2026 SOFTBALL PREVIEW 
 

CLASS 6A 

2025 State champion: Olathe West 

2025 State runner-up: Washburn Rural 

2025 Review: After building a seven-run lead through four innings, Olathe West held off a comeback attempt by Washburn Rural to outlast the Junior Blues 8-7 in the 6A championship game at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence. The Owls suffered a midseason setback when workhorse pitcher Brevyn Kellepouris injured her arm in mid-April and was limited to a designated hitter role. Her younger sister, Celise Kellepouris, filled the void in the circle and pitched all 21 innings in the state tournament to help the Owls win their second championship in three seasons. West (28-1) beat Topeka High 8-1 in the quarterfinals and Derby 7-1 in the semifinals. Washburn Rural, which beat Mill Valley 2-1 in the semifinals, finished 22-8. Derby (23-8) defeated Mill Valley 8-2 in the third-place game.

2026 Contenders: Olathe West has to replace an accomplished senior class but returns six starters as it aims for a third state title in four seasons. Celise Kellepouris, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Brevyn, starred in the circle last season as a sophomore with a 1.65 ERA and 151 strikeouts. She earned first-team All-6A honors along with senior first baseman Emma Heinemann, who hit .478 and drove in 25 runs in 2025. The Owls graduated two other first-team All-State picks in outfielder Maliyah Warren and Brevyn Kellepouris, who earned the honor as a utility player after an injury kept her out of the pitching circle. Other key returners include Lindsay Ruder, Hadlee Baum, Aly Sherry and Olivia Adams. Following last year’s state runner-up finish, perennial power Washburn Rural returns Centennial League player of the year and first-team All-6A selection Olivia Koch as well as first-team all-league selection Reagan Chapman. Both Koch and Chapman are standouts in the circle and at the plate. The Junior Blues, 22-8 a year ago, also return four other players who received all-league honors last season. Derby graduated three players who received All-6A recognition in Carsen Carpenter, Ava Boden and Loren Sweat from last season’s third-place team. Karlie Demel is back after hitting over .500 and earning second-team All-6A honors. The Panthers also have a deep pitching staff that includes Ashlyn Hamilton, Kelby Clingan and Addie Gutzmer. Mill Valley, coming off a fourth-place finish, returns eight players from last year’s lineup, led by junior outfielder Addison Moeller, who hit .408 in 2025. Teagan Middleton and Emma Hadley are back in the circle for the Jaguars. Blue Valley North reached the state tournament last season before falling to Derby to finish 21-7. The Mustangs lost first-team All-6A outfielder Donni Essex but return two other second-team selections in pitcher/shortstop Lane Lawson and catcher Hannah Krueger. Garden City ended a three-year state tournament drought and finished 19-6. The Buffaloes will have to replace leaders Kyleigh Whitehurst at pitcher and Piper Harris at first base. Junior outfielder Yasmin Angeles is the Buffaloes’ top returner after hitting .525 and stealing 15 bases to earn second-team All-6A honors. Olathe North returned to state in 2025 after having a six-year streak snapped the year before. The Eagles lost five seniors, including all-staters Stella True and Sophie Herman, but return a solid core led by first-team All-Sunflower League pick Ava Rosner, who hit .405 with nine doubles and four home runs last year to help North go 24-5. Topeka High returned to state last year for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. The Trojans return several key contributors, including honorable mention All-6A selections London Backman and Campbell Dawson. Olathe Northwest went 24-3 last season but lost to Mill Valley in the sub-state final. Northwest graduated three all-state players in Lily Winright, Kennedy Glassford and Anna Stesia Ballew but returns standout shortstop Avery Laha, a second-team All-6A selection who hit .447 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 2025. Lawrence is coming off a 19-9 season but lost its top four hitters to graduation. Keira Norris earned second-team All-Sunflower League honors for the Lions at pitcher last season. Maize will look to build off a 17-11 season. The Eagles are led by senior outfielder Lila Collins, who earned second-team All-6A honors last year.
 

