EVANSVILLE — March isn’t solely reserved for basketball. It’s time to talk about spring sports too.
The 2026 high school softball season officially starts Monday, March 23 in Indiana. Look no further than the Evansville area for several quality programs ― Tecumseh won another state championship last spring and Memorial reached the final four. The common theme year after year? The individual talent.
Here are 75 high school softball players, in alphabetical order, to watch in SW Indiana. As a reminder, the best of the best are included, but also those who are vital to a team’s success or could potentially break out.
Cypress Aliotta, Memorial
The junior catcher batted .439 with two home runs, six doubles and 21 RBIs for the regional champions.
Alaina Allyn, Mount Vernon
The senior is one of the top returning pitchers in the Pocket Athletic Conference and the Wildcats’ top hitter.
Grace Archer, Vincennes Lincoln
The senior infielder batted .532 with eight home runs, four doubles, 39 runs scored and 31 RBIs. Second Team All-State. First Team All-SIAC. Committed to Wabash Valley.
Shae Bailey, Tecumseh
The senior infielder batted .326 with four doubles and 23 RBIs for the state champions.
Brianna Barrix, Jasper
The junior infielder batted .424 with six home runs, six triples, eight doubles and 32 RBIs for the sectional champions. Also was 7-3 with a 2.24 earned run average and 53 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings.
Annie Blackburn, Memorial
The senior outfielder batted .531 with six extra-base hits, 45 runs scored and 13 RBIs. Also stole 13 bases. First Team All-SIAC.
Valerie Blackford, Harrison
The sophomore batted a team-best .383 with three extra-base hits and nine RBIs.
Addi Boots, Mater Dei
The senior pitcher was 7-3 with a 2.20 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 70 innings. Second Team All-SIAC.
Hailey Braganca, Gibson Southern
The senior infielder batted .352 with six extra-base hits and 14 RBIs. Second Team All-PAC. Signed with Brescia.
Emma Bruggenschmidt, Castle
The senior shortstop batted .477 with four home runs, 12 doubles and 25 RBIs for the sectional champions. First Team All-State. First Team All-SIAC. Signed with Indiana.
Leighton Burkett, Princeton
The junior outfielder batted .323 with 20 hits, five doubles, seven RBIs and solid defensive versatility.
Bri Canaan, Memorial
The junior pitcher was 15-6 with a 2.44 ERA and 192 strikeouts in 129 innings. Also batted .246 with 13 RBIs. First Team All-SIAC. Committed to Belmont.
Miley Carie-Frederick, Vincennes Lincoln
The senior outfielder batted .438 with eight doubles and 19 RBIs.
Mia Clamme, Boonville
The junior pitcher was 14-8 with 150 strikeouts in 145 innings. Also batted .374 with 18 RBIs. Second Team All-PAC.
Ruthee Clark, South Spencer
The sophomore batted .421 with six home runs, seven doubles, 22 RBIs and pitched 41 2/3 innings. All-PAC honorable mention.
Ashlyn Collins, Boonville
The junior infielder batted .324 with 22 hits and 15 RBIs for the Pioneers.
Payton Cummings, Gibson Southern
The junior infielder batted .420 with six home runs, nine doubles and 33 RBIs. Second Team All-PAC. Committed to UT Martin.
Emma Cunningham, Vincennes Lincoln
The sophomore shortstop batted .346 with six home runs, six doubles and a team-high 36 RBIs.
Teagan Davis, Memorial
The junior infielder batted .293 with four home runs, nine doubles and 23 RBIs for the regional champions.
Ellie Eden, Memorial
The senior outfielder batted .299 with 20 hits, one home run and 13 RBIs for the regional champions.
Ayla Elkins, Jasper
The senior outfielder batted .347 with four extra-base hits, 30 runs scored and 15 RBIs for the sectional champions.
Lily Elliot, North
The junior pitcher had a 3.87 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 97 2/3 innings for the Huskies.
Kamryn Elliott, Princeton
The senior catcher batted .492 with three home runs, five doubles, three triples, and 21 RBIs. All-PAC honorable mention.
