Meet the best softball players in the Austin area this season
By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
Here are the Austin Sports Journal’s 2024 All-Austin Metro softball teams for Class 6A, 5A and 4A-others. You can find the individual award winners here.
Class 6A team
Loreliei Gamble, Dripping Springs, freshman catcher: Led the Tigers in most offensive categories with a .485 batting average, 1.000 slugging percentage, 17 doubles, 42 RBIs, 2 triples and 10 home runs. Defensively, she had a fielding percentage of .982 and caught 12 runners stealing.
Jai-Lynn Flores, Dripping Springs, junior infielder: A first-team all-district selection with a .403 batting average, 36 RBI’s, 7HR, and 10 doubles. Also was a pitcher with a 9-5 record, 2.54 ERA, 3 saves and 71 strikeouts.
Cici Alvidrez, Bowie, freshman infielder: The first-team all-district selection helped lead the Bulldogs to the regional quarterfinals with a team-best .483 batting average. She scored 41 runs, had 17 RBIs, 3 doubles, 3 triples and two home runs.
Mia Rincon, Westlake, senior infielder: The District 26-6A offensive player of the year with a .494 batting average, 1.011 slugging percentage, 18 doubles, 9 home runs, 39 RBIs and 38 runs scored.
Madison Pinzon, Lake Travis, junior, infielder: Helped the Cavaliers reach the regional semifinals with a .381 batting average, .426 on-base percentage, 5 doubles, a triple, 9 home runs and 35 RBIs.
Kinlee McGuire, Buda Johnson, junior outfield: The Lamar University-pledge helped the Jaguars reach the playoffs in a competitive 26-6A. She had a .429 batting average, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 15 RBIs, 29 runs scored and 24 stolen bases.
Caitlin Benningfield, Cedar Ridge, junior outfield/pitcher: Helped the Raiders win the District 25-6A championship and reach the third round of the playoffs. Benningfield had a .553 batting average, 20 RBIs, 3 doubles, 4 triples and 4 home runs. In the circle, she finished with a 1.14 earned run average, 7-0 record and struck out 71 batters.
Tyra Thompson, Cedar Ridge, senior outfielder: Finished with a .349 batting average for the district champion Raiders. She was second on the team for slugging percentage (.790) and had 5 doubles, a triple and 4 home runs.
Brooke Wells, Vista Ridge, senior utility: The Houston-bound utility player was the District 25-6A most valuable player. At the plate, she had a batting average of .593 and a 1.517 slugging percentage with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 15home runs and 40RBIs. In the circle, she had 105 strikeouts with a 1.45 earned run average.
Kate Bookidis, Bowie, junior pitcher: The first-team all-district selection helped Bowie reach the third round of the playoffs. She had a 17-6 record in the circle with a 2.07 earned run average. In 145 innings pitched, Bookidis struck out 155 batters and walked 38.
Haiden Anderson, Dripping Springs, senior pitcher: The District 26-6A most valuable player and all-state selection had an 18-8 record in the circle with a 2.03 earned run average. She tossed 16 complete games and had 133 strikeouts. At the plate she had a .416 batting average with 47 RBIs and 12 home runs.
Honorable mentions: Tiffany Sanchez, Del Valle, senior; Kendall Ward, Cedar Ridge, senior; Alyssa Lusk, Bowie, junior; Jazmine Benavides, Austin High, sophomore; Kaitlyn Fudge, Austin High, senior; Neha George, Vandegrift, freshman; Ava Love, Vandegrift, freshman; Dorothy Ziebell, Westwood, senior; Clare Guidry, Westwood, freshman; Tatum Green, Dripping Springs, freshman.
Class 5A team
Madi George, Rouse, junior catcher/infielder: Helped the Raiders reach the postseason with a team-leading .547 batting average and 1.187 slugging percentage. She had 10 home runs, 7 doubles and three triples while scoring 35 runs. Behind the plate, she had a .983 fielding percentage.
Taylor Porter, Leander, senior infielder: The University of Illinois-bound Porter was a first-team All-District 25-6A selection and helped the Lions reach the regional semifinals, She had a .385 batting average and an .838 slugging percentage. She had 13 doubles, 2 triples, 14 home runs and 62 RBIs.
Julissa Vasquez, Hays, senior infielder: The District 25-5A offensive player of the year helped the Hawks reach the regional quarterfinals. She had a .519 batting average with 10 home runs, 2 triples, 15 doubles and 38 RBIs. She had 4 double plays and a .943 fielding percentage.
Bianca Galindo, Elgin, sophomore infielder: The all-district selection helped Elgin keep its 32-year playoff streak alive. She committed just three errors all year, finishing with a .914 fielding percentage. At the plate she had a .364 batting average with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs and 26 RBIs.
Maddie Hartley, Georgetown, senior infielder/pitcher: A Houston signee, Hartley was a first-team all-district pick and helped the Eagles reach the second round of the playoffs. She had a .472 batting average, 7 home runs and 30 RBIs. In the circle, she had an 8-3 record with 94 strikeouts and a 1.26 earned run average.
Addison Shifflett, Liberty Hill, junior outfielder: The District 25-5A defensive player of the year helped the Panthers reach the regional finals. She had a .422 batting average, 40 runs, 64 RBIs, 15 HRs and a .945 slugging percentage.
