IndyStar has been recognizing the top softball players in Indiana with our Players of the Week poll. With the season now complete, we’ve decided to run a Player of the Year poll. It’s impossible to recognize every deserving player, but we did our best, compiling a list of 30 players from around the state.
These weekly polls are consistently among our top performing stories every season, so a big thanks to everyone who’s nominated players and participated. Stay tuned for our statewide way-too-early rankings, and Central Indiana all-underclassmen and ALL-USA Super Team teams, all of which will be out later this month.
Congratulations to Milan’s Kynadee Bode on being voted Player of the Week for regionals! Bode pitched a no-hitter vs. Knightstown, striking out 14 and issuing three walks. She also helped her cause at the plate with a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Voting is open until 7 p.m. Friday.
Meet this season’s top performers:
Emma Bruggenschmidt, Castle, Sr., SS
A Miss Softball finalist, the IU-bound Bruggenschmidt batted .547 in her final high school season with a 58-hit collection that featured 14 doubles, two triples and five homers. She drove in 23 RBIs and scored 43 herself, while striking out only 71 times in 124 plate appearances. Bruggenschmidt, who boasted a career-best .934 fielding percentage, maintained a career .506 average with 159 runs, 126 RBIs, 51 doubles and 19 homers.
Riley Byford, Jennings County, Sr., 2B-3B-OF-SS
A Miss Softball finalist and standout basketball player, Byford batted .459 this season with 50 hits, 36 RBIs and 44 runs scored. She stole 22 bases — more than the previous two seasons combined — and went down on strikes only four times in 123 plate appearances.
Bri Canaan, Evansville Memorial, Jr., P
A Bellmont commit, the junior hurler led Memorial to a semistate finals appearance, finishing the season 15-8 with a 2.36 ERA and a career-high 220 strikeouts. She enters her senior season with 33 wins, a 2.76 ERA and 471 Ks.
Elise Coleman, Floyd Central, Sr., SS-2B
A Western Kentucky basketball commit, Coleman put up massive numbers across the board as a senior, batting .423 with 44 hits (10 doubles, 10 homers), 41 RBIs and 34 RBIs. She stole nine bases and posted a .935 fielding percentage with four double plays and 23 assists. Coleman finished as a .364 career hitter with 124 RBIs and 28 homers.
Taylor Danley, Fort Wayne Carroll, Sr., P-1B
The Findlay-bound Danley closed out her high school career with a banner year in the circle: 18-2, 0.79 ERA, 249 strikeouts, .128 batting average against. She allowed just 15 earned runs total and was impactful at the plate, batting .318 with eight doubles and three homers. Danley totaled 528 strikeouts and a 1.27 ERA for her career.
Jillian DeYoung, Hanover Central, So., P
After leading the Wildcats to a state runner-up finish as a freshman, DeYoung finished the job as a sophomore, allowing only two earned runs and striking out 11 in a 6-4 win over New Palestine. DeYoung finished the season 21-4 with a 1.25 ERA, 264 strikeouts and a .145 batting average against in 151 innings — all improvements from last season. She also notched 30 hits (three homers) and 33 RBIs.
Brynley Erb, Western, Sr., INF
What a career for the two-time Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year. The Kentucky-bound infielder set the state’s all-time home run record this season with her 70th home run, and finished her senior year with a .659 average that included 58 hit (10 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs). She scored 54 runs, drove in 43 RBIs and struck out just three times for the sectional champs. Erb finished her career with a .651 average, 236 RBIs and 235 runs scored.
Sidney Feczko, Cathedral, Sr., P
Destined for Dartmouth, Feczko pitched the defending 3A state champions to another regional championship, logging a 12-5 record with 2.14 ERA and 146 strikeouts over 94.2 innings. She held opposing hitters to a sub-.200 average for a second consecutive season and batted a career-best .495 with 46 hits (10 doubles, four homers), 38 RBIs and 21 runs. She drew 12 walks and finished her career with a.410 average (10 homers) and 97 RBIs. Feczko totaled 602 strikeouts.
Brooklynn Hagerty, Logansport, Jr., P
Hagerty posted a ridiculous stat line in the circle, collecting 17 wins, a 0.63 ERA and 282 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched. She limited opposing hitters to a 0.83 average while batting .367 herself with 12 homers and 46 RBIs.
