After months of competitive regular-season play and six weeks of high-stakes playoff action, the dust has finally settled on another exciting season of Texas high school softball.
The Abilene Reporter-News is seeking to recognize the best fielders, slappers, pitchers and power hitters across the Big Country and Abilene area during the 2025 Texas high school softball season.
That poses the burning question: Who was the Big Country’s best high school softball player in 2025?
15 candidates have been selected as finalists for the ARN’s 2025 Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Softball Player of the Year, and we want to hear from you!
Readers are encouraged to vote for their pick for the Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Softball Player of the Year below.
Voting will be open for two weeks with the poll closing at Noon on Monday, June 30, with a winner set to be announced shortly afterward.
Finalists were selected based upon individual statistics, team success, end-of-season accolades and coach recommendations.
Here’s a closer look at each candidate up for the Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Softball Player of the Year award. Check out what the Big Country’s best players accomplished during the 2025 Texas high school softball season and cast your vote:
Players listed below in alphabetical order. Poll positioned below player descriptions.
P Kaydence Allen, Brownwood, So.
Allen propelled Brownwood to the 4A DII regional semifinals by tallying an 18-10 record in the circle with 214 strikeouts, 138 walks, 119 hits allowed, a 3.00 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 0.213 opponents’ batting average in 28 pitching appearances and 147 innings pitched. She also ended her sophomore season with a .367 batting average (33-for-90), 34 RBIs, 11 runs scored, 12 extra-base hits, four home runs, eight walks, a stolen base and a 1.029 OPS in 32 games played.
P/UTL Lily Bailey, Hawley, Jr.
Bailey shined for the Bearcats on the mound and at the plate, racking up a .512 batting average (43-for-84) with 49 runs scored, 32 RBIs, 19 extra-base hits, three doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 14 walks, 18 stolen bases and a 1.606 OPS in 30 games played. She also registered a 5-6 record in the circle with 160 strikeouts, 106 walks, 118 hits allowed, a 4.06 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 0.220 opponents’ batting average through 120 ⅔ innings pitched.
CF/UTL Neeley Bradley, Bangs, Sr.
Bradley boasted a .623 batting average (33-for-53) with 26 RBIs, 22 runs scored, 14 extra-base hits, three walks, 15 stolen bases and a 1.681 OPS in 16 games played for the Dragons during their run to the 2A DI regional semifinals.
SS Hailie Cauthen, Eula, Sr.
Cauthen was a sharp defensive player and an explosive force in the Lady Pirates’ lineup, going 51-for-92 at the plate (.554 AVG) with 48 runs scored, 29 RBIs, 11 extra-base hits, four home runs, 12 walks, 27 stolen bases and a 1.388 OPS in 26 games played during Eula’s run to the regional semifinals of the Class 1A UIL Softball Playoffs.
C Mia Clemmer, Coahoma, Jr.
Clemmer, a Texas Longhorns commit, showed why she’s one of the best defensive backstops and top sluggers in Texas high school softball while leading Coahoma to its third straight UIL state title. She finished an exceptional junior year with a .611 batting average (58-for-95), 47 RBIs, 47 runs scored, 44 extra-base hits, 20 home runs, 30 walks, 2.220 OPS, five stolen bases and a .993 fielding percentage in 35 games played.
P Kayme Elrod, Anson, So.
Elrod followed up a strong varsity debut as a freshman in 2024 with a stellar sophomore season in the circle and at the plate in 2025, logging a .368 batting average (25-for-68) with 29 runs scored, 28 RBIs, 20 extra-base hits, seven home runs, 12 walks, a 1.380 OPS and eight stolen bases. She also helped Anson reach the area round of the 2A DI playoffs with her work in the circle, as the Lady Tigers’ ace ended the year with a 10-10 record in 20 appearances after tallying 171 strikeouts, 53 walks, 133 hits allowed, a 3.02 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in 119 ⅓ innings pitched.
P Emma Follis, Stamford, Jr.
