Here are the top 27 softball players competing this season in the Post-Crescent area

The high school softball season is underway. Here are 27 of the top players in the Appleton area.

Ella Bauman, jr., Xavier

First-team all-Bay Conference selection last season at catcher.

Kelsey Behnke, jr., Manawa

Unanimous first-team all-CWC East at infielder/pitcher. Batted .414 with six home runs and 37 RBI. Was also 7-11 in the circle with 96 strikeouts in 120-plus innings pitched with an ERA of 2.38.

Paige Bodenheimer, so., Kaukauna

First-team all-FVA at outfielder. First-team Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association all-state. Batted .548 with 46 hits and 16 RBI. Also swiped 32 bases in 33 attempts.

Taryn Christopher, sr., Kaukauna

Honorable mention on the WFSCA all-state team in D1 at infielder. First-team all-FVA. Batted .409 with three home runs and 29 RBI.

Grace Danoski, so., Hortonville

Second-team all-FVA selection at pitcher. Was 4-2 in the circle with a 3.55 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 51-plus innings pitched.

Bella Dontje, jr., Hortonville

First-team all-Fox Valley Association pick at catcher. Batted .434 with four home runs and 26 RBI.

Jozy Ebben, jr., Kaukauna

Second-team all-FVA pick at infielder. Batted .429 with four doubles and 15 RBI.

Sophie Girard, sr., Kimberly

First-team all-FVA pick at infielder. Batted .356 with 20 RBI.

Eve Hedtke, jr., New London

First-team all-Bay Conference selection at catcher. Batted .352 with two home runs and 17 RBI.

Addison Hervey, jr., Xavier

First-team all-Bay Conference selection at pitcher.

Claire Kollat, jr., Winneconne

First-team all-East Central Conference at outfielder/infielder. Batted .395 with 14 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

Lily Krenke, jr., Manawa

First-team all-CWC East selection at infielder. Batted .406 with four home runs and 20 RBI.

Paige Lillie, sr., Hortonville

First-team all-Fox Valley Association selection at utility. Batted .389 with two home runs, 12 doubles and 15 RBI. Was also 7-5 in the circle with a 3.70 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 64-plus innings. Butler University commit.

Addie Lund, sr., Menasha

First-team all-Bay Conference pick at infielder. Led Menasha in batting average (.456), home runs (8) and RBI (38). Will play collegiately at Memphis.

Kyleigh Mathe, so., Neenah

Second-team all-FVA pick at pitcher. Finished 7-2 in the circle with a 1.24 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 67-plus innings pitched.

Kaia McVay, jr., Freedom

First-team all-NEC selection at catcher. Batted .452 with 13 RBI.

Karly Meredith, jr., Kaukauna

Unanimous first-team all-FVA pick at pitcher and the league's player of the year. Named the Gatorade state player of the year and was also a first-team member of the WFSCA all-state team and the WFSCA's state player of the year in Division 1. Was a second-team selection on the MaxPreps All-American team. Batted .532 with 42 hits in 79 at-bats with five home runs, five triples, 12 doubles and 48 RBI. Was 26-0 in the circle with a 0.23 ERA. Finished with 239 strikeouts in 186⅔ innings pitched. Allowed just six earned runs all season to help lead Kaukauna to the WIAA Division 1 state title.

Morgan Miller, sr., Seymour

First-team all-Bay Conference selection at infielder.

Kenna Mix, sr., New London

Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference pick at pitcher. Second-team WFSCA all-state in D2/3. Helped lead the Bulldogs to the Division 2 state championship game. Finished 19-5 in the circle with a 1.86 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 142⅔ innings. Hit .407 with eight home runs, nine doubles and 35 RBI.

Taylor Papendorf, sr., Menasha

First-team all-Bay Conference pick at outfielder.

Summer Schmidt, jr., Kaukauna

Second-team all-FVA pick at outfielder. Batted .410 with 18 RBI.

Adel Schneider, so., St. Mary Catholic

First-team all-Bay Conference pick. Batted .478 with 26 runs scored and nine RBI.

Corinne Setliff, jr., Seymour

First-team all-Bay Conference selection at outfielder.

Addison Wery, jr., Seymour

First-team WFSCA all-state in Divisions 2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference and the league's co-player of the year at catcher. Batted .605 with 15 home runs and 39 RBI.

Olivia Witkowski, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont

Unanimous first-team all-Central Wisconsin Conference East selection at pitcher. Had a 2.69 ERA. Batted. 469.

Peyton VandeLoo, jr., Freedom

First-team all-North Eastern Conference pick at pitcher. Finished 17-1 with an ERA of 1.12. Had 176 strikeouts and allowed just 19 earned runs. Helped lead the Irish to the Division 2 state championship.

Paige Wyngaard, jr., Kimberly

First-team all-FVA selection at designated player. Batted .359 with a home run, two triples and 15 RBI.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Top high school softball players in the Appleton area