See who are this year’s best hitter, pitcher and defensive player
By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
Here are the individual award winners for the 2024 Austin Sports Journal’s All-Austin Metro Softball Team. You can find the all-metro teams here.
Miss Austin Softball (player of the year)
Rylee Slimp, Liberty Hill, senior outfielder
Austin Sports Journal readers voted Slimp the top player in the Greater Austin Area, and we couldn’t agree more. Slimp is the Austin Sports Journal’s first Miss Austin Softball award winner, given to the overall best player in the area. The UCLA-bound Slimp helped lead the Panthers to the regional finals with a .577 batting average, 65 runs scored, 42 RBIs and 6 home runs. She was also the District 25-5A most valuable player and a Texas Girls’ Coaches Association all-state selection.
Rising Star (top newcomer)
Julie Rodriguez, Lake Travis, freshman pitcher
You wouldn’t have known Rodriguez was a freshman unless you looked at a Lake Travis softball roster. Rodriguez carried the poise of an experienced veteran in the circle and played with the competitiveness of a 4-year starter. She helped the Cavaliers reach the regional finals on her way to being a first-team all-district election. Rodriguez won 20 games with a 2.90 earned run average and 227 strikeouts. At the plate, Rodriguez had a .350 batting average with six doubles, a triple, six home runs and 33 RBIs.
Pitcher of the Year
Cambree Creager, Georgetown, senior pitcher
The Arizona State signee helped Georgetown repeat as District 23-5A champions on her way to winning the district most valuable player award. She commanded the circle with 94.1 innings pitched, tossing one perfect game and two no-hitters. Creager compiled a 14-1 record in the circle with a 0.67 earned run average, 147 strikeouts and giving up just 29 hits total.
Hitter of the Year
Anya German, Bowie, senior catcher
One of the most feared batters in District 26-6A, if not the Austin area. The Creighton-bound German was walked 21 times, several walks being intentional. German led the Bulldogs to the regional quarterfinals with team-highs of an .848 slugging percentage, 14 doubles and 8 home runs. She made 124 plate appearances and drove in 41 runs. She was also the 26-6A defensive player of the year and had a .981 fielding percentage with 184 put outs.
Gold Glove Award (top defensive player)
Madalyn Strader, Leander, senior shortstop
Head coach Kendall Driver said Strader’s defensive range at shortstop was “one of the best I’ve seen at the high school level.” The Indiana-bound Strader is a four-time all-district selection and helped the Lions reach the regional semifinals. Defensively, she had a .953 fielding percentage with 7 double plays and just four errors total. At the plate, she had a .497 batting average with 20 doubles, 12 triples, 8 home runs and 34 RRBIs to go with 30 stolen bases.
Coach of the Year
Kristen Brewer, Liberty Hill
The sixth-year head coach helped the Panthers reach the regional finals for the first time since 2017 and as a Class 5A school. The Panthers also won the District 25-5A championship, which was also their second straight district title. Under Brewer’s direction, Liberty Hill went 28-10 and 12 2 in district, and was ranked fifth in Class 4A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.