The top 18 high school softball players to watch in the Peoria area for 2024

High school softball season arrived Monday.

Teams locally and across the Illinois High School Association officially started playing games on March 11. The postseason for Class 1A and 2A begins May 13 with regionals followed by sectional finals on May 24-25. Supersectionals are May 27 with the state finals set for May 31-June 1.

The Class 3A and 4A postseason starts a week later with the conclusion coming June 7-8 at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.

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Here is a look at the top 18 softball players to watch in the Peoria area for the 2024 season — listed alphabetically and split into small and large schools. Last year's records are in parentheses.

Peoria-area small-school players to watch

Olivia Avalos, Tremont

The senior infielder hit in the two-hole last season for the Turks, who made a Class 2A sectional final. She hit .409 on 38 hits with six doubles, two triples, three homers, 25 RBI and scored 28 runs. She also stole eight bases. Her individual accolades include being named an all-Heart of Illinois Conference first team selection.

Cassidee Bauer, Tremont

The senior catcher had a standout junior season, posting a .864 fielding percentage. She also hit .337 on 28 hits with three doubles, two triples, four home runs and 19 RBIs. Bauer scored 22 runs and stole three bases. Her individual accolades include being named an all-Heart of Illinois Conference first team selection.

Lexi Brinkman, Illini Bluffs

The junior catcher has committed to Illinois State following a great 2023 season. During IB's run to the Class 1A state title game, Brinkman hit .369 on 38 hits with seven doubles, four homers and 30 RBI. She was Class 1A Illinois Coaches Association second-team all-state and second-team all-Tomahawk and ICAC second team.

Sara Finn, Illini Bluffs

The sophomore outfielder made a big splash as a freshman, earning Class 1A Illinois Coaches Association first-team all-state honors, while being named first-team all-conference in the Tomahawk and Inter-County Athletic conferences honors. Finn hit .515 on 51 hits with six doubles, four triples, 12 homers, 48 RBIs and 45 runs.

Taylor Ford, Abingdon-Avon

Ford was a great last season, batting .505 on 51 hits with 15 doubles, six triples, eight homers, 34 RBIs and 42 runs. The junior infielder stole 10 bases and drew 12 walks in earning ICA Class 1A first-team all-state honors, while also grabbing all-Lincoln Trail Conference first team.

Danika Frazier, Olympia

The Illinois recruit was a Class 2A ICA first-team all-state honoree and a unanimous all-Sangamo Conference first-team selection. Frazier, who is senior two-way player, batted .467 on 43 hits with 12 doubles, eight homers and 45 RBIs. She was also 18-4 with 242 strikeouts and 28 walks with a 0.66 ERA in 128 innings.

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Ella Hermes, St. Bede

The senior is one half of the Class 1A state title-winning pitching duo. Hermes was a Class 1A Illinois Coaches Association first-team all-stater, picking up 11 victories in the circle with 149 strikeouts and a 1.46 ERA. She was just as effective at the plate, hitting .413 with 12 doubles and three triples.

Byrkleigh Kraft, Deer Creek-Mackinaw

The sophomore was one of the three Chiefs underclass named all-state by the ICA last season. She was a third-team selection after batting .568 on 46 hits with 17 doubles, four triples and six homers. Kraft also drove in 29 RBI, while scoring 25 runs and was an all-Heart of Illinois Conference honorable mention pick.

Reagan Stoudt, St. Bede

Stoudt completes the other half of the Bruins' state-title winning 1-2 punch. She was also a Class 1A first-team ICA all-stater, striking out 138 batters with 138 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA. The senior was a big-time hitter with a .505 average with six homers and 36 RBI in being a unanimous Three Rivers East All-Conference first-teamer.

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Peoria-area large-school players to watch

Brittyn Bailey, Pekin

The senior infielder was a big piece in the Dragons offense, batting .385 on 25 hits with two doubles, one triple and 11 RBI. She scored 13 runs and stole eight bases for the Dragons, who knocked off Normal Community in the regional semifinals. Bailey earned all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors.

Bailey Herrick, Washington

The senior infielder batted .422 on 49 hits with nine doubles, a homer, 30 RBI and 29 runs. She also stole five five bases for the Panthers, who won a Class 3A regional title and made a run to the Sweet Sixteen. Her individual accolades include a spot on the Class 3A ICA all-state third team and all-Mid-Illini first team.

Nora Johnson, Metamora

Johnson came into her own in a big way last season. She ended up being the staff ace, posting a 23-2 record with 204 strikeouts and a 1.52 ERA in 165 innings. The all-Mid-Illini Conference first-teamer also came through at the plate, hitting .340 on 32 hits with six doubles and 17 RBIs as a Class 3A ICA second-team all-stater.

Justice Krus, Dunlap

Krus had a breakout junior season, earning all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team honors and being a Class 3A ICA second-team all-stater. She batted .439 on 43 hits with 11 home runs, 10 doubles, a triple 45 RBI and 39 runs scored. The senior third base and catcher will try to help Dunlap win its first regional since 2011.

Gabby Lane, East Peoria

Lane was a huge piece of EP's 23-win season, hitting cleanup and playing shortstop for the Raiders. She hit .377 on 43 hits with 11 doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI and 27 runs. The junior, who also stole seven bases, was named all-Mid-Illini Conference second team. Look for her to be the next college player out of EP.

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Malone McKinley, Washington

The senior catcher batted cleanup in the sectional final last season, helping her get all-Mid-Illini second-team honors. She batted .283 on 32 hits with seven doubles, four homers, 26 RBI and 16 runs for the Panthers, who won 26 games. Look for continued production for McKinley at the plate and behind

Ellie Schaffer, Metamora

The junior outfielder was an all-Mid-Illini first-team pick as well as being a Journal Star all-area selection. She batted .420 on 34 hits with seven doubles, 19 RBIs and scored 21 runs for the Redbirds. She came up big in the postseason with two hits in the regional title and three more in the Class 3A sectional semifinal.

Meadow Terry, East Peoria

Terry played a huge role for the Raiders last season, coming into pitch with the injury to Emily Compton. She tossed 161.1 innings for a 16-8 record with 217 strikeouts and a 1.99 ERA. She also hit .281 on 16 hits with four doubles, a homer and nine RBI to earn all-Mid-Illini second-team and Class 3A ICA all-state second team.

Kaidance Till, Metamora

The 2023 Journal Star player of the year begins her junior season after committing to Ole Miss in the offseason. She batted .496 on 58 hits, with 19 doubles, one triple, eight homers, 30 RBIs and 44 runs as an infielder. Her accolades include ICA Class 3A first-team all-state and all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team.

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA softball preview: Top high school players in Peoria area for 2024