CLASS 5A SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2026
 

 
ALIVIA BARRETT, EMPORIA
 
Barrett is a four-year starter for Emporia and splits time between shortstop and pitcher for the Spartans, helping them to a 10-win campaign last year. Barrett hit .282 with a total of 40 hits, including 11 doubles and a home run. She drove in 24 and stole 13 bases. She’s won 18 games in her career in the circle, racking up 309 career strikeouts. Barrett earned first-team All-Centennial League honors last year.
 

KYA BEHR, GREAT BEND

Behr returns to her shortstop position, where she has earned All-Class 5A recognition in each of her first two seasons. She hit .553 as a sophomore with 21 doubles, three home runs and 54 RBIs, earning first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors for the second straight year. Behr is also an all-state volleyball player and has committed to Washburn for volleyball. She is one of three returning first-team all-league players for the reigning WAC champions.
 

GRACIE BEZDEK, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Bezdek has displayed her offensive prowess early this season with 10 hits and 10 RBIs in Kapaun’s first six games, batting .526. The junior has spent time at catcher, first base and third base for the Crusaders, with her play behind the plate earning postseason accolades. Bezdek was All-Greater Wichita Athletic League second team and All-Class 5A honorable mention last season after helping Kapaun finish 15-12.
 

PAIGE CASSIDAY, ARKANSAS CITY
 
A pitcher and third baseman for the Bulldogs, Cassiday earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first-team honors in the circle last spring. The Cloud County commit registered her 200^th career strikeout while batting .333 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. The right-handed Cassiday opened this season with nine strikeouts and no walks while allowing just four hits and one earned run in a 12-2 victory over Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
 

PAYTON CONVERSE, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Converse and the Jaguars are looking to bounce back from a 9-18 season despite another season of steady production from the junior outfielder and pitcher. Converse batted .456 last spring, matching her freshman home run total of eight while adding a .984 fielding percentage. Converse helped Central post a 16-12 record as a freshman. She is a two-time, first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II selection.
 

 
ADDISON COOPER, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS
 
One of three first-team All-United Kansas Conference selections for Heights a year ago, Cooper is the lone returner from that trio after graduation claimed pitcher Grace Proctor and infielder Taylor Brees. Cooper, a first-team pick in the outfield, enters her second year as a starter and last year hit .382 with six doubles and a home run. She drove in 17 runs as well. Cooper has signed with Kansas City Kansas Community College and will team with fellow returner Shylee Harrington (second-team all-league) to give the T-Birds a strong outfield duo as Heights looks to get back to the Class 5A state tournament for the second straight year, falling 3-2 in the quarterfinals last year to eventual state champion St. Thomas Aquinas.
 
 

 
KINLEY DAVIS, MAIZE SOUTH
 
After the Mavericks graduated four key contributors from their 30-1 team a year ago, Davis slides into a leadership role for a younger Mavericks team. The four-year starter batted .406 with three home runs and 19 RBIs last season while playing left field. Davis, a Barton Community College signee, earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I second team as an outfielder as Maize South finished third in Class 5A. 
 

AVERY DAVISON, VALLEY CENTER
 
Davison came in as the replacement for former Hornet standout and current University of Minnesota infielder Lucy Hooper, and has been productive. The senior batted .457 last season with three home runs, 17 RBIs and 35 runs scored to earn All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I honorable mention at shortstop. She also helped the Hornets turn seven double plays. Signed to play at Weatherford College in Texas, Davison is off to a hot start this season, batting .551.
 

TRINITY DETERS, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

Consistency has quickly become Deters’ calling card and the junior is poised to be one of the Bobcats’ most reliable two-way performers again this spring. A two-year starter entering her junior season, Deters provides stability at both third base and behind the plate while anchoring the middle of the lineup. She turned in a strong 2025 campaign, hitting .442 with 38 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs and 35 RBIs, good for a .779 slugging percentage. Her ability to deliver in key moments helped fuel a Bobcat offense that advanced to the regional championship game before falling to Shawnee Heights in a one-run contest. Deters’ impact goes beyond the stat sheet. A first-team All-United Kansas Conference and all-state honorable mention selection, she has earned a reputation as a dependable presence on both sides of the ball. 
 

PAITYN FRITZ, SALINA SOUTH
 
Fritz is back in the circle for her senior year at South. But after also playing first base the last two seasons, the UNLV signee has moved to the outfield when she’s not pitching. Fritz earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team honors for the second straight year in 2025 after batting .552 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs. She also posted a 3.60 ERA with 90 strikeouts in 85.1 innings as the Cougars finished 20-8 and one win shy of the Class 5A state tournament. She hit three home runs last month in a season-opening doubleheader sweep of Junction City. Fritz is also competing in track for the first time in her high school career.
   

