CLASS 4A SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2026
 

 
LANDRI ADAMS, WAMEGO
 
After serving as Wamego’s No. 2 pitcher to All-Stater Peyton Hardenburger for the past two seasons, Adams takes over as the team ace now that Hardenburger is at Tennessee. Last year Adams posted a 12-3 record with a 2.87 ERA and struck out 94. She also was a force at the plate, hitting .352 with 3 home runs and 19 RBI, playing first base when not pitching. Adams has earned All-North Central Kansas League honors each of the past two seasons and will look to help the Red Raiders get back to the Class 4A state tournament.
 

KYNDAL AIKIN, FORT SCOTT

Aikin returns as one of the Tigers’ most proven arms, entering her third year as a starter with big-game experience already on her résumé. A first-team All-SEK selection as a freshman, Aikin battled through an injury-shortened 2025 season but still made a major impact when it mattered most. Limited to just nine appearances, Aikin was dominant down the stretch, highlighted by two shutout performances at the Class 4A state tournament where she struck out 16 and helped lead Fort Scott to a third-place finish, including a 1-0 victory over Clearwater in the consolation game. In 45 innings, she posted a 1.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts, just seven walks and a .198 opponent batting average. Now fully healthy, she is poised to take on a larger workload in the circle and at the plate as the Tigers look to build off last season’s state success. 
 

PERA BAUER, MCPHERSON
 
Bauer, a junior center fielder, was a catalyst in McPherson’s unbeaten run to the Class 4A title last season.  One of three All-Class 4A first-team selections along with now-graduated Addison Chapman and Haely Hagemann, Bauer batted .402 with 41 hits and 24 stolen bases. She also earned first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team honors as the Bullpups finished 31-0. 
 

RAYLEE COWAN, FORT SCOTT

Cowan has been a steady force for the Tigers throughout her career, and her final season brings an added wrinkle as she transitions from second base to shortstop. A four-year starter, Cowan’s athleticism and instincts make the move a natural fit for one of the most dynamic players in the SEK. Cowan earned first-team All-SEK honors a season ago while helping lead Fort Scott to a third-place finish at the state tournament. At the plate, she hit .490 with 11 doubles, three triples and three home runs, while posting a .509 on-base percentage. Her speed adds another dimension, swiping 15 bases and constantly putting pressure on opposing defenses. 
 

GRACYN CROW, MULVANE
 
Crow, a Cloud County signee, batted .314 with 18 RBIs as last season as Mulvane finished 16-10, falling to eventual Class 4A champion McPherson in the regional finals. She was one of four Wildcats selected to the All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first team, receiving the honor at designated player. Crow batted .357 with 10 hits in Mulvane’s first 10 games this season as the Wildcats started 5-5. 
 

KIRRAH DUNCAN, ATCHISON

A first-team All-Meadowlark League selection and honorable mention all-state pick a season ago, Duncan was a catalyst for the Phoenix in multiple phases. At the plate, she hit an impressive .564 with 22 hits, five doubles and three home runs, while driving in 14 runs. Her speed adds another dangerous dimension, swiping 25 bases and consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses. In the circle, Duncan went 6-2 with 42 strikeouts, giving Atchison a reliable option to control games. 
 

ABBIE GORMAN, FORT SCOTT

Gorman brings experience and steady production to the Tigers as a four-year starter in the outfield. A first-team All-SEK selection and honorable mention all-state pick, Gorman has been a key contributor to Fort Scott’s back-to-back third-place state finishes. Gorman hit .333 last season with a .438 on-base percentage, using her speed to create problems on the basepaths with 14 stolen bases. She added extra-base pop with two doubles, a triple and a home run, giving the Tigers a reliable presence both at the plate and in the field as they look to make another postseason run. 
 