CLASS 5A 

2025 State champion: St. Thomas Aquinas

2025 State runner-up: Spring Hill

2025 Review: St. Thomas Aquinas rallied from five runs down to beat Spring Hill 8-7 in the Class 5A title game at Wichita State, capturing its first state championship in 17 years. Aquinas (27-2) completed its rally with a game-tying two-run double from Ella Przybylski before Alayna Vaeth scored the winning run and then closed out the game in the circle. Aquinas also rallied for a 3-2 win over Shawnee Heights in the quarterfinals before beating Pittsburg 10-0 in the semifinals. Spring Hill finished 26-5, beating Bishop Carroll 5-2 in the quarterfinals and Maize South 4-2 in the semifinals. Maize South defeated Pittsburg 11-3 in the third-place game.

2026 Contenders:  Reigning champion St. Thomas Aquinas will have a few key spots to fill with the graduation of outfielder Shalynn Elmore, catcher Ella Przybylski and pitcher Aurora Sweetland. But the Saints return several key contributors, including senior pitcher Alayna Vaeth, who threw a perfect game in the state semifinal and closed out the title game last year. Key returners to the lineup include infielders Addison Sabers and Clara Pinkham. Sabers hit .523 with six home runs and 43 RBIs as a sophomore, while Pinkham hit .456 with six home runs, five triples and 43 RBIs. Lauren Huenfeld is coming off a strong freshman season in which she hit .489 and scored 25 runs. Spring Hill reached the title game last season after knocking off previously unbeaten Maize South before falling 8-7 to Aquinas. The Broncos will have to replace a trio of all-state performers in Emma Reeves, Jaleigh White and Nora Burrell. Jadyn Kistner returns to the circle after earning second-team All-5A honors. Olivia Fraley is Spring Hill’s top returning hitter after posting a .468 batting average with 44 RBIs and 53 runs scored. Maize South took third place and finished 30-1 after seeing its bid for an undefeated season end with a semifinal loss to Spring Hill. The Mavericks will have to replace a standout senior class that included pitcher Sophie Stockham and catcher Lizzy Lassley, both first-team All-5A picks. Senior shortstop Kiley Thornquist and senior outfielder Kinley Davis are among the Mavericks’ top returners. Thornquist was a second-team All-5A selection last season while Davis earned honorable mention. Pittsburg is coming off a breakthrough year that saw the Dragons win their first state tournament game and finish 26-4. Pittsburg is led by seniors Brette Pasteur, Breck Slaughter and Emily Shriver, all of whom earned first-team All-Southeast Kansas League honors. Pasteur was a first-team All-5A selection as a junior after hitting .663 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs. Bishop Carroll entered last year’s state tournament as the defending champion before losing to Spring Hill in the quarterfinals. The 14-time state champion Golden Eagles return a first-team All-5A pick in senior Kiersten Jones, who hit .517 with 36 RBIs last year. Paige Stroot earned second-team honors after a standout freshman season that saw her hit .560 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs. Sophomore pitcher Emerson Hiebert earned first-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League honors last year along with Stroot, Jones and senior Allyson Orth. Salina Central is coming off its first-ever state tournament appearance. Sophia Johnson and Charlotte Jordan delivered big freshman seasons for the Mustangs, earning first-team Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division II honors. Johnson threw 91 innings with a 2.30 ERA while Jordan hit .471 with seven triples. Seaman made state last year in its first year under coach Daniel Ruda. The Vikings lost a first-team All-5A battery in pitcher Kaelyn O’Rourke and catcher Raegan McConnell as well as second-team outfielder Anna McLaughlin. However, reigning United Kansas Conference player of the year Aubrey Warren is back after hitting .402 with 35 RBIs and 11 home runs. The shortstop earned second-team All-5A honors as a junior. Senior Avery Phelps is also back after receiving first-team all-league recognition. Shawnee Heights went 20-7 last season, falling to eventual champion Aquinas in the quarterfinals. The T-Birds will have to replace standouts Grace Proctor at pitcher and Taylor Brees. Outfielder Addison Cooper was a first-team All-UKC pick last season. Great Bend went 22-6 last season but saw a bid for a second straight trip to state end with a loss to Seaman in the sub-state final. The Panthers, who have a new coach in Shawn Behr, will look to contend behind a strong returning core that includes reigning Western Athletic Conference player of the year Chayla Prendergast and junior Kya Behr, an honorable mention All-5A selection. Prendergast went 15-4 in the circle last season with a 2.99 ERA, while Behr hit .553 with 21 doubles and 54 RBIs. Senior Alyssa McCauley joined Prendergast and Behr on the All-WAC first team last season. Kapaun Mt. Carmel will look to improve on last year’s 15-12 season. Junior catcher Gracie Bezdek was an honorable mention All-5A pick last season and junior Ashtyn Rocha was a first-team Greater Wichita Athletic League selection. Basehor-Linwood returns a strong core from last season’s team that went 19-7. Catcher Trinity Deters was an honorable mention All-5A selection last season and also earned first-team All-UKC honors along with pitcher Lindsey Kuzmic. Valley Center went 16-12 last season and returns a first-team All-5A selection in Abreya Perry.
 