Elaina Embry, Tell City
The junior pitcher/outfielder batted a team-high .500 with 30 hits, 10 doubles and 28 RBIs.
Emma Fischer, Heritage Hills
The junior catcher batted .369 with three home runs, eight doubles and 14 RBIs. Second Team All-PAC.
Taryn Fiscus, Pike Central
The senior batted .452 with seven doubles and nine RBIs. Second Team All-PAC.
Haley Fisher, Heritage Hills
The senior pitcher batted .294 with nine extra-base hits and 21 RBIs. Signed with Olney Central.
Taylor Fisher, Heritage Hills
The junior batted .357 with five doubles and 12 RBIs for the Patriots.
Rheyse Fleck, Forest Park
The senior infielder batted .357 with 25 hits, two doubles and 13 RBIs for the Rangers.
Reese Ford, Tell City
The senior shortstop batted .385 with 25 hits and anchored the infield defense for the Marksmen.
Josie Friend, Mater Dei
The senior batted .355 with two home runs, five doubles and 13 RBIs for the Wildcats.
Braelyn Gladish, South Knox
The sophomore infielder batted .448 with two home runs, three doubles, 18 stolen bases and 14 RBIs – also pitched 22 2/3 innings. All-Blue Chip.
Bailey Gravens, Castle
The senior pitcher was 6-4 with a 3.39 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings. First Team All-SIAC.
Charleigh Hankins, North
The senior catcher batted .326 with four doubles, 10 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. Second Team All-SIAC.
Alexis Harris, South Spencer
The junior batted .339 with two doubles, four RBIs and 25 stolen bases. All-PAC honorable mention.
Breann Harris, Tecumseh
The junior infielder batted .414 with three home runs, 10 doubles and 30 RBIs – also went 10-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 63 strikeouts in the circle. Second Team All-State. Second Team All-PAC.
Lily Hester, North Posey
The junior infielder batted .402 with five extra-base hits, 27 stolen bases and 18 RBIs. All-PAC honorable mention.
Ayela Hoehn, North Posey
The sophomore pitcher is a potential breakout name ― had a 3.30 ERA in 29 2/3 innings and batted .281 with five RBIs.
Millie Hunter, Southridge
The senior pitcher had a 4.43 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 107 1/3 innings. All-PAC honorable mention.
Kennedy Jones, North
The senior infielder batted .337 with five doubles and 20 RBIs. Signed with Frontier College.
Sadey Jones, Reitz
The junior infielder batted .333 with nine doubles and 13 RBIs for the Panthers.
Hallie Knepp, Barr-Reeve
The junior was a Third Team All-State selection for the Vikings.
Macy Lankford, Mater Dei
The senior infielder batted .358 with seven home runs, six doubles and 20 RBIs. Signed with Spoon River College.
Maycie Linneweber, South Knox
The senior infielder batted .435 with 23 runs, three doubles, thre triples, 16 stolen bases and seven RBIs. All-Blue Chip.
Avery Long, Tecumseh
The junior outfielder batted .350 with nine doubles and 23 RBIs for the state champions.
Bianca Lochmueller, Tecumseh
The senior outfielder batted .333 with six RBIs and eight stolen bases for the state champions.
Lauren Lowe, Central
The junior infielder batted .255 with five extra-base hits and a team-high 17 RBIs. Had a .986 fielding percentage and only one error.
Baylee Maurer, Mater Dei
The senior catcher batted .278 with eight RBIs, plus a .979 fielding percentage behind the plate. Signed with Lincoln Land Community.
Baylee McClure, North Knox
The senior outfielder batted a school-record .516 with 33 runs, three home runs, three triples, 15 stolen bases and tied the school record with 27 RBIs. All-Blue Chip. Signed with IU Indy.
Bailey McWhirter, Tell City
The senior infielder batted .389 with 21 hits, four home runs, 21 RBIs and a .535 on-base percentage. All-PAC honorable mention. Signed with IU Southeast.