 
REESE GRADY, ROCK CREEK

The Mustangs’ starting second baseman for the past three seasons, Grady is a key cog in Rock Creek’s defense. She hit .419 last year with 7 doubles, 8 triples and a home run, both driving in and scoring 30 runs. Grady has helped Rock Creek to Class 4A state tournament appearances in each of her first three seasons and was an honorable mention All-Class 4A pick last year while also earning first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors. She has committed to Southeast Community College in Nebraska.
 

JILLIAN HAGERMAN, LARNED
 
After missing time early this season due to injury, Hagerman is back and impacting Larned’s offense in a positive way. The junior scored four runs in her first doubleheader of the season, drawing three walks and reaching a fourth time on a hit by pitch. Hagerman’s patience is a weapon for the Indians’ offense. Last season, she batted .529 with a .633 on-base average on 37 hits and 18 walks. Hagerman had nine hits for extra bases and 30 RBIs, earning All-Central Kansas League first-team designated player and All-3A honorable mention for Larned, which finished 15-12.
 

   
AVERIE HALL, WAMEGO
 
Hall was the latest impact freshman for the Wamego program last year, moving into a starting spot in the outfield and turning in a strong season at the plate. She finished her first year hitting .394 with 13 runs scored and 11 driven in. Hall was a first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection and also was second-team All-Class 4A.
 

 
MAKENA HAMPTON, CLEARWATER
 
Hampton, a three-year starter at third base, had a big offensive season in helping Clearwater finish fourth in Class 4A last spring. She batted .475 with seven home runs, 13 doubles and 48 RBIs as the Indians finished 25-6 with an Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV title. Hampton earned all-league first-team honors and All-4A honorable mention. She batted .577 with 15 hits and 15 RBIs in Clearwater’s first eight games this season.
 

 
OLIVIA HAROLD, CHAPMAN
 
Harold was one half of Chapman’s stellar sister act in the circle last year, teaming with older sister Madalynn to lead the Irish to a 23-4 record and their first Class 4A state tournament appearance since 2016. A freshman a year ago, Harold stepped in and posted an 8-1 mark with 71 strikeouts in 57 innings. With Madalynn graduating last spring, Harold will take over as the Irish’s ace this season as they look to make it back-to-back state appearances.
 

LILLY HORNE, BUHLER
 
Horne has played a variety of positions her first three seasons, but primarily has been an opening-game pitcher for the Crusaders. She recorded her 100^th career strikeout early this season. Horne earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team honors after helping Buhler post an 18-10 record last spring. She earned all-league second-team recognition at utility as a freshman and at pitcher as a sophomore.
 

 
GRETCHEN HUIZENGA, SANTA FE TRAIL
 
Huizenga has already left her mark as Trail’s best power hitter, setting a school record with 7 home runs a year ago. That also gave her 14 in her career, also breaking a school record. For the season, Huizenga hit .455 and added 10 doubles and 5 triples while driving in a team0high 42 runs and scoring 34, which ranked second on the team to Sydnee Sleichter. That duo also anchored Trail’s pitching staff with Huizenga leading the staff in strikeouts with 85 while posting a 10-3 record with a 2.93 ERA. Huizenga was a first-team All-Pioneer League and second-team All-Class 3A pick last year, helping the Chargers to a 25-4 record.
 

LOGAN JAMES, CIRCLE
 
James, a junior shortstop and pitcher, earned All-Class 4A second-team recognition at infielder last season after helping the Thunderbirds finish 20-9 with a Class 4A state tournament appearance. She batted .500 with 42 hits, three home runs and 29 RBIs. Fourteen of her hits went for extra bases. James got off to a good start this spring, batting .472 in Circle’s first 10 games.
 

 
IDA KASSELMAN, ROCK CREEK

Kasselman emerged as Rock Creek’s top offensive performer last year as a sophomore, hitting .467 with 12 doubles, 6 triples and 2 home runs. She drove in 27 and scored 21 runs and held down third base in leading Rock Creek to its fifth straight Class 4A state tournament appearance. Kasselman was a first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection and also earned second-team All-Class 4A honors.
 