Rachel Grundei, Leander, sophomore outfielder: A first-team All-District 25-5A selection, Grundei helped the Lions reach the regional semifinals and led the team in RBIs (63). She had a .481 batting average and a .922 slugging percentage with 10 triples, 12 home runs, 12 doubles and 59 runs scored.
Bella Loredo Awmiller, Glenn, sophomore outfielder: A unanimous first-team All-District 25-5A selection, the newcomer she led the team with a. 4.56 batting average and 13 stolen bases. She had 18 RBIs, 4 doubles and a home run in 73 at bats.
Bella Nicholson, Liberty Hill, freshman utility: The District 25-5A newcomer of the year did it all for the Panthers in their run to the regional finals. In the circle, Nicholson had a 14-3 record with a 4.31 earned run average and 79 strikeouts. At the plate, she had a .377 batting average with 35 RBIs and 5 home runs.
Rose Harrelson, LASA, sophomore pitcher: Made 22 appearances i the circle for the District 24-5A champion Raptors. She led the team with a 2.55 earned run average and 166 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched. She was also the team’s leading hitter with a .644 batting average, 6 doubles, 8 triples and 7 home runs.
Jessica Cantrell, Elgin, senior pitcher: Elgin’s pitching ace had a 19-9 overall record with a 1.78 earned run average. She struck out 379 batters in 137 innings pitched. She was also a consistent batter with a .336 batting average with 10 doubles, 4 triples and 4 home runs.
Honorable mention Kenzie Alvear, Hays, senior; Blakely Barber, Rouse, junior; Madalyn Lee, Leander, sophomore; Catelyn Beckerley, Leander, senior; Cadence Wiese; Liberty Hill, senior; Maddie Kingslien, Liberty Hill, sophomore; Haley Garcia, Glenn, junior; Deanna Dailey, Glenn, sophomore; Gracyn Hentschel, Cedar Creek, junior; Rylee Justice, Cedar Creek, senior; Jaylan Roberson, Elgin, senior.
Class 4A-below team
Cariana Stout, Hyde Park, junior catcher: Helped Hyde Park reach the TAPPS Division II state championship game with a .425 batting average and 10 home runs. She had 313 put outs and caught 27 base runners stealing.
Jackie Earley, Johnson City-LBJ, junior infielder/pitcher: Helped the Eagles to a District 28-2A championship. She had a .667 batting average with 20 runs scored, 8 doubles, 4 triples, and 20 RBIs.
Ashlyn Jarosek, Thrall, senior infielder: A first-team all-district selection, the multi-sport athlete had a .488 batting average and helped the Tigers reach the regional quarterfinals. She scored 29 runs, hit 6 doubles, 1 triple and 6 home runs with 24 RBIs.
Kassidy Eubanks, Thorndale, senior infielder: Picked as the District 27-2A defensive player of the year. The shortstop helped the Bulldogs reach the regional semifinals.
Dezi Lopez, Thrall, senior infielder: The multi-sport athlete helped the Tigers reach the third round of the playoffs and will play at Sam Houston State next season. Lopez had a .468 batting average with 8 home runs, 29 runs scored and 32 RBIs.
Skye Perez, Hyde Park, senior infielder: The co-district most valuable player and TAPPS all-state selection helped the Panthers reach the TAPPS division II state championship game. She had a batting average of .510 with 60 hists, 13 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Camrynn Guthrie, Burnet, senior outfielder/catcher: The Florida Atlantic signee led the Bulldogs in every offensive category. She was the District 24-4A most valuable player with a .552 batting average with 48 hits and 25 RBIs. At catcher, she caught nine base runners trying to steal.
Hailey Cooper, La Grange, senior outfielder: The All-District 22-4A selection helped the Leopards reach the second round of the playoffs. She had a .391 batting average with 3 triples, a double and 18 RBIs, scoring 30 runs.
Chloe Ellis, Gateway, senior utility: The District 24-4A pitcher of the year helped the Gators reach the third round of the playoffs. In the circle, the Appalachian State commit tossed1 96 innings with 420 strikeouts and a 1.04 ERA. At the plate she had a .450 batting average, 17 home runs and 45 RBIs.
Karis Ginn, Thorndale, junior pitcher: The District 27-2A most valuable player helped Thorndale reach the regional semifinals. In the circle, she had 169 strikeouts with a 2.20 earned run average. She was just as dangerous at the plate with a .389 batting average, .767 slugging percentage, 8 home runs and 34 RBIs.
Taylor Haywood, Hyde Park, senior pitcher: The district co-most valuable player set school records for wins (29) and strikeouts (305) and had a 1.24 earned run average. At the plate, she had a .548 batting average with 10 home runs and 48 RBIs while helping Hyde Park reach the TAPPS state championship game.
Honorable mention: Mikayla Velasquez, Thrall, junior; Addison Otto, Smithville, sophomore; Teagan Branch, La Grange, senior; Payton Filla, Granger, senior; Montana Moore, Granger, senior; Miley Pokorny, Thrall, sophomore; Kenzie Engelke, Thrall, freshman; Presley Crawford, Burnet, senior; Carlee Williams, Burnet, senior; Elaina Helton, Lago Vista, freshman.