15 CLASS 2-1A SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2024
 

JHAYLA ALOJACIN, MEDICINE LODGE
 
Alojacin and her teammates ended Medicine Lodge’s 5-year state tournament drought last May, maneuvering through the Elkhart regional with wins over No. 1 seed Bucklin in the semifinals and 2022 state qualifier Spearville in the championship. Alojacin, a third baseman and pitcher, batted .525 with 31 hits 18 RBI for the Indians, who finished 9-15 after a state quarterfinal loss to Bluestem. Alojacin earned All-Central Plains League first-team honors as an infielder.
 

CRESINDA BANDEL, MCLOUTH

One half of a dynamic sister duo along with now-graduated Corissa, the younger Cresinda set the tone atop McLouth’s potent lineup, hitting .648 and sporting an on-base percentage of .859. The speedy shortstop also swiped 48 bases and helped McLouth capture the Class 2-1A state championship as the Bulldogs went 26-0, beating St. Marys 3-0 in the state championship game. Bandel earned first-team All-Northeast Kansas League and first-team All-Class 2-1A honors during her sophomore season.
 

CASSIDY BERNHARDT, HILLSBORO
 
Bernhardt helped Hillsboro knock off three consecutive 14-win teams to win the Moundridge regional last May and earn a Class 2-1A state tournament berth. The Cinderella story ended with a state quarterfinal loss to eventual unbeaten champion McLouth, but still offered the Trojans some momentum as they replace four seniors, three of whom earned all-league honors. Bernhardt received All-Central Kansas League honorable mention at the utility spot. An outfielder and catcher, Bernhardt batted .397 and stole 5 bases. Coach Alyssa Kroeker credits Bernhardt’s leadership and mental toughness as key ingredients for her 2024 team.
 

MELANY CHRISJOHN, CENTRAL HEIGHTS

Chrisjohn has been one of Heights' top offensive performers for the Vikings over the past two seasons as the program qualified for back-to-back Class 2-1A state tournaments, finishing third in 2022 before falling in the quarterfinals last year to St. Marys. A junior, Chrisjohn is one of a handful of returners this year and will play both shortstop and pitch and has hit better than .300 throughout her career. After being a second-team All-Flint Hills League pick as a freshman, Chrisjohn moved up to first-team honors in the infield last year. A three-time state qualifier in cross country as well, Chrisjohn was threatening the school stolen base record last year and she will dual-sport with track this spring while being a leader for the softball team as well.
 

PILAR COX, BLUESTEM
 
Cox, a junior, was dynamic in the circle and at the plate last season for Bluestem, which scored 42 runs in three regional victories to earn a Class 2-1A state tournament berth. Cox was the winning pitcher in 18 of the Lions’ 23 victories, posting a 1.20 ERA with 149 strikeouts. She also batted .595 with 50 hits and 50 RBI. An All-Class 2-1A and All-Tri-Valley League first-team pitcher, Cox occupies the third spot in Bluestem’s order and plays infielder when she’s not pitching.
 

KAYDAWN HAAG, ELLIS

Haag already owns several school records and will likely set several more this season. The pitcher/shortstop has a .535 batting average and a .646 on-base percentage for her career. She hit .556 with 35 hits and 8 home runs last year. In the circle, Haag set the school record for wins in a season with 10. She’s own 26 career wins and 225 strikeouts. Haag will head to Fort Hays State for softball next fall. She was also an exceptional wrestler for the Railers, claiming a state championship as a junior and finishing runner-up this past season.   

TAELOR HARDESTY, ELL-SALINE

Hardesty was the leading run-producer for a Cardinal team that finished third at last year's Class 2-1A state tournament, falling to eventual champion McLouth in the semifinals before beating Bluestem 5-4 in the third-place game. Hardesty hit .488 to rank second on the team, but led the Cardinals in RBI with 38 while also scoring 41 runs. She posted an on-base percentage of .546 and was named first-team All-Heart of America as a designted player last year as a sophomore.
 