Ashlyn Hite, Andrean, So., INF-OF
Hite’s .510 average included 11 homers and 11 doubles and resulted in 51 RBIs and 35 runs scored. She more than doubled her hit total with 52 and struck out just seven times in 116 plate appearances.
Sadey Hughbanks, New Palestine, Sr., P
An absolute bulldog in the circle, Hughbanks led the Dragons through a treacherous regular-season slate and daunting postseason warpath to secure their second state championship game appearance in three seasons. She finished the season 20-6 with a 2.59 ERA and 165 strikeouts. She racked up 393 Ks in four varsity seasons (most came over past two seasons) and posted a 2.19 ERA.
Lexi Iwema, Lake Central, Sr., SS
The IU commit closed out her career in style with a state championship and an explosive stat line: .475, 47 hits, 11 doubles, 17 homers, 53 runs, 58 RBIs. She drew 21 walks and finished with a .448 career average that included 30 homers, 124 RBIs and 120 runs. Iwema also stole 11 bases and posted a .986 fielding percentage (one error in 72 chances).
Olivia Jones, Yorktown, So., P-1B-OF
Jones was lights out in the circle, allowing just 11 earned runs (20 total) in 122.1 innings. That resulted in a 0.63 ERA for the sophomore, who finished the season 20-3 with 257 strikeouts and a .140 OBA. Jones also batted 420 with 10 homers, five doubles, two triples and 34 RBIs.
Ashlyn Kita, Crown Point, Sr., 3B
The senior DePaul commit batted .505 for a second consecutive season, clocking 47 hits, 39 RBIs and 30 runs. Her collection of hits included 11 doubles and eight homers, and she decreased her strikeouts (5), while drawing more walks (15). Kita finished her career with a .484 average, 51 doubles, 27 homers, 151 RBIs and 123 runs scored.
Jayden Kleiner, Carmel, Sr., SS
The Michigan-bound senior played a starring role in the revitalization of Carmel softball. She hit .508 as a senior, collecting 31 hits, 36 runs and 23 RBis. She doubled 12 times and homered seven times, and finished her career with a .450 average, 114 runs, 130 hits (25 homers) and 96 RBIs.
Paige Liezert, Crown Point, Sr., P
After leading the Bulldogs to a state championship as a junior, Liezert went 16-2 for sectional runner-up Crown Point, while maintaining a 0.86 ERA (five shutouts, two no-hitters) and totaling 226 strikeouts. She finished 41-8 for her career with a 1.06 ERA and 660 strikeouts. The righty maximized her opportunities at the plate, as well, batting .488 in her 43 career at-bats. That average included four doubles and three homers, and generated 23 RBIs and 10 runs.
Jaleigh Lindley, Terre Haute North, Sr., P-1B-3B
Lindley shined in the circle and at the dish. The West Vigo transfer posted a 19-1 record with a 1.63 ERA and 158 strikeouts for the 4A state runners-up and batted .555 with 61 hits (16 doubles, nine homers), 50 RBIs and 24 runs scored. She struck out only twice in 127 plate appearances.
Brynn Meyer, Center Grove, Sr., INF
The fourth-year speedster was brilliant atop the Trojans lineup, batting a career-best .540 (54 hits) with seven doubles, seven triples and five home runs, plus 14 steals. She has a career-best on-base percentage of .574, and has drawn 12 walks while striking out just five times. For her career, Meyer carries a .488 average with 22 doubles, 12 triples and five home runs, and has driven in 89 RBIs and scored 129 runs herself. She has 65 career steals.
Leyla Miller, Lutheran, Sr., 3B-SS
Miller led the Saints to another semistate appearance, batting a career-best .544. Her collection of 37 hits included 13 doubles and four homers, and drove in 40 RBIs and scored 19 runs. She struck out only twice in 75 plate appearances, and finished her career with a .488 average with 123 RBIs.
Logan Rumble, Penn, Sr., OF
Rumble averaged .474 with 15 doubles, two triples and 11 dingers. She scored 46 runs, drove in 50 RBIs and stole five bases with only 10 strikeouts. For her career, Rumble averaged .426 with 150 hits, including a school-record 29 home runs. She also totaled 140 RBIs and 121 runs scored.
Haley Schatko, Noblesville, Sr., INF-C
The future IU Hoosier slugged her way into the Miller record books, slugging 15 homers to push her career total to 22. She also maintained a .543 average with 51 hits, 51 RBis and 30 runs scored. Schatko struck out just three times, drew seven walks and logged 23 assists and 46 putouts on the infield.
