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40 Nashville-area high school softball players to watch in 2023




Centennial’s Lauren Johnson gets a hit during a game at Brentwood in April 2022. Photo by Phil Stauder

High school softball season is underway in Middle Tennessee. Here are 40 Nashville-area players to watch in 2023.

Eryca Abbott, Summertown, Sr.: Abbott provides a steady presence at shortstop and at the top of the lineup. She hit .433 with 53 runs, seven home runs, 36 RBIs and 15 stolen bases last season.

Bella Bain, Eagleville, Sr.: Bain batted .410 with six home runs and 24 RBIs for Eagleville’s first-ever state championship team in 2022.

Mia Brown, Lincoln County, Jr.: The Memphis commitment is a valuable two-way player. She hit .510 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs at the plate to go with a 12-5 record, 1.67 ERA and 66 strikeouts in the circle.

Ryan Brown, Independence, Sr.: The Texas signee slugged her ninth home run of the season earlier this week. She hit .627 with seven homers and 27 RBIs last year.

Shelby Buffington, Page, Jr.: Buffington committed to North Texas last fall after hitting .397 with four home runs as a junior. The right-handed pitcher also held a 2.67 ERA and struck out 199.

Aree Collins, Clarksville, Jr.: Collins batted .384 with four home runs, 26 RBIs and 13 stolen bases last season.

Anna Creasy, Westmoreland, Sr.: Creasy is coming off an impressive junior campaign, when she batted .544 with 29 stolen bases and carried a 1.77 ERA in the circle.

Ashtyn Danley, Huntland, Sr.: The Florida State signee earned Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. She was dominant in the circle and at the plate, posting a 0.41 ERA and 217 strikeouts across 154 and 2/3 innings pitched while hitting .659 with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs.

Rose Davis, MTCS, Sr.: Davis hit .580 with 12 home runs as a junior and signed with Oklahoma State last fall.

Anaya Dawson, DCA, So.: Dawson is off to a hot start this season after batting .351 with six home runs, seven triples and 45 RBIs in 2022.

Briley Dover, Loretto, Sr.: Dover is a tough out at the plate. The North Alabama signee batted .548 with three home runs, 25 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 2022.  

Tori Duval, Columbia Academy, Sr.: Duval is trying to help the Lady Bulldogs win their fourth-straight state title. The Towson signee had a .523 average with seven home runs and 55 RBIs a year ago.

Maddie Floyd, Liberty Creek, So.: Floyd hit .426 with seven home runs and 48 RBIs while serving as Gallatin’s starting catcher last year.

Hannah Gaines, Gallatin, Sr.: The Alabama A&M commitment batted .527 with six home runs and 55 RBIs as a junior.

Jacey Goetzinger, Central Magnet, Jr.: Goetzinger was the District 10-3A Pitcher of the Year last season for her 12-8 record, 3.10 ERA and 95 strikeouts. She also hit .358 with 33 RBIs.

Kaitlyn Graham, Beech, Jr.: The first baseman finished last season with a .478 average, eight home runs and 49 RBIs.

Payton Harris, Montgomery Central, Sr.: Harris struck out 19 batters in Montgomery Central’s home opener last week. That was a continuation of her junior year, when she went 11-4 with a 0.43 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 82 and 1/3 innings in the circle.

Lauren Johnson, Centennial, Sr.: Johnson, an Alabama signee, hit .513 with four home runs, 24 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 2022. The outfielder struck out just four times all season.

Chloe Jones, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: Jones, who can play multiple positions, gets on base with regularity. The Dyersburg State commitment batted .571 with a .610 on-base percentage and six home runs as a junior.  

Rylee Lautzenheiser, Rossview, Sr.: The Volunteer State signee can hit for average and power. She batted .448 with a .566 OBP last season.

Nolensville left fielder Addi Leichty secures a catch during a game last season. Photo by Phil Stauder

Addi Leichty, Nolensville, So.: Leichty showcased star potential in her debut season, hitting .516 with six home runs and 40 RBIs in 2022.

Emily Legrand, Green Hill, Jr.: The reigning District 9-4A Defensive Player of the Year and James Madison commitment hit .529 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs and 14 stolen bases last season.