CLASS 4A 

2025 State champion: McPherson

2025 State runner-up: Eudora 

2025 Review: First-year McPherson coach Daryl Hoelting led the Bullpups to a 31-0 season and their first state title. McPherson, the lone unbeaten team in the state last year, defeated Eudora 4-1 in the championship game. Addison Chapman delivered three complete games in the circle, giving up just two runs in 21 innings. McPherson beat Circle 10-1 in the opening round and Clearwater 7-0 in the semifinals to reach its second state championship game in three seasons. It was the sixth championship for Hoelting, who won two titles at Salina South and three at Sacred Heart. Eudora (27-2) beat Rock Creek 4-0 in the quarterfinals and Fort Scott 2-0 in the semifinals. Fort Scott beat Clearwater 1-0 for third place.

2026 Contenders: Following a perfect season, McPherson will be led by a new head coach and a standout junior class as the Bullpups try to defend their title. Stephanie Patterson, a Bullpup assistant last season, was promoted when Daryl Hoelting stepped down. Outfielder Pera Bauer was a first-team All-4A selection last season, while fellow returner Rylie Whitfield earned second-team honors. Other returners who earned all-league recognition are Ashlyn Schroeder, Ava Romero, Carmin Pavlovich and Kynedi Huggard. The Bullpups lost standout pitcher Addison Chapman as well as fellow first-team All-4A pick Haely Hagemann at catcher. Eudora was hit hard by graduation following its 27-2 season and runner-up finish. The Cardinals lost five players who received all-state honors: Samantha Claire, Reese Pattison, Katie Courter, Lexi Born and Jaiden Burris. Olivia O’Toole and Lori Brooks are the only returners who received All-Frontier League honors for Eudora. Fort Scott is coming off a 25-6 season and a third-place state finish. The Tigers will have to replace a first-team All-4A pick in infielder Allie Brown but return another first-teamer in junior outfielder Allisyn Wheeler, who hit .464 in 2025. Senior Abbie Gorman is also back after earning honorable mention All-4A honors in the outfield. Senior Raylan Cowan and sophomore Lakyn Farley joined Gorman as first-team All-Southeast Kansas League picks last year. Senior pitcher Kyndal Aikin battled injury last season but returned to throw two shutouts at state. Clearwater went 25-6 and took fourth in 2025. The Indians are primed for another strong season with the return of four All-4A honorees from last year. Taylor Nielson was a first-team outfielder, while pitcher Trista Welty and catcher Liv Miller were second-team picks, with Makena Hampton earning honorable mention as an infielder. Kalynn Konkel is another key returner, but the Indians lost Madi Clevenger to an ACL injury and graduated Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division IV player of the year Kaylee Hampton. Chapman returned to state for the first time since 2016 last year and finished with a 23-4 record. First-team All-4A pick Jai Rogers leads the Irish after hitting .594 with five home runs and stealing 27 bases. Junior McKenzie Leighty and sophomore Olivia Harold joined Rogers on the All-North Central Kansas League first team last season. Circle is coming off back-to-back state tournament trips, the first two state appearances for the T-Birds, who return seven players who received all-league recognition, including first-teamer Whitney Wilbur. Rock Creek brings back three All-4A players in senior pitcher Brynna Zoeller, junior Ida Kasselman and senior Reese Grady. All three were first-team All-North Central Kansas League selections. Wamego won back-to-back state championships behind star pitcher Peyton Hardenburger in 2023 and 2024. The Red Raiders reached state again last season before being knocked off by Clearwater with Hardenburger out due to injury. Hardenburger has moved on to Tennessee, but the Red Raiders return several key bats. Alana McCarthy is a University of New Mexico commit who hit .533 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs while earning first-team All-4A honors last season. Junior Averie Hall earned second-team recognition, while sophomore Rylee Stanley was honorable mention. Pratt is looking for its first trip to the state tournament since 2021 after winning 17 games last season. Senior Mica Stapleton and junior Dallie Winklepleck were both second-team All-4A picks in 2025 for the Greenbacks. Fellow second-team all-stater Taylor Creadick has transferred to Kingman. Santa Fe Trail went 25-4 last season and returns second-team All-4A pick Gretchen Huizenga, who set a school record with seven home runs last season. Sydnee Sleichter is also back for the Chargers after hitting .482 and going 12-1 in the circle. Larned went 15-12 last season. Jillian Hagerman is the Indians’ top returner after earning first-team All-Central Kansas League honors. Other teams off to hot starts in 2026 include Paola (8-0), Hayden (7-0) and Hoisington (8-0).
 

CLASS 3A 

State champion: Frontenac 

State runner-up: Silver Lake

2025 Review: Frontenac was the state’s only repeat champion last year, outlasting Silver Lake 2-1 in nine innings in the championship game in Topeka. Frontenac got a ninth-inning walk-off single from Ella Sullivan to cap a 30-1 season and a 58-3 two-year stretch. Avery Johnson struck out seven and gave up just one unearned run to earn the win in the title game for the second straight season. The Raiders earned run-rule victories over Colby (10-0) and Riverside (11-0) on their way to the championship. Silver Lake, which beat Wichita Trinity 2-0 in the quarterfinals and Burlington 8-0 in the semifinals, finished with a 25-7 record. Burlington beat Riverside 9-0 in the third-place game.