CHARLOTTE GORDON, SALINA CENTRAL
 
Gordon, a sophomore, is part of a young Central team that lost just one senior after finishing 21-8 and qualifying for the Class 5A state tournament last spring. Playing multiple positions, Gordon earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first-team honors at third base after batting .471 with 40 hits and 37 runs scored. She also had seven triples. Gordon had an RBI hit in Central’s state quarterfinal loss to Pittsburg. 
  

EMERSON HIEBERT, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Hiebert added to Carroll’s already quality depth in the pitching circle last spring as a freshman. She earned eight victories in the Golden Eagles’ 24-5 campaign, which ended with a Class 5A state quarterfinal loss to Spring Hill. Hiebert had a 1.17 ERA, earning All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team recognition. 
 

LAUREN HUENFELD, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Huenfeld made an immediate impact last season as freshman, playing in every game while leading Aquinas with 46 hits and posting a .489 average. She added 12 doubles and 22 RBIs, proving to be a reliable bat in the the lineup. Her ability to deliver in big moments was evident in the postseason, including a game-winning hit in the state quarterfinals against Shawnee Heights that helped propel the Saints to their first state championship in 17 years. An All-Eastern Kansas League first-team utility selection, Huenfeld brings both production and flexibility to a loaded Aquinas roster. With another year of experience, she figures to be a key piece once again for a team looking to defend its title. 
 

 
SOPHIA JOHNSON, SALINA CENTRAL
 
Johnson, a sophomore, was part of Central’s talented, youthful lineup last season that set a school record with 21 victories and advanced to the Class 5A state tournament. Johnson aided that cause in regionals, pitching a two-hitter with eight strikeouts in an 8-0 semifinal victory over Emporia. She also took the circle for the Mustangs’ state quarterfinal against Pittsburg. She finished the season with a 2.30 ERA, striking out 71 in 91 innings. Johnson was an All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first-team selection.
 

 
KIERSTEN JONES, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Jones handled catcher and first-base duties last season for Carroll as it finished 24-5 and returned to the state tournament in its 2024 Class 5A title defense. She batted .517 with 45 hits and 36 RBIs to earn All-Class 5A and All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team honors at the utility spot. One of five returning seniors from last year’s state roster, Jones will try to help Carroll continue a state-qualifying streak that dates back to 2006. 
 

JADYN KISTNER, SPRING HILL

Kistner brings experience and reliability to the circle as she enters her fourth year as a starter for the Broncos. A second-team all-state and All-Frontier League selection, Kistner was a steady force a season ago, finishing 13-1 with a 2.18 ERA and 79 strikeouts. While her offensive numbers were limited in a lineup loaded with production, Kistner’s value was undeniable in the circle, where she consistently kept opponents off balance and gave Spring Hill a chance to win every time out. Kistner was also a key part of Spring Hill’s run to the state championship game last season, where the Broncos fell by just one run to St. Thomas Aquinas. 
 

LINDSEY KUZMIC, BASEHOR-LINWOOD

After bursting onto the scene as a freshman, Kuzmic returns as one of the Bobcats’ most dynamic all-around threats. Kuzmic made an immediate impact in her first year as a starter, excelling both in the circle and at the plate. She hit .459 with 34 hits, including 10 doubles and four home runs, while driving in 33 runs and posting a strong .757 slugging percentage. In the circle, Kuzmic went 8-4 with a 2.92 ERA and 86 strikeouts, earning first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors as a pitcher. A versatile presence who can pitch, hit in the DP spot or play first base, Kuzmic helped lead the Bobcats to a regional championship game appearance, where they fell to Shawnee Heights in a one-run contest. 
 

ALYSSA MCCAULEY, GREAT BEND

McCauley, a three-year starter and St. Louis Community College signee, is a senior leader for the Panthers. The first baseman hit .495 with five home runs and 40 RBIs last season and also threw 33.1 innings. McCauley was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection. Great Bend will look to contend in Class 5A after returning several key players from last season’s 22-6 team that fell to Seaman in the regional final.
 