Addisyn Linton, Eagleville, So.: Linton enters her third varsity season after emerging as an eighth-grader in 2021. She hit .500 with six home runs and 29 RBIs while striking out 209 opponents across 144 innings pitched last year.

Reagan Locke, Nashville Christian, Jr.: Locke was the Lady Eagles’ top pitcher last season with a 16-10 record, 2.16 ERA and 232 strikeouts in 142 and 1/3 innings.

Kaliyah Lucas, Jo Byrns, So.: Lucas will team with Callie Yates in the circle to make up for the graduation loss of Korey Harris. Lucas struck out 42 batters in 41 innings last year and also hit .389 at the plate.

Macy Meador, Macon County, Sr.: Meador is back for her final season after batting .470 with five home runs, 34 RBIs and 22 stolen bases a year ago.

Maddie McIntyre, Green Hill, Jr.: The Appalachian State commitment hit .429 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs for the Lady Hawks in 2022.

Hannah McMeen, Stewarts Creek, Sr.: The Lincoln Memorial signee batted .484 with two home runs and 30 RBIs during the Lady Red Hawks’ run to the Class 4A state tournament.

Saviya Morgan, Columbia Central, Jr.: Morgan put up video-game numbers last season. The Tennessee commitment hit .735 with three home runs, 23 RBIs and a whopping 60 stolen bases.

Addison Oberbreckling, Nashville Christian, So.: Oberbreckling made an immediate impact as a freshman by batting .567 with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 2022.

Kailey Plumlee, Gordonsville, So.: Plumlee is a strikeout machine in the circle. She finished her freshman campaign with a 1.56 ERA and 339 punchouts in 138 and 2/3 innings of work last season.

Ella Polk, Page, Jr.: Polk is set to follow her older sister Josey to Lipscomb University in a few years. Ella hit .385 with two home runs for the Lady Patriots last season.

Brooklyn Rader, Davidson Academy, So.: Rader hit .418 with four home runs and 40 RBIs as a freshman last season.

Bailey Shepard, DCA, So.: Shepard was instrumental to DCA’s Division II-A state runner-up finish in 2022. She batted .475 with three home runs and went 21-6 with a 2.18 ERA in the circle.

Rylan Smith, Nolensville, Sr.: Smith has been one of the area’s top pitchers throughout her career. The Western Kentucky signee went 22-4 with a 1.21 ERA and 353 strikeouts in 168 innings last year.

Carly Ward, Hendersonville, Sr.: Ward has a knack for getting on base. The center fielder hit .521 with a 1.23 OPS last year.

Sophia Waters, Green Hill, Jr.: The King University commitment finished last season with a 2.39 ERA and held opponents to a .221 batting average. She also struck out 103 in 96 and 2/3 innings pitched.

Esther White, Waverly, Jr.: The Georgia commitment batted .535 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs last season.

Makenzie Woodall, Station Camp, Sr.: The catcher hit .375 with four home runs and stole 12 bases a year ago. She has signed with Chattanooga State.

Maliyah Wilkins, Green Hill, Jr.: Wilkins hit .505 and bashed 19 home runs with 52 RBIs to earn District 9-4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2022.

Others to keep an eye on

Brinli Bain, Eagleville, So. (2B/C)

Skye Carter, Brentwood Academy (OF)

Charley Clark, Friendship Christian, Sr. (P/2B)

Greer Foster, MTCS, Jr. (C/3B)

Anna Greer, Harpeth, Jr. (P)

Emilee Hawkes, Siegel, Sr. (C)

Saniya Hunter, Summit, So. (1B)

Hannah Lindsey, Summertown, Sr. (P/3B)

Annalise Mecklenburg, Mt. Juliet, So. (P/2B/1B)

Lauren Nicholson, Springfield, Jr. (OF)

Heather Scales, DCA, So. (C/SS)

Kennedy Scott, Rossview, So. (OF)

Avary Stockwell, Green Hill, Fr. (C/Utility)

Lexi Vernon, Franklin, Fr. (P)

Mallory Williams, Rockvale, Sr. (P/Utility)

Green Hill teammates welcome Avary Stockwell (13) at the plate after she homered against Liberty Creek. Photo by Phil Stauder