2026 Contenders: Two-time defending champion Frontenac will have a new look in 2026. Not only did the Raiders graduate seven starters, but they also have a new coach in Jess Murphy, who takes the reins of the program from Cassie Rhuems, who moved to St. Mary’s Colgan after winning five state titles in 17 years as Frontenac’s coach. Second baseman Gracen McLaren headlines the returners after earning first-team All-4A honors last season. Outfielder Stevi Likely and designated player Hadley Goodwin are the only other returning starters. Silver Lake owns 13 state championships and has reached the state tournament in 28 of the 35 years of the program’s existence. The Eagles have finished state runner-up to Frontenac in two straight seasons. Silver Lake suffered key graduation losses, including first-team all-staters Kendra Cook, Kira Lowrey and Taylor Zordel. But the Eagles have one of the state’s top all-around athletes in Kaylin Hanni, who led Silver Lake to a state basketball title last March. Hanni was a first-team All-3A selection last year after hitting .423 with 33 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Burlington finished 27-5 and took third place last year. The Wildcats will have big voids to fill, including in the circle with the graduation of first-team All-3A pitcher Emma Birk. Kynli Hoch is a leader for the Wildcats at the plate and in the circle. Riverside is coming off a 22-6 season and a fourth-place finish at state. Kennedy Griffin had a standout freshman season for the Cyclones, earning second-team All-3A recognition. Reigning Class 2-1A champion Oskaloosa will look to make noise again after moving up to the 3A level. The Bears return their top players from last year, including first-team All-2-1A selections Lily Pullen, Parris Marsh, Lydia Turner and Kierstyn Mitchell. Riverside also has a new coach in Greg Reynolds. Colby made state last year for the first time since 2019. The Eagles return two of their three first-team All-Great West Activities Conference selections from last season in senior Saide Cheney and junior Ryler Carter. Cheney hit .419 with three home runs and 36 RBIs, while Carter won 13 games in the circle with a 2.11 ERA. Jefferson West went 22-6 last season and returned to state for the first time since winning a state title in 2015. The Tigers return three All-Big East League performers in Emmie Dean, Harriet Dean and Ashley Moser. Minneapolis, after making state for just the second time last year, returns four starters from last season’s 21-5 team. Sophomore Kaegon Hardesty and junior Miley McClure were both first-team All-North Central Activities Conference selections last season. Wichita Trinity’s first two state tournament berths have come in each of the last two seasons. The Knights will look to contend again after going 24-4 last season. They’ll have to replace first-team All-3A selection and Central Plains League player of the year Ava Lay