10 CLASS 2-1A SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023
 

KARA BRAKEY, SPEARVILLE

Brakey helped lead the Lancers to the Class 2-1A state tournament. She was the team’s top hitter with a .678 batting average. She led the team in RBIs (28), doubles (9), triples (3) and had the Lancers' only home run. Brakey finished the season with a team-best .720 on-base percentage. Defenisvely, the cather caught 17 runners stealing and picked off four runners. Spearville finished 21-3 last year, falling to eventual state champion Mission Valley in the first round at state. 
 

JADYNN CRIQUI, CENTRAL HEIGHTS

Criqui was a driving force behind the best season in Central Heights history as the Vikings turned their second-ever state appearance into a third-place finish at the Class 2-1A state tournament. Criqui, a senior third baseman, hit .416 last year with 37 RBI. She earned second-team All-Flint Hills League honors and was an honorable mention All-Class 2-1A selection. Criqui is one of five returning Vikings to earn postseason honors along with fellow second-team all-leaguers Mieka Crump and Melaney Chrisjohn and first-team All-2-1A pick Erykah Haynes.
ALEXANDRA CROOK, BURLINGAME

Crook helped lead Burlingame to a runner-up finish at the Class 2-1A state tournament in 2021, going 13-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 122 strikeouts. The Bearcats fell short of returning to the state tournament a year ago, going 16-3 and falling to Wabaunsee in the regional semifinals, but Crook had another big year. She was a second-team All-Class 2-1A selection and a unanimous All-Lyon County League selection after going 10-2 with a 1.13 ERA and 124 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 67.2 innings while also hitting .491 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI.
 

PAITYN ENGEMANN, TROY

Engemann helped Troy to the best state finish in program history at the Trojans finished as Class 2-1A state runners-up to Mission Valley, losing 6-4 in a tight championship game. Engemann homered in the title game to get Troy within striking distance, her sixth home run of the season. Engemann was a first-team All-Class 2-1A pitcher and went 13-1 last season with an 0.73 ERA and 161 strikeouts. She had an immaculate perfect game against Onaga last season, striking out every batter she faced in the game, and struck out 14 in a state quarterfinal two-hit shutout of Belle Plaine. Engemann also hit .540 with 7 home runs and 35 RBI.
 

HALIE FEIKERT, BUCKLIN

Feikert delivered a huge junior season for the Red Aces. She hit a team-best .634 and clubbed nine homers, helping Bucklin go 20-3 last year. She also delivered nine doubles, five triples and drove in 63 runs. The catcher was a first-team All-1A Division II selection by the Kansas Softball Coaches Association. In basketball, Feikert helped lead the Red Aces to a third-place finish in Class 1A Division II this past season. 
 

AVA GLOVER, PITTSBURG COLGAN

Glover batted close to .440 last year while also being a member of the team’s stellar outfield. Glover helped Colgan turn a losing record into trip to state before losing to Ell-Saline in the state quarterfinals. She also was a starter on Colgan's 2021 state championship team.
 

PAIGE MARTIN, MISSION VALLEY

Martin posted the highest batting average for last year’s Class 2-1A state champions, hitting .407 for the season. She also drove in 19 and scored 20 runs and stole eight bases, earning first-team All-Flint Hills League and first-team All-Class 2-1A honors. Martin only struck out 7 times in 94 plate appearances and is one of five seniors on this year’s team. 
 

SOPHIE REYES, BLUESTEM
 
Reyes, a junior, earned All-Class 2-1A first-team honors as an outfielder last season, but can fit pretty much wherever Lions coach Michelle Womacks needs her. She batted .379 last spring with 11 RBIs and 33 runs scored to help Bluestem advance to the 2-1A state tournament. Reyes can play catcher and infielder as well. Her presence, along with fellow All-Tri Valley League first-team selection Allie Wesley, should help the Lions move forward after the graduation of all-state pitcher Delaney Blakesley. 
 

MORGAN TOMLINSON, MISSION VALLEY

Tomlinson was the driving force behind Mission Valley capturing the Class 2-1A state championship last year. She was dominant in the circle as a junior in 2022, going 19-2 with a 0.72 ERA with a whopping 234 strikeouts in 145 innings pitched, walking just 14. Tomlinson struck out 29 in the three state tournament games last year, including 16 in a one-hitter against Spearville in the quarterfinals. Last year she also hit .382 with 2 home runs and 25 RBI, earning first-team All-Class 2-1A honors to go along with first-team All-Flint Hills League honors. Over the past two seasons, Tomlinson has struck out 384 batters and posted a 32-3 record. However, her senior season came to an abrupt end last week when Tomlinson tore her ACL.

 

SHELBY UNDERWOOD, NORTHEAST ARMA

Underwood earned All-Three Rivers League first team honors last year.  She has racked up 45 RBIs with eight home runs and an .854 batting average. She led the team to a 12-0 start last year with her dominant performance on the mound as well. Underwood had a 2.86 ERA with 116 strikeouts over 66 innings pitched.