Kinley Miller, Reitz
The senior shortstop batted .438 with four home runs, seven doubles, 16 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. First Team All-SIAC. Signed with Southern Indiana.
Ella Morton, Reitz
The junior infielder batted .306 with two doubles, seven RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Second Team All-SIAC.
Camryn Nalley, Southridge
The senior infielder batted .343 with five extra-base hits and 18 RBIs. All-PAC honorable mention.
Chiara Nash, Bosse
The sophomore infielder batted a team-best .425 with 17 hits, one double and five RBIs for the Bulldogs.
Emily Parker, Boonville
The senior shortstop batted .429 with six home runs and 28 RBIs. First Team All-PAC.
Melanie Pfeiffer, Tecumseh
The senior shortstop batted .374 with two home runs, 13 doubles and 34 RBIs ― also struck out 29 in 18 innings pitched. Second Team All-PAC. Signed with Indiana State.
Addy Phillips, Wood Memorial
The junior shortstop batted .600 with four home runs, five triples, 13 doubles and 34 RBIs – also went 5-0 with 24 strikeouts in the circle. First Team All-State. All-Blue Chip.
Ella Pickard, Castle
The junior infielder batted .345 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. Also pitched 31 innings in the circle.
Carly Potts, Gibson Southern
The senior infielder batted .407 with eight home runs, seven doubles and 31 RBIs. Also went 10-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 92 innings. Second Team All-PAC. Signed with Iowa.
Maddie Rose, Castle
The junior infielder batted .405 with seven home runs, six doubles and 23 RBIs for the sectional champions.
Laney Scherer, Gibson Southern
The junior infielder batted .564 with nine doubles, 21 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. Second Team All-State. First Team All-PAC.
Carly Schoonover, Wood Memorial
The sophomore pitcher was 7-2 with 107 strikeouts in 94 2/3 innings – also batted .435 with nine doubles, five triples and 25 RBIs. All-Blue Chip.
Audrey Schultz, Wood Memorial
The senior outfielder batted .380 with 34 runs, six extra-base hits, 13 stolen bases and seven RBIs. All-Blue Chip.
Audrey Seiler, Tecumseh
The sophomore pitcher was 18-2 with a 0.77 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 128 innings – also batted .316 with nine doubles and 18 RBIs. Second Team All-State. First Team All-PAC.
Bryn Smith, Jasper
The junior infielder batted .376 with six doubles and 22 RBIs. Was 6-3 with 3.02 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 65 innings.
Miley Sperling, Gibson Southern
The junior infielder batted .484 with 14 home runs, 12 doubles and 35 RBIs. Also was 11-3 with a 1.66 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings. Third Team All-State. First Team All-PAC.
Madison Thomas, Memorial
The senior infielder batted .505 with eight home runs, eight triples, 13 doubles and 41 RBIs. Third Team All-State. First Team All-SIAC. Signed with SEMO.
Brooklyn Turpin, Gibson Southern
The sophomore pitcher had a 4.10 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings – also batted .292 with 16 RBIs. Transfer from Princeton.
Paige Vaughn, North Posey
The junior outfielder batted .430 with two home runs, 11 doubles, 14 stolen bases and 23 RBIs. All-PAC honorable mention.
Callista Walls, Central
The sophomore outfielder batted .412 with six doubles, seven stolen bases and 11 RBIs.
Claire Warren, Forest Park
The junior outfielder batted .343 with four home runs, nine doubles and 18 RBIs.
Lexi Wells, Gibson Southern
The senior catcher batted .313 with three doubles and 14 RBIs. Also had a .994 fielding percentage. Second Team All-PAC.
Laney Werner, Jasper
The sophomore infielder should see an expanded role after batting .289 with three extra-base hits and 13 RBIs.
Adleigh Whitler, North
The junior pitcher had a 3.82 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 77 innings for the Huskies.
Ella Wilkey, Southridge
The senior outfielder batted .394 with eight extra-base hits, 11 stolen bases and 11 RBIs. Second Team All-PAC.
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 75 high school softball players to watch in Southwestern Indiana in 2026
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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