but bring back a standout battery in pitcher Dominique Schellenger and catcher Madison Cross. Schellenger and Cross, both seniors, were second-team All-3A picks last year, along with shortstop Alexia Nelson, a sophomore. Southwestern Heights went 21-4 last season but suffered a 5-4 loss to Colby in the regional final. Mariah Mendoza starred as a freshman last season, earning first-team All-Hi Plains League honors along with Lacie Banman, now a senior. Halstead brings back five starters off last season’s 21-4 team. Junior pitcher Addi Thompson and senior Thea Boese were first-team All-Central Kansas League selections last season. Haven has high expectations after seeing a 24-5 season end in the regional final last season. The Wildcats return three All-3A players in first-teamers Morgan O’Neal and Mayzie Warden, and second-team pitcher Avery Brawner. Beloit is looking to build on a 13-9 season. The Trojans are led by first-team All-North Central Activities Association selections McKenna Channell and Karlie Smith. Marysville went 15-10 a season ago and returns a first-team North Central Kansas League pick in Aubrey Dressman. Centralia/Frankfort went 17-7 in 2025. Tava Gibbs returns after hitting .473 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. Hesston returns two pitchers and its top six hitters from last season’s 15-11 team. Elyse Griffin hit .512 last season and earned second-team All-3A recognition. Emma Gudeman and Wendy Roth joined Griffin on the All-Central Kansas League first team. Southeast of Saline captured the North Central Activities Association title and posted a 22-5 overall mark in 2025, falling 4-2 to Silver Lake in the regional title game. Kyiah Samuelson and Reese Heinrich were impact freshmen for the Trojans last season. Southeast also returns its top pitcher in Karlee Zurfluh. Kingman returns six starters from a 17-9 team, including first-team All-Central Plains League selection Caylor Helm. The Eagles also added an impact transfer in Taylor Creadick from Pratt. Osage City, led by pitcher Peyton Pitts, will look to make it back to state after qualifying in 2024. Cheney went 16-7 last season and returns four starters. Junior outfielder Kendyll Walker was a second-team All-3A pick last season.

 

CLASS 2-1A 

State champion: Oskaloosa 

State runner-up: Inman

2025 Review: After winning its quarterfinal and semifinal by narrow margins, Oskaloosa closed the Class 2-1A state tournament emphatically, beating Inman 8-1 to claim the program’s first state title. The Bears edged Central Heights 3-1 in the opener, then used a late suicide squeeze bunt to score the game’s only run in a 1-0 semifinal win over Cedar Vale-Dexter. Pitcher Lily Pullen held Inman to one run on three hits in the championship game, while Inman finished 24-2 after beating St. Mary’s Colgan 7-6 and Bluestem 2-1 to reach the title game. Cedar Vale-Dexter beat Bluestem 9-5 in the third-place game.