ALLYSON ORTH, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Orth has been a key contributor in the field and inside the circle for Carroll since her freshman year. She capped the 2024 season as the winning pitcher in the Golden Eagles’ 12-2 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas in the Class 5A final. Last spring, Orth helped Carroll return to state by batting .535 with 38 hits and 36 runs scored. She was a first-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League choice at third base after earning similar accolades as a utility player her sophomore season. A multi-sport standout, Orth will play volleyball at Army.  
 

BRETTE PASTEUR, PITTSBURG

Pasteur returns as one of the most dangerous hitters in the state after a dominant 2025 campaign. A first-team all-state and All-SEK selection, Pasteur led Kansas in both batting average (.652) and home runs (16) while piling up 57 hits, 16 doubles and 64 RBIs from her spot at third base. A two-year starter and team captain, Pasteur is the centerpiece of the Purple Dragons’ lineup and a proven leader on and off the field. She played a key role in guiding Pittsburg to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament last season and will once again be counted on to anchor the offense while providing steady defense at the hot corner. 
 

ABREYA PERRY, VALLEY CENTER
 
Perry made a big splash as a freshman on Valley Center’s state championship team in 2023, setting a single-season program record for stolen bases. With the exception of an injury-shortened sophomore season, she hasn’t slowed down much. The Texas A&M signee batted .495 with 47 hits, three home runs, 30 RBIs and 21 stolen bases last season and committed no errors in the outfield. She earned All-Class 5A and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I first-team honors as the Hornets finished 16-12.
 

 
AVERY PHELPS, SEAMAN
 
Phelps was an impact addition to Seaman’s offense in her first year on varsity a year ago, stepping in to help fill the void left at first base and designated player. She finished the season ranked fourth on the team with a .394 average and was tied for second in home runs with 4. Phelps drove in 23 and scored 13 runs, earning first-team All-United Kansas League honors as a designated player. She helped Seaman to the Class 5A state tournament and a 20-9 overall record with the Vikings losing a 3-2 quarterfinal heartbreaker to undefeated Maize South. Phelps will team with fellow returning slugger Aubrey Warren to give Seaman a pair of big bats in the middle of its lineup this season.
 
 

CLARA PINKHAM, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Consistency at the plate and reliability up the middle make Pinkham one of the key returning pieces for St. Thomas Aquinas heading into the 2026 season. A three-year starter at shortstop, Pinkham has been a fixture in the Saints’ lineup since day one, playing in every game of her first two seasons while producing at a high level. She hit .456 as a sophomore with 41 hits, 10 doubles, six home runs and 43 RBIs, establishing herself as one of the most dangerous bats in the Eastern Kansas League. She didn’t record a single strikeout as a freshman and has just five total strikeouts through two varsity seasons. A first-team All-Eastern Kansas League and second-team all-state selection, Pinkham, a Missouri State commit, also played a major role in helping Aquinas capture its first state championship in 17 years.  
 

SARIAH POTTER, GODDARD
 
First-year Goddard head coach Erin Myers said she’ll be sad to see Potter, a four-year starter who plays multiple positions, graduate. A Seward Community College commit, Potter batted .395 with 30 hits and was perfect on 20 stolen-base attempts last season for the Lions, who finished 7-18. One of the leaders of a young Goddard team, Potter earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II first team as a utility player a year ago.
 

CHAYLA PRENDERGAST, GREAT BEND

Prendergast is the reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year after going 15-4 in the circle with a 2.99 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 121.2 innings pitched last season as a sophomore. She took on a larger workload after throwing 73 innings as a freshman, when she earned second-team all-league honors and helped the Panthers reach state. Prendergast has committed to Division I Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 

ASHTYN ROCHA, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Rocha, a junior, has played third base and shortstop for the Crusaders, providing versatility that earned her All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first team at designated player last season as the Crusaders finished 15-12. A three-year starter, Rocha was off to a good start this season, batting .600 with four doubles and 10 runs scored in Kapaun’s first six games. 
 

ADDISON SABERS, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Sabers returns as one of the most dangerous and reliable bats in the Sunflower State after a dominant sophomore campaign. A three-year starter entering 2026, Sabers hit a blistering .523 with 45 hits, 13 doubles, six home runs and 43 RBIs while anchoring the Saints’ lineup. Just as impressive has been her consistency and defensive excellence at the corner infield spots. Sabers has played in every game over her first two seasons and committed just one error during that span, giving Aquinas a steady presence at both first and third base. A Penn State commit, Sabers was a first team all-state and all-Eastern Kansas League selection and played a key role in leading the Saints to their first state championship in 17 years. Aquinas capped a 27-2 season with an 8-7 victory over Spring Hill in the title game, and Sabers figures to be at the center of another championship push this spring. 
 

