ROME — The votes have been counted and readers of the Times Telegram and Observer-Dispatch have picked Rome Free Academy leadoff hitter Kenidee Campbell out of 13 candidates as their 2025 softball player of the year in online polling.
Campbell, a junior center fielder, helped the Black Knights win Section III’s Class AAA championship, the first sectional title for the program since the 1980s.
More than 40,000 votes were cast over the past week and Campbell passed Camden senior Camryn Shenk to take the top spot on the final day of voting. Campbell received 14,242 votes – just under 34.5% of the 41,315 cast for 13 candidates – while Shenk finished with 13,749 (33.3%).
These are the nominees:
LEAH BRAY, Herkimer: Freshman batted .491, stole 25 bases and scored 20 runs while striking out 184 batters in 108 innings and compiling a 2.79 ERA.
KENIDEE CAMPBELL, Rome Free Academy: Junior batted .420 with more walks (23) than hits (21), stole 23 bases and scored 30 runs.
ADRIANA CATANIA, Hamilton: Senior batted .415 with 27 runs batted in and scored 15 runs for Class D state champions.
ADDISON COOK, Whitesboro: Junior batted .544 with 10 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 33 runs batted in and 21 runs scored, and struck out 118 batters in 83 2/3 innings with a 2.09 ERA.
KATIE CRIPPEN, Cooperstown: Junior batted .623 with 10 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 19 runs batted in, 33 runs scored and 24 stolen bases.
ELLIE FREETH, Hamilton: Sophomore batted .474 with seven doubles, three triples, three home runs and 24 runs batted in, and won 17 of 18 decisions with 197 strikeouts in 119 2/3 innings and a 1.71 ERA.
RUBY GEHRINGER, New Hartford: Sophomore batted .544 with 23 runs batted in and scored 16 runs while striking out 70 batters in 67 innings pitched.
GRACEN GRIMM, Clinton: Senior batted .478 with 25 runs batted in, and struck out 212 batters in 97 innings pitched with a 2.09 ERA.
LARISSA HOLDRIDGE, Canastota: Sophomore batted .386 with four home runs, 31 runs batted in and 20 runs scored.
CAMRYN SHENK, Camden: Senior batted .514 with seven doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 48 runs batted in and 31 runs scored.
ERIN TRINKAUS, Notre Dame: Junior batted .500, scored 21 runs, drove in 13 runs, and did not strike out in 60 at-bats.
ADDIE WAY, New Hartford: Eighth-grader batted .441 with 13 stolen bases, scored 21 runs, and did not strike out in 59 at-bats.
EMMA ZYSKOWSKI, Whitesboro: Sophomore batted .460 with five doubles, six home runs, 22 runs batted in and 18 runs scored.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: Poll results: Readers pick area’s top high school softball player from among 13 candidates
Reporting by Jon Rathbun, Herkimer Times Telegram / Times Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