Audrey Seiler, Tecumseh, So., P
One of the state’s best arms, Seiler led the 3A-bound Braves to a second consecutive 2A state championship, collecting 10 wins with a 0.65 ERA and 252 strikeouts. Opposing batters managed just a .103 average (Tecumseh’s strength of schedule rated as a 12 on MaxPreps), while batting .443 herself with 39 hits (six homers), 29 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Leah Shappell, Leo, Sr., P-1B
The multi-sport Ferris State-bound standout lowered her ERA to 0.47 and matched her win total (17) from last season. She posted 13 shutouts, struck out 173 batters and held opposing hitters to a .131 average. Shappell also maximized her opportunities at the plate, going 17-for-38 with 13 RBIs. She finished with a career 0.72 ERA and 360 strikeouts.
Karlee Smith, Clay City, Sr., 3B-C
A four-year varsity standout, Smith led the state with her 73 RBIs, ranked third with 15 home runs and sixth with 54 runs scored. The All-State honoree did this while maintaining a .535 average that included 15 doubles and 15 home runs, and finished her career batting .492 with 172 RBIs, 113 runs, 48 doubles and 24 home runs.
Madison Such, Lake Central, Jr., P
The MaxPreps Indiana Player of the Year, Such dominated from the circle, compiling a 17-1 record with a 0.95 ERA and 167 strikeouts. She allowed just 14 earned runs, limited opponents to a .147 average and issued just 19 walks. Such also batted .474 with eight doubles, three triples, seven homers, 18 runs and 40 RBIs.
Grace Swank, Central Noble, Sr., P-UTIL
The record-setting Swank struck out a career-high 367 batters this season. She posted a 1.24 ERA, 17 wins and .126 OBA, and finished her career with 44 wins, a 2.21 ERA and 795 strikeouts. She was also a career .483 hitter with 24 homers, 41 doubles, 126 RBIs and 125 runs scored.
Grace Swedarsky, Hamilton Southeastern, Sr., P
Swedarsky was limited to 70 innings in 14 appearances due to injury, but she was still just as brilliant, going 10-2 with a 1.3 ERA and 116 strikeouts. The future Virginia Tech Hokie finished her career 52-14 with a 1.26 ERA and 825 strikeouts. She led the Royals to a state championship in 2024.
Tegan Tripp, Lake Central, Sr., 3B
Tripp exploded at the plate this season, clocking a career-best .537 average with 58 hits, 52 RBis and 55 runs scored. She struck out just five times and notched eight doubles, four triples and 12 home runs. She also swiped 15 bases and was perfect on 46 chances in the field (40 putouts, six assists).
Madi Wainwright, Lake Central, Jr., C
The junior IU commit totaled seven doubles, five triples and 11 homers (56 hits) as part of a .528 average, with 31 RBIs and 27 runs scored. She struck out just five times in 123 plate appearances, stole seven bases and was charged with only a couple errors in the field.
Makayla Watson, Westfield, Sr., OF-INF
A stalwart atop the Rocks’ lineup, Watson batted a career-best .465 with 53 hits (three doubles, three triples, two homers), 35 runs and 19 RBIs. She drew nine walks and stole 31 bases, pushing her career total to 88. A career .389 hitter, Watson was perfect on 77 chances in the field, notching three assists and a double play.
Kaitlyn Whitlock, Silver Creek, Sr., CF
This was a breakout spring for the Evansville-bound senior, who batted .659 with 58 total hits. Her collection of hits included seven doubles, three triples and three homers, and resulted in 52 runs scored and 14 RBIs. Whitlock set career records in average (.550), hits (193), runs (171) and stolen bases (106) in her four varsity seasons.
Sydney Wilson, Barr-Reeve, Sr., C
Wilson was one of the team’s most dependable hitters, maintaining a .426 average with eight doubles, a triple and four homers. She totaled 45 hits, plus 27 RBIs and 12 runs this season. Wilson delivered a two-RBI double and drew a couple walks in the state championship game vs. South Central.
Kenzie Zigler, Terre Haute North, Jr., SS-3B-C
Part of a power-packed Patriots lineup, Zigler batted .557 with 63 hits, 61 RBIs, 14 doubles, a triple and 10 homers. She also scored 54 runs, only struck out four times and drew 12 walks.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Homers, gems and steals: Vote for 2026 IndyStar high school softball player of the year
Reporting by Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
