
Sienna Tepley has long been a standout for Walsh Jesuit's softball team.

Sienna Tepley, Walsh Jesuit, sr., 3B

Tepley is coming off a second-team All-Ohio junior season and has signed with West Point. She batted .481 and added 15 stolen bases last season.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival. Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Top 2024 high school softball players for the Greater Akron area