2026 Contenders: A new champion will be crowned in Class 2-1A after Oskaloosa’s move to 3A. Inman is on the short list of title contenders after the Teutons went 24-2 last season and finished state runners-up. Inman was led by underclassmen last year with pitcher Lyla Levin, catcher Maddi Parsons and infielder Taylor Froese all earning second-team All-2-1A honors. Levin and Froese were standout sophomores last year, while Parsons and Sharley Leonhardt were impact freshmen. Cedar Vale-Dexter will be in the hunt again after returning one of the state’s best pitchers in junior Zoe Davidson, who posted an 0.55 ERA with 182 strikeouts last year as a sophomore. Davidson was first-team All-2-1A while senior Gracie Webb was a second-team pick a year ago. Bailey Hedgecock is another senior leader who joined Davidson and Webb on the All-South Central Border League first team last season. The Spartans took third place at state and finished 28-2 last year. Following a 21-5 and fourth-place showing at state, Bluestem will look to make noise again. The Lions are led by first-team All-2-1A junior catcher Lillie Husman. McLouth saw its bid for a third straight championship end in last year’s regional semifinal to eventual champion Oskaloosa. The Bulldogs, 27-1 last season, will have to replace one of the best players in the state in Dani Lee. Senior Charlyse Coffin and sophomore Maddie Turner are back after earning second-team All-2-1A honors last season. They were both first-team All-Northeast Kansas League selections in 2025, along with junior Taylor Edmonds. John Deitrich took over as head coach of the Bulldogs this season. Central Heights has qualified for state in four consecutive seasons. The Vikings, who finished 23-5 last season, are led by pitcher Aracely Crump after she earned honorable mention All-2-1A honors last year. Medicine Lodge knocked off TMP-Marian and Spearville in regional play last season to secure its second trip to the state tournament in three years. The Indians were a young squad a year ago, led by Emmy Gerdes and Emery Shinliver, who earned first-team All-Central Plains League honors last season. Onaga went 21-8 last season, falling to Bluestem in the quarterfinals. Pitcher Willow Hochstedler and infielder Abbie Ringel are back for the Buffaloes after making the All-2-1A second team last year. Cassie Rhuems is the new head coach at St. Mary’s Colgan after guiding Frontenac to back-to-back state championships in 3A. The Panthers have made state in two straight seasons and return a standout pitcher in junior Bella Ascanio, a first-team All-CNC pick last season. Bennington went 23-2 last season, falling to Inman in the regional final. Junior pitcher Haylee Blake is back after earning honorable mention All-2-1A honors and the Bulldogs return their entire lineup, including first-team Heart of America picks Rylee Benien, Gracie Caswell and Brooklyn Clark. Rossville, Class 3A state champion in 2023, finished 17-12 last season. Key returners for the Bulldogs include All-Big East League performers Brooke Springer and Falyn Clurman. Stanton County went 20-6 last season and returns three first-team All-Hi Plains League picks in Kynzi Fehringer, Kaydence McCleary and Valeria Ortega. Mission Valley went 20-8 last season, falling to Oskaloosa in the regional semifinal. The Vikings return two first-team All-Flint Hills League picks in Madisyn Kraus and Kailynn Jacobson. Remington, which fell to Bluestem in the regional final last season, is led by junior outfielder Kynzee Klaassen, an honorable selection 2-1A pick, and fellow first-team Heart of America pitcher Cambree Lawler. Thomas More Prep-Marian went 25-3 last year but was knocked off in the regional semifinal by Medicine Lodge. The Monarchs will have to replace a first-team all-stater in Brooke Koenigsman but return another first-team 2-1A pick in Addison Watson while pitcher Brynn Rebel was named to the second team.