The high school softball season barrels toward the playoffs with just a couple more weeks left in the regular season.
The regional quarterfinals will commence the week of Monday, May 18. The IHSA will unveil the playoff pairings on Wednesday, May 6.
Here are some familiar and new softball stars around Springfield so far this season.
Jaci Derringer, Athens
The junior catcher ranks among the best hitters in the Sangamo Conference. She is a .580 hitter with 40 hits, 40 RBIs, 31 runs and nine home runs through 23 games.
Preslie Buckmaster, Athens
The junior shortstop bristles with a .549 average. She has cranked out 39 hits, 33 RBIs and 35 runs over 23 games — not to mention 10 triples.
Addi Jones, Auburn/Lutheran
The junior catcher continues to flourish. She has dished out 25 hits and 27 runs over 22 games that adds up to a .455 batting average.
Kylynn Maltby, Beardstown
The senior catcher has produced a .500 average with 29 hits, 28 RBIs and 33 runs over 18 games. She has also walloped seven home runs.
Khloe Kearns, Beardstown
The sophomore pitcher is 16-2 with a 1.73 ERA over 18 appearances. She champions 203 strikeouts to just 40 walks. She is also a .475 hitter with 28 hits and 33 RBIs, including six home runs.
Lily Woodworth, Buffalo Tri-City/Sangamon Valley
The senior ace is 10-5 in 17 starts with a 1.32 ERA. She has chalked up 141 strikeouts with just 30 walks.
Hallie Gibson, Carlinville
The senior ace wields a 2.28 ERA with 197 strikeouts over 20 appearances.
Ryleigh Kiel, Chatham Glenwood
The senior center fielder will play at Penn State University and has posted a blistering .604 average at the plate with 32 hits, 28 RBIs and 29 runs over 16 games. She also leads the potent Titans with nine home runs and 14 doubles.
Jemma Lamb, Chatham Glenwood
The freshman has quickly asserted herself in a loaded lineup. She has carved out a .578 average with 26 hits, 21 RBIs and 25 runs over 17 games, including two home runs.
Irie Lohrenz, Chatham Glenwood
The senior pitcher is 9-1 with a 1.32 ERA over 11 appearances. The Miami (Ohio) University commit has issued 72 strikeouts and just nine walks over 58 1/3 innings.
Alyvia Streb, Chatham Glenwood
The junior pitcher has supplied another formidable arm. The University of Tennessee Martin commit is 7-0 with a 0.92 ERA over 11 appearances. She has 74 strikeouts and 11 walks over 45 2/3 innings.
Sadie Sholtis, Gillespie
The senior is committed to John A. Logan College, and the .472 hitter leads the Miners with 34 hits, 21 RBIs and 33 runs over 26 games. Fellow junior Laci Schuckenbrock (.446) additionally powers the offense with 33 hits, 28 RBIs and 36 runs.
Peyton Chappelear, Hillsboro
The junior boasts a .596 average with 34 hits, 22 RBIs and 29 runs over 20 games.
Lainey Lessman, Hillsboro
The sophomore pitcher is 8-0 with a 1.36 ERA over 12 appearances. She also leads the offense with three home runs and a .422 average.
Malin Camerer, Jacksonville
The freshman has soared with a .510 average over 19 games. She has mustered 25 hits, 16 RBIs and 17 runs.
Laurynn Mayberry, Lincoln
The junior is committed to Lincoln Land Community College. She hammered the go-ahead grand slam in a 9-7 win over Bartonville Limestone on Friday, May 1. She subsequently summoned two triples in a 12-4 win over Pleasant Plains on Monday, May 4, while striking out six with two earned runs allowed in the circle.
Riley Holloway, New Berlin
The senior is committed to Lincoln Land Community College and remains one of the Sangamo’s most prolific hitters with .551 average that includes 43 hits and 32 runs over 24 games. She also leads the league with 33 stolen bases.
Ava Rodriguez, Pawnee
The senior shortstop is committed to Northwest Florida State College and walloped two home runs in a 4-1 win over Manito Midwest Central on Monday, May 4.
Emma Selhime, Pawnee
The senior pitcher is committed to Southeastern Illinois College and struck out seven with no earned runs allowed in the win over Midwest Central. She also starred in a 4-1 win over Pleasant Plains with nine strikeouts over eight innings.
Aubrey Vogel, Petersburg PORTA/A-C Central
The Eastern Illinois University commit is a .487 hitter with four home runs over 14 games.
Delaney Murphy, Pleasant Plains
The senior catcher is committed to Danville Area Community College and has manufactured a .552 average with 37 hits and three home runs over 21 games.
Kendall Edmondson, Rochester
The sophomore leads the Central State Eight Conference with 43 hits over 26 games. She has launched six home runs with a .551 batting average. She is also 7-0 in the circle with a 3.02 ERA.
Peyton Purves, Rochester
The senior catcher is committed to Purdue University. The .480 hitter has ushered 36 hits and 32 RBIs with eight home runs. Fellow junior Emmah Brown also has 36 hits with a .429 average and 13 stolen bases.
Jaelyn Watts, Rochester
The senior ace is committed to Lake Land College. She has navigated 69 innings with a 6-3 record and 1.52 ERA. She has 107 strikeouts and 37 walks.
Italee Ford, Rushville-Industry
The senior is committed to Lake Land College and hit two home runs in a 12-9 win over Athens on Monday, April 20.
Kenzie Wieland, Sacred Heart-Griffin
The junior ace has piled up 152 strikeouts (and just 30 walks) with a 1.05 ERA in 18 appearances. She also wreaks havoc offensively with a .424 average. She totals 25 hits with 23 RBIs and 20 runs, including five home runs.
Grace Burris, Staunton
The senior pitcher is 7-1 with a 3.57 ERA in 15 appearances. She has dispensed 122 strikeouts with just 16 walks. She’s also one of the team’s top bats with a .426 average.
Peyton DeMichael, Taylorville
The senior is committed to John Wood Community College and produced four hits for a second straight game in a 15-0 win over Springfield High on Monday, May 4.
Olivia Heigert, Williamsville
The freshman has made a splash both ways. She is a .500 hitter with 26 hits, 22 RBIs and four home runs. She also carries a 10-3 record in the circle with a 1.62 ERA over 56 1/3 innings.
Hannah Louis, Williamsville
The freshman has provided another big impact both ways. The .433 hitter has rapped out eight home runs and 35 RBIs. She is 6-2 in the circle with a 0.93 ERA over 60 1/3 innings.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Meet the top 30 IHSA softball players so far around Springfield
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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