The state of Ohio continues to produce high-quality high school softball players who will put their talents on display this spring.
To preview the season, the high school sports staff of the USA Today Co.’s 21 Ohio newspapers and websites compiled a who’s who of the Buckeye State’s prep softball players.
This is part of a series that included boys and girls basketball’s top 25 players this winter and, in fall, included football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls soccer.
No. 1 ‒ Jenna Mannon, West Jefferson
Mannon, a junior, committed to Missouri in September. As a sophomore, she was 15-2 with a save and 0.83 ERA over 101.2 innings. She struck out 176 and walked 27. At the plate, Mannon hit .701 (47 for 67) with 12 home runs.
No. 2 ‒ Lailah Bohanan, Aurora
A Youngstown State University commit, she was the Suburban American Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection. Bohanan hit .670 with a 1.571 OPS, 43 runs and 39 RBIs while adding 10 doubles and four triples. She also struck out just once all season. In the circle, she went 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA and 43 strikeouts against just 11 walks as the Greenmen’s second pitcher.
No. 3 ‒ Ella Girard, Walsh Jesuit
Girard, senior outfielder this season for the Warriors, is committed to Michigan State University. Last season she was a first-team All-Ohio in selection in Division II.
No. 4 ‒ Morgan Muncy, Ravenna Southeast
Muncy is a Miami University RedHawks commit who was first-team all-state after batting .676 last year with 26 of her 50 hits going for extra bases (12 doubles, 10 triples, four homers). She also had 37 runs and 28 RBIs to lead the Pirates to a 16-9 record.
No. 5 ‒ Paige Baker, Ross
The Southwestern Buckeye League-Southwestern Division Player of the Year and All-Ohio first-team selection led the Rams in the circle and at the plate, pitching to a 12-5 record with 156 strikeouts and a 2.22 earned run average in 113.1 innings, while hitting .516 with nine doubles, four triples, four home runs, 34 runs scored and 23 RBIs.
No. 7 ‒ Sophia Sheidler, Lebanon
A Division I honorable mention all-state, Sheidler went 23-4 pitching for the Division I champions while also hitting .486 with 13 doubles. She is committed to Stetson University.
No. 8 ‒ D’Neya Dennis, Licking Valley
The junior has committed to Akron to play center field but generally plays shortstop for the Panthers, a team that won a Division IV district championship and reached a regional final last season. She hit .506, scored 30 runs and knocked in 22 runs.
No. 9 ‒ Kira Bailey, Gahanna Lincoln
The junior shortstop is one of the best baserunners in the state, stealing 60 bags last season en route to being named second-team All-Ohio. Bailey, a University of Minnesota commit, hit .538 with 45 runs scored and 17 RBIs.
No. 10 ‒ Madelyn Gates, Bloom-Carroll
A Northern Kentucky University commit, the senior shortstop was first-team All-Ohio and the Central District Division III Player of the Year in 2025 after a 68-hit season that included a 25-game hitting streak.
No. 11 (tie) ‒ Jayci Barnes, Western Brown
The NKU signee was one of two Broncos with double-digit homers as they advanced to their first-ever state tournament. Barnes led Western Brown with a .475 average, 16 doubles and 48 RBIs, while smacking 12 round-trippers. She even picked up four wins with 35 strikeouts in 31.2 innings in the circle. She was named to the Southern Buckeye Conference-American first team and the DIII All-Ohio second team.
No. 11 (tie) ‒ Neely McElhaney, Kings
She is one of the most intimidating pitchers in Cincinnati, standing at 6-foot-3. She was an Eastern Cincinnati Conference first-team member in 2025 with a 17-3 record, 160 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA in 117.2 innings. The Knights advanced to their first-ever regional tournament last year and should contend for their first state tournament as a load of talent returns this season. McElhaney is committed to IU-Indianapolis.
No. 13 ‒ Ivee Rastatter, Kenton Ridge
A freshman last year, she led Kenton Ridge in the circle to an undefeated season and the Division IV state championship. The lefty is one of the top recruits in the 2028 class.
No. 15 ‒ Ava Estep, Wheelersburg
A University of Maryland commit, the senior was a second-team All-Ohio pick for the undefeated Pirates last season as they won the Division V state championship.
No. 16 ‒ Kendall Brown, Lancaster
A Miami University commit, Brown was first-team All-Ohio as a sophomore before being an honorable-mention pick last season as the Golden Gales reached their first Division I state tournament. Brown, a catcher, batted .552 with 42 RBIs, five home runs and only one strikeout. In 97 innings behind the plate, she allowed just five stolen bases.
No. 17 ‒ Megan Sumner, Anthony Wayne
For the Division II semifinalists, the Marshall University commit was a second-team all-state pick. The catcher hit .486 with nine home runs, 16 doubles and 36 RBIs.
No. 18 ‒ Charlee Helton, Western Brown
She was the Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference-American Player of the Year as a sophomore last year, while going 21-4 as a pitcher with a 1.12 ERA and a .375 average as a hitter. The Mount St. Joseph University commit also hit .375 with two doubles, triples, 17 RBIs and 15 runs scored and was named to the All-Ohio Division III first team.
No. 19 ‒ Jocelyn Scarbury, Mount Vernon
Scarbury pitched Mount Vernon to the Division II state final last season as a sophomore, going 16-3 with a 1.39 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 110.1 innings to earn first-team All-Ohio. She also batted .407 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs.
No. 20 (tie) ‒ Grace Parkhurst, Kings
She scored Ohio Division II first-team honors as a junior last year after hitting .488 with 13 home runs (a program and Eastern Cincinnati Conference record), seven doubles, 47 RBIs and 41 runs scored. She is committed to Butler University.
No. 20 (tie) ‒ Rowan Weber, Brecksville-Broadview Heights
Weber was the Suburban League Player of the Year last season. The Walsh University commit was first-team All-Ohio in Division II.
No. 22 ‒ Addi Hulshof, Olentangy
The University of Maryland signee received honorable mention All-Ohio in Division I last season as a junior. The outfielder batted .524 with nine home runs, 43 RBIs and 31 runs scored as the Braves reached their first regional tournament since 2018.
No. 23 ‒ Ella Oswalt, Greenville
Just a freshman last season, Oswalt was the Miami Valley League Player of the Year, pitching to a 0.51 ERA and hitting .557. She was first-team All-Ohio in Division III.
No. 24 ‒ Ellie Stafford, Taylor
She was the Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year as a sophomore last season. Stafford, who was also a first-team All-Ohio pick in Division IV, was 12-4 as a pitcher with a 0.91 ERA and a batting average of .656.
No. 25 ‒ Emma Greer, Tri-Village
Greer, a state champion with the Patriots last season, is a two-time All-Ohio selection. She was a second-teamer as a freshman in 2024 and a first-team pick last year.
Others receiving votes
Sadie Binkley, Logan Elm; Julia Lowry, Kings; Meghan McClellan, Milford; Mickey Moody, Hilliard Bradley; Jocelyn Sarver, Logan; Alyssa Vearil, Williamsburg; and Emory Whisner, Licking Valley
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio’s best: The top 25 softball players in the state ahead of 2026
Reporting by USA Today Co. Ohio, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