 
JOSIE KEENER, ABILENE
 
Keener was Abilene’s lone first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection a year ago as a sophomore, earning her honors in the outfield. She finished her season hitting .313 with 9 doubles and ranked first on the team in slugging percentage, second in average and runs scored and third in hits. She also led the team in putouts from her centerfield position defensively.
 

KAYLYNN KONKEL, CLEARWATER
 
Konkel, a senior, has evolved into a strong complementary pitcher to Clearwater ace Trista Welty. After earning All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV second-team honors as a sophomore, Konkel joined Welty on the all-league first team last spring after going 7-2 with a 3.32 ERA. Konkel pitched a three-inning no-hitter against Wichita East and a complete-game victory against Class 3A state qualifier Wichita Trinity. Konkel, a Southeast (Neb.) Community College signee, also surpassed 100 career strikeouts.
 

 
MCKENZIE LEIGHTY, CHAPMAN

Leighty helped Chapman to its best sesaaon in a decade as the Irish qualified for the Class 4A state tournament for the first time since 2016 and finished 23-4 overall. Leighty hit .468 and drove in 21 runs. She also stole 19 bases. She earned first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors.
 

EMERSON MASLAK, TONGANOXIE

Maslak enters her fourth year as a starter as one of the Chieftains’ most reliable players. A first-team All-Frontier League selection, Maslak was a catalyst at the top of the lineup in 2025, hitting .438 with 35 hits, eight doubles and eight stolen bases. A steady presence at shortstop, Maslak anchors the defense and offensively, she sets the tone as a leadoff hitter who can both get on base and deliver extra-base power. After helping lead the Chieftains to a regional championship appearance a season ago, Maslak will once again be counted on to provide leadership as Tonganoxie looks to build on its postseason success. 
 

 
ALANA MCCARTHY, WAMEGO
 
Coming off a big freshman season that saw her hit .525 and set a program record with 13 home runs, McCarthy followed it up with an equally productive sophomore campaign to help Wamego return to the Class 4A state tournament. McCarthy saw her home run total dip by three to 9, but upped her average to a .533 mark. She drove in 40 runs, giving her 90 through her first two seasons, and was a standout in the field at shortstop as well. McCarthy earned first-team All-Class 4A and All-North Central Kansas League honors for the second straight season and already has committed to New Mexico as a junior.
 

LAYLA MEIER, MULVANE
 
Meier, a junior, handles catching and infield duties for the Wildcats – responsibilities that earned her All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team honors as a utility player last spring. She batted .354 with 23 hits and 17 RBIs as the Wildcats fell one victory shy of a state tournament berth. Meier had 3-RBI games in victories over Andale and Pratt.
   

BRIDGET MOHR, ROSE HILL
 
Mohr is getting a late start to her senior season after recovering from an injury. After earning All-Tri-Valley League first-team honors as a sophomore at Bluestem, Mohr did the same in Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV last spring with the Rockets. She surpassed 300 career strikeouts by recording 168 during the 2025 season, and also batted .395 with three home runs and 29 RBIs. Mohr is committed to Walters State (Tenn.) Community College.
 

ISLA NESMITH, EL DORADO
 
Nesmith has been a key contributor each of her first three seasons with the Wildcats, earning All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV first-team honors each of the last two seasons after receiving honorable mention as a freshman. A second baseman and pitcher, Nesmith batted .361 with 24 hits and 15 RBIs last spring as El Dorado finished 8-15, but pushed Class 4A state qualifier Rock Creek in a 7-6 regional semifinal loss. Nesmith also recorded her 200^th career strikeout last season.
 

