Here are The State Journal-Register’s softball players of the year and all-area team for 2026.
The list begins with the players of the year, followed by the rest of the all-area honorees listed in alphabetical order:
Ryleigh Kiel, Chatham Glenwood
The senior leadoff hitter and center fielder stood out in a lineup full of stars. The Penn State University recruit posted a staggering .608 batting average with 59 hits, 43 RBIs and 53 runs, including a team-best 15 home runs.
The State Journal-Register’s Large School Softball Player of the Year said she simply focused on making contact and credited a supporting cast after a second straight Class 3A championship game appearance, where the Titans (30-3) finished second place.
“The girls around me made me so phenomenally confident in myself, just staying true to myself and play like I do,” she said.
Kiel, who has appeared on the SJ-R’s all-area team each of her four seasons, was voted all-state first team in Class 3A by the Illinois Coaches Association as well as all-Central State Eight Conference first team for a second straight season.
Hannah Louis, Williamsville
Neither the varsity stage nor the team’s first state appearance since 2018 seemed too big for this freshman pitcher and infielder.
She held eventual Class 2A state champion Carterville to no runs until the sixth inning in a 3-0 semifinal loss in Peoria, despite going up against incoming University of Illinois hurler Caidence Phillips.
The righty lasted all seven innings with seven strikeouts against Carterville before Williamsville (32-8) earned third place.
She finished the season with a 13-4 record and 1.17 ERA, including 149 strikeouts over 132 innings and 31 appearances.
The State Journal-Register’s Small School Softball Player of the Year also introduced a big pop to the lineup. She forged a .442 average with 53 hits, 66 RBIs and 29 runs, including a school-record 17 home runs.
The unanimous all-Sangamo Conference first-team pick ultimately wound up on the all-state first team in Class 2A.
Jaci Derringer, Athens
The unanimous all-Sangamo Conference junior catcher was second-team all-state in Class 1A. She bristled with a .570 hitting average with 49 hits, 43 RBIs and 37 runs, including 10 home runs.
Peyton DeMichael, Taylorville
The senior infielder was tabbed all-state second team in Class 3A. She summoned a .515 average with 52 hits, 20 RBIs and 36 runs. She will play at John Wood Community College.
Kendall Edmondson, Rochester
The all-CS8 first team sophomore sizzled with a .534 average. She had 56 hits, 34 RBIs, 33 runs, and 8 home runs.
Sophia Feld, Chatham Glenwood
The all-CS8 second team pick hit .404 with 38 hits, 42 RBIs and 35 runs, including 10 home runs.
Grey Gilbert, Lincoln
The junior infielder earned all-state third team in Class 3A and all-CS8 first team. She ushered a .437 average with 45 hits and 40 runs. She also had 19 stolen bases.
Hope Gilmore, Chatham Glenwood
All-state second team in Class 3A and all-CS8 first team, the junior infielder manufactured a .465 average with 46 hits, 27 RBIs and 37 runs.
Olivia Heigert, Williamsville
The freshman starred both ways and was a unanimous all-Sangamo first-team honoree, not unlike teammate Hannah Louis. She earned all-state second team in Class 2A and produced a .500 batting average with 54 hits, 44 RBIs and 42 runs, including seven home runs. In the circle, she carried a 1.90 ERA and finished 18-4. She struck out 170 over 99 2/3 innings and 29 appearances.
Riley Holloway, New Berlin
The senior infielder moseyed up to all-state second team in Class 2A. The Lincoln Land Community College commit and two-time all-area honoree posted a .549 average with 50 hits and 36 runs. She set a school record with 44 stolen bases.
Khloe Kearns, Beardstown
The Class 2A all-state second team hurler racked up 274 strikeouts over 147 innings and finished 20-4 with a 1.48 ERA. She also ushered a sterling .524 average with 44 hits, 39 RBIs and seven home runs.
Jemma Lamb, Chatham Glenwood
The freshman all-state second-teamer in Class 3A surged to a .527 average, with 49 hits, 38 RBIs and 43 runs. She reeled off a team-best 14 doubles, three triples, and two home runs.
Irie Lohrenz, Chatham Glenwood
The senior ace rounds out her high school career with a fourth all-area nod. She mustered a 1.75 ERA and finished 19-3 over 24 appearances. She struck out 127 over 119 2/3 innings. Last year’s Large School Softball Player of the Year earned a spot on the Class 3A all-state first team for the third consecutive season. She was also all-CS8 first team all four seasons.
Kaydi Miller, Havana
The Class 1A all-state first team senior catcher registered a .440 average with 22 hits, 12 RBIs and 32 runs over 17 games. The two-time all-area honoree walloped four home runs. She is expected to be an outfielder at Western Illinois University.
Delaney Murphy, Pleasant Plains
The unanimous all-Sangamo selectee was tabbed all-state second team in Class 2A. She compiled a .510 average with 50 hits, 23 RBIs and 43 runs. She finished with 154 career hits and will play at Danville Area Community College.
Peyton Purves, Rochester
The junior catcher picked up all-state second team in Class 2A and all-CS8 first team. She boasted a .406 average with 41 hits, 33 RBIs and 39 runs, including nine home runs.
Ava Rodriguez, Pawnee
The Class 2A all-state second team senior shortstop furnished a .507 average with six home runs and 30 RBIs. She also had 13 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Defensively, she committed only two errors and recorded 55 putouts. The three-time all-area honoree was named the MSM Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year and will play at Northwest Florida State College.
Sadie Sholtis, Gillespie
The senior outfielder raked in all-state second team laurels in Class 2A. She had a .479 average with 45 hits, 35 RBIs and 43 runs, plus six home runs. She will play at John A. Logan College.
Elle Smithers, Williamsville
The junior infielder mopped up all-state third team in Class 2A. She chalked up a .409 average with 52 hits, 48 runs and 36 RBIs.
Alyvia Streb, Chatham Glenwood
The junior pitcher struck out 115 over 72 1/3 innings with a 0.87 ERA and 9-0 record. The all-CS8 first team pick allowed nine earned runs on 34 hits and 24 walks.
Aubrey Vogel, Petersburg PORTA/A-C Central
The Class 2A all-state first team and unanimous all-Sangamo first team senior shortstop put up a .547 average with 41 hits, 35 RBIs and 37 runs, not to mention six home runs. She will play at Eastern Illinois University.
Jaelyn Watts, Rochester
The Class 2A all-state second team and all-CS8 first team senior pitcher boasted a 1.62 ERA and 11-5 record. She totaled 173 strikeouts over 108 1/3 innings. She will play at Lake Land College.
Kenzie Wieland, Sacred Heart-Griffin
The junior pitcher propelled the Cyclones both ways and was all-state first team in Class 2A, not to mention all-CS8 first team. She had a 1.22 ERA with 231 strikeouts over 131 2/3 innings and 25 appearances. She also engineered a .462 hitting average with 36 hits, 35 RBIs and 28 runs, including seven home runs.
Lily Woodworth, Buffalo Tri-City/Sangamon Valley
The two-time all-area honoree led the Tornadoes with a 1.35 ERA. She dialed up 195 strikeouts and finished 15-7 over 145 innings and 24 appearances. She will play at Jefferson College.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Meet the 2026 SJ-R’s All-Area Softball Team, Players of the Year
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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By Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network