EMILY SHRIVER, PITTSBURG

Shriver returns as a steady presence in the outfield and a catalyst at the top of the Purple Dragons’ lineup. A three-year starter in center field, Shriver brings a blend of consistency after hitting .449 with 35 hits, 11 doubles and 28 RBIs a season ago, while also swiping 16 bases. A first-team All-SEK selection, Shriver covers ground defensively and owns a strong, accurate arm from center, making her a key piece of Pittsburg’s defense. Combined with her work ethic, Shriver will once again be counted on to help lead the Purple Dragons as they look to build off last year’s fourth-place state finish. 
 

BRECK SLAUGHTER, PITTSBURG

Slaughter returns as one of the most complete players in the state, providing a steady presence both in the circle and at the plate. A two-year starter and team captain, Slaughter was a driving force behind the Purple Dragons’ fourth-place finish at state a season ago. Slaughter put together an impressive 2025 campaign, hitting .471 with 40 hits, 10 doubles, three home runs and 40 RBIs, while also adding speed on the bases with 10 stolen bases. In the circle, she was equally effective, going 18-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 131 strikeouts, earning second-team all-state and All-SEK honors as a pitcher. Slaughter’s ability to impact the game in multiple ways makes her a cornerstone for Pittsburg as she prepares for her next step at Johnson County Community College. 
 

PAIGE STROOT, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Stroot, a shortstop, played a big role in Carroll’s offense last spring as a freshman, batting .560 with seven home runs, 40 RBIs and 41 runs scored in the Golden Eagles’ 24-5 season. She was one of six Carroll players selected on the All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first team, and earned second-team All-5A honors after helping Carroll advance to its 19^th consecutive state tournament.
 

KYLIE THORNQUIST, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Thornquist has been an emotional leader for the Mavericks during their recent run of success, helping them to a 30-1 record and a third-place finish in Class 5A last season. The left-handed hitting shortstop batted .382 with 42 hits, five home runs, 39 RBIs and 39 runs scored last spring. A Murray State signee, Thornquist was a first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I selection and an All-5A second-team pick. 
 

KAYLEIGH UBBEN, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

Ubben wasted little time establishing herself as one of the top young arms in the Eastern Kansas League, and she enters her second season as a starter with high expectations in the circle. As a freshman, Ubben was dominant from the start, going 11-4 with a 2.04 ERA across 104.1 innings while striking out 128 batters and issuing just 26 walks. She made 15 starts and showed advanced command and poise beyond her years, ultimately breaking the school’s single-season strikeout record. Ubben’s standout debut earned her first-team All-Eastern Kansas League honors and helped guide the Thunder to a regional championship appearance before falling to eventual state runner-up Spring Hill. 
 

ALAYNA VAETH, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

After playing a role in one of the most memorable postseason runs in program history, Vaeth returns as one of the Saints’ most experienced and dependable arms. A four-year starter, Vaeth has been a steady presence for Aquinas both in the circle and in the lineup. She posted a 6-0 record with a 2.277 ERA and 31 strikeouts last season, while also contributing offensively with a .319 average and 23 hits. Vaeth’s biggest moments came on the state stage. She threw a perfect game in the semifinals against Pittsburg, then came out of the bullpen to help secure the Saints’ state championship victory over Spring Hill — the program’s first title in 17 years. A first-team All-Eastern Kansas League selection, Vaeth brings postseason experience, into her senior campaign as Aquinas looks to build on last year’s championship success.  
 

AUBREY WARREN, SEAMAN
 
Warren has put together back-to-back seasons in which she hit over .400 for the Vikings, posting a .402 batting average last year after hitting at a .463 clip as a sophomore first-year starter. What Warren lost in average she more than made up for with a power surge a year ago, going from 3 home runs as a sophomore to a team-high 11 dingers last season. She led the Vikings with 35 RBI and scored 36 runs, helping them to the Class 5A state tournament with the season ending with a gut-wrenching 3-2 quarterfinal loss to undefeated Maize South. Warren was named player of the year in the United Kansas Conference and also earned second-team All-Class 5A honors.
 

ADDISON ZERGER, NEWTON
 
Zerger earned all-league first-team honors in Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II last season after batting .315 with 13 RBIs for the Railers. An outfielder last season, the sophomore is in more of a utility role this spring, playing left field, first base and third base. In this season’s opening doubleheader against Augusta, Zerger homered in the first game and hit a grand slam in the nightcap. She’ll try to help Newton improve on its 10-17 record from a year ago.