TAYLOR NIELSON, CLEARWATER
 
Nielson enters her third season as a starter in right field for the Indians, and is coming off a junior campaign in which she boosted the Indians to a fourth-place finish in Class 4A. Nielson batted .442 with 46 hits, including 12 doubles, five home runs and 42 runs scored. That earned the Neosho Community College signee first-team recognition in Class 4A and Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV. Nielson, an all-league second-team pick as a sophomore, opened her final season with 10 hits and 10 RBIs in Clearwater’s first eight games. 
 

AUBREY PRICKETT, TONGANOXIE

A first-team All-Frontier League selection last season, Prickett emerged as a steady presence as Tonganoxie made a run to a regional championship appearance. In the circle, Prickett posted an 8-2 record with a 2.909 ERA and 80 strikeouts, using good velocity to keep hitters off balance and control the tempo of games. At the plate, she was equally dangerous, hitting .387 with 31 hits, six doubles and 20 RBIs, giving the Chieftains a consistent run producer in the middle of the lineup. Now entering her second year as a starter, Prickett’s ability to impact the game on both sides will again be key as Tonganoxie looks to build on last season’s postseason run. 
  

 
JAI ROGERS, CHAPMAN

Rogers was the top hitter for a Chapman team that went from winning just one game in 2021 to a 23-4 mark last year, earning the program’s first state tournament berth since 2016 by qualifying for the Class 4A tourney. Rogers hit a robust .612 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI, helping Chapman hit better than .400 as a team for the season. She earned first-team All-Class 4A honors and was a first-team All-North Central Kansas League selection as well.
 

ACELYN ROTTINGHAUS, ROCK CREEK
 
Following a big freshman season in which she picked up nine wins in the circle for the Mustangs, Rottinghaus missed all of the 2025 season after tearing her ACL during the basketball season. She’s back healthy this year and will help ease the load for Mustang ace Brynna Zoeller. Rottinghaus earned All-North Central Kansas League honors her freshman year and has led the Mustangs to a 6-0 start this year with a .688 average and 11 RBI and picking up 14 strikeouts in eight innings.
  

 
SYDNEE SLEICHTER, SANTA FE TRAIL
 
Santa Fe Trail coach Brenda Dahl felt like Sleichter was arguably the most underrated player in Class 3A a year ago and there’s some good argument for that. While she was a first-team All-Pioneer League selection as an outfielder/shortstop, Sleichter didn’t garner any All-Class 3A honors despite leading the Chargers in hitting with a .482 average and setting a program record with 50 hits. Perhaps even more impressive, she didn’t strike out once in 122 plate appearances last year. She added 26 RBI and scored a team-high 35 runs. Sleichter also led the Charger pitching staff with a 12-1 mark and 2.29 ERA as Trail finished the season 25-4, falling in the sub-state finals to Jefferson West.
 

 
RYLEE STANLEY, WAMEGO
 
Like Hall, Stanley also made a huge impact as a freshman for the Red Raider program a year ago. Her task was even tougher, filling a graduation void at catcher. Stanley handled the staff like a veteran and already is a team leader as a sophomore. She hit .326 with 3 home runs and 21 RBI a year ago, earning first-team All-North Central Kansas League and honorable mention All-Class 4A honors.

 

MICA STAPLETON, PRATT
 
Stapleton and the Greenbacks have won a combined 35 games over the last two seasons. The senior catcher helped Pratt post a 17-10 record last year, batting .536 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. She added 16 doubles and three triples, earning All-Class 4A and All-Central Kansas League second-team honors. Stapleton, a Barton Community College signee, was first-team all-league as a sophomore after Pratt went 18-9.
 

ELLA THIESSEN, BUHLER
 
Thiessen, a junior third baseman, got a good jump on the season, batting .467 with 21 hits and 15 RBIs in Buhler’s first 10 games. That came on the heels of a 2025 campaign in which Thiessen earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III second-team honors at third base. Thiessen, a three-year starter, earned all-league honorable mention as a freshman.
 