KYPLEE JACOBSON, MISSION VALLEY

Jacobson was Mission Valley’s top hitter last year as a sophomore, hitting .427 for the season. She smacked a team-high 6 home runs and also led the team in RBI (30) and runs scored (32). As a freshman starter in 2022, she hit .385 with 17 RBI and 34 runs scored. Jacobson was first-team All-Flint Hills League and second-team All-Class 2-1A at catcher.
 

SYDNIE JONES, BUCKLIN 

Jones hit .557 last year as a junior, helping the Red Aces go 14-7. She was also the Red Aces’ top pitcher, going 7-1 in the circle. Bucklin was knocked out by Medicine Lodge in the regionals. Jones is also a standout volleyball and basketball player. She will be counted on to lead the Red Aces, who will be tasked with replacing graduated standout Halie Feikert at the plate.
 

BROOKE KOENIGSMAN, TMP-MARIAN

Koenigsman turned in a strong sophomore season last year. She posted a .532 average with 11 doubles, 3 triples and 6 home runs. She struck out just once. Koenigsman was a first-team All-State pick in Class 2-1A last year. She played solid defense at third base last year and will move to shortstop this season.
 

DANI LEE, MCLOUTH

Lee garnered Class 2-1A player of the year honors after helping lead McLouth to a 26-0 record and its first Class 2-1A state championship. Lee was equally dominant at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle. The powerful slugger hit .620 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI to lead the Bulldogs’ potent offense. In the circle, she went 11-0 with a 0.34 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 118 innings pitched. A Liberty University commitment as a junior, Lee was first-team All-Northeast Kansas League and first-team All-Class 2-1A a year ago and teams with fellow junior Cresinda Bandel to give McLouth a strong 1-2 punch as the Bulldogs go after a state repeat.
 

GABEY NORRIS, ELL-SALINE

Norris was Ell-Saline's ace last year as the Cardinals returned to the Class 2-1A state tournament for the third straight year and improved on their fourth-place finish in 2022 with a third-place showing last spring. Norris helped the Cardinals to a 20-4 record overall, striking out 92 batters in the circle while going 15-2. She also hit .423 with 33 RBI and 36 runs scored. Norris was first-team All-Heart of America League at pitcher.
 

SHELBY UNDERWOOD, NORTHEAST-ARMA

Underwood has been one of the most dominant small-school players in the state the past two seasons both at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle. After hitting a sizzling .854 as a sophomore in 2022, Underwood cooled slightly last year as a junior, but still finished with a robust .766 average. She’s hit 13 home runs over the past two seasons and driving in a total of 92 runs and stealing 26 bases. As a pitcher, Underwood has posted a combined 24-0 record the past two seasons with a 1.97 ERA with 242 strikeouts and just 32 walks.
 

EMERSON WEBER, TROY

A junior three-year starter for the Trojans, Weber anchored Troy’s infield from her shortstop position after playing mostly outfield as a freshman. She also saw some time in the pitcher’s circle and will spend considerably more time this year after the graduation of standout Paityn Engemann. Weber was one of Troy’s top hitters a year ago, hitting .526 with 4 home runs and 40 RBI. She earned first-team All-Class 2-1A honors in the infield last year.
 

GRACEE WILLARD, JAYHAWK LINN
 
Willard earned All-State and All-TRL first team honors as a sophomore last season. The junior pitcher/infielder racked up 176 strikeouts, a school record, and a 1.24 ERA a season ago. Willard helped lead the Jayhawks to a state tournament appearance, the program’s second in the last three years after taking fourth in 2021. Jayhawk-Linn earned regional wins over all three teams to defeat them during the regular season before losing to Ell-Saline in the state quarterfinals. Willard was the team’s lone all-state selection, but she’ll return this year alongside fellow juniors Callie Holt and Kenzley Nation, who were both All-TRL first team selections last year.