 
TORI TUSTIAN, BUHLER
 
Tustian, a junior, has primarily been a starting middle infielder for the Crusaders, helping them post an 18-10 record last spring. She earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team honors at second base. Tustian’s clutch hitting surfaced early this season, as seven of her first 10 RBIs came with two outs. Tustian batted .368 through Buhler’s first 10 games.
 

 
BLAKELY WALTER, HAYDEN
 
A three-sport standout for Hayden, Walter may be more noted as a volleyball player but her softball skills are right up there as well. She took over as the Wildcats’ starting shortstop last year as a freshman and led the Wildcats with a .414 batting average. She drove in 14 and had eight stolen bases. She also spent some time in the circle, posting a 4-3 record with 55 strikeouts and two saves. Walter was named the co-newcomer of the year in the Centennial League last year and was a first-team selection. She’s fresh off helping Hayden capture the Class 4A state basketball championship as well.
 

TRISTA WELTY, CLEARWATER
 
Welty rolled into her senior season with Clearwater’s single-season and career strikeout records as well as the mark for career victories. A four-year starter, Welty earned All-Class 4A second team at pitcher after posting a 17-3 record with a 1.04 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 127 innings. Welty also earned first-team all-league honors at pitcher and designated player for the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail IV champion Indians. Already with a perfect game this season against Mulvane, Welty has since set the school record for career innings (302) while raising her strikeout total to 343. A first-team all-state pick as a sophomore, Welty has signed to play at Missouri S&T. 
 

ALLISYN WHEELER, FORT SCOTT

A three-year starter, Wheeler is coming off a standout sophomore campaign in which she earned first-team all-state honors along with second-team All-SEK recognition. Wheeler hit .464 last season with a .504 on-base percentage, using her ability to consistently get on base to ignite the Tigers’ offense. Once aboard, she becomes an immediate threat, swiping 19 bases and putting constant pressure on opposing defenses. A key piece of Fort Scott’s success, Wheeler has helped guide the Tigers to back-to-back third-place finishes at the state tournament. 
 

RYLIE WHITFIELD, MCPHERSON
 
Whitfield, a junior, has anchored McPherson’s shortstop position the past two seasons, earning All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first team and All-Class 4A second team a year ago for the reigning state champion. Her 33 RBI helped McPherson post a 31-0 record. Whitfield, a second-team all-league utility player as a freshman, committed to Southeast Missouri State in February.
 

WHITNEY WILBUR, CIRCLE
 
Wilbur, a pitcher and outfielder, was part of a young Thunderbird squad that made its second consecutive state appearance last season. She batted .417 with 40 hits, three home runs and 26 RBIs as Circle finished 20-9. Wilbur, an All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail III first-team pitcher and second-team outfielder, also went 11-4 with a 3.59 ERA. A Barton Community College signee, Wilbur opened this season batting .500 with five doubles and eight RBIs in Circle’s first 10 games.
 

DALLIE WINKLEPLECK, PRATT
 
Winklepleck, a junior pitcher and center fielder, is in her third season as a starter. She batted .472 with 42 hits and 20 stolen basees last season as the Greenbacks finished 17-10. Six of the hits went for extra bases as Winklepleck finished with 18 RBIs and 32 runs scored. Winklepleck earned All-Central Kansas League first team as an outfielder and second team as a pitcher, as well as second-team All-4A outfielder. Winklepleck was second-team all-league at pitcher her freshman season.
 

 
BRYNNA ZOELLER, ROCK CREEK
 
Zoeller’s role as team ace became amplified a year ago when an ACL injury claimed fellow hurler Acelyn Rottinghaus for the 2025 season. Zoeller responded, going 12-4 with a 1.40 ERA in leading Rock Creek back to the Class 4A state tournament for the fifth straight season. She struck out 93 and walked just 5 batters last year and also hit .360 with 2 home runs and 13 RBI. A Pittsburg State volleyball signee, Zoeller earned second-team All-Class 4A and first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors on the diamond last spring.