Follis continued establishing herself as one of the Big Country’s best two-way players in 2025, helping Stamford reach the 2A DII regional semifinals by recording a .633 batting average (50-for-79) with 38 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 24 extra-base hits, 10 home runs, 14 walks, two stolen bases and a 1.956 OPS in 32 games played. She also earned a 17-5 record in the circle with 193 strikeouts, 30 walks, 78 hits allowed, a 2.11 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 22 appearances and 115 innings pitched.
P Sydnee Gomez, Snyder, So.
Gomez followed up a breakout freshman season in 2024 with a strong sophomore campaign in 2025 to help the Lady Tigers reach the 4A DII UIL state semifinals with a .494 batting average (44-for-89), 25 RBIs, 23 runs scored, 18 extra-base hits, two walks, 14 stolen bases and a 1.257 OPS in 37 games played. Snyder’s ace also ended the year with a 14-5 record and two saves in 21 pitching appearances, racking up 167 strikeouts, 80 walks, 109 hits allowed, a 2.54 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 134 ⅔ innings pitched.
C Joni Jackson, Breckenridge, Jr.
Jackson was one of the Lone Star State’s top offensive weapons for Breckenridge during an outstanding junior season in 2025. She led the Big Country with a .746 batting average (47-for-63) and accounted for 50 RBIs, 47 runs scored, 38 extra-base hits, 20 home runs, 25 walks, 2.866 OPS, eight stolen bases and a .991 fielding percentage in 26 games played.
C Sutton McClain, Clyde, Jr.
McClain was the biggest bat in the Bulldogs’ stacked lineup and was a big reason for Clyde’s appearance in the area round of the 3A DII UIL Softball Playoffs. She posted a .517 batting average (46-for-89) with 37 RBIs, 25 runs scored, 16 extra-base hits, five home runs, a 1.380 OPS, 10 walks and a .960 fielding percentage in 29 games played.
P Peyton Miller, Hermleigh, Fr.
Miller burst onto the Big Country’s high school softball season as a talented two-way freshman star who helped Hermleigh reach the Class 1A UIL state semifinals after tallying a team-leading .575 batting average (42-for-73) with 53 runs scored, 21 RBIs, 24 extra-base hits, six triples, three home runs, 26 walks, 1.755 OPS, 23 stolen bases in 26 games played. The Lady Cards’ ace also starred in the circle with a 21-4 record in 26 appearances, recording 182 strikeouts, 122 walks, 89 hits allowed, a 2.98 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and a 0.182 opponents’ batting average in 129 ⅓ innings pitched.
C/OF/UTL Marissa Reedy, Early, Sr.
Reedy’s unique blend of raw power and a high-contact rate helped make her one of the best hitters anywhere in Texas high school softball in 2025. She helped Early secure a 3A DII bi-district playoff berth and finished the season with a .574 batting average (39-for-68), 34 runs scored, 26 RBIs, 19 extra-base hits, five triples, three home runs, 11 walks, a 1.648 OPS, 12 stolen bases and a 1.000 fielding percentage in 22 games played.
P Avah Reyes, Abilene High, Jr.
Reyes helped Abilene High reach the regional semifinals of the 5A DI UIL Softball Playoffs thanks to her exceptional work in the circle, where she boasted an 18-6 record in 26 appearances and tallied 178 strikeouts, 82 walks, 85 hits allowed, a 1.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and a 0.168 opponents’ batting average in 136 ⅓ innings pitched. She also ended the year with a .311 batting average (14-for-45), nine RBIs, one run scored, five extra-base hits, six walks and an 0.881 OPS in 28 games played.
P Paige Scheets, Haskell, Jr.
Sheets shined in the circle during the Maidens’ run to the regional finals of the 2A DII playoffs, pitching her way to a 12-2 record in 17 appearances for Haskell with 134 strikeouts, 15 walks, 69 hits allowed, a 1.84 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 0.212 opponents’ batting average in 82 ⅔ innings pitched. She also registered a .471 batting average (32-for-68) with 24 RBIs, 13 runs scored, 11 extra-base hits, 11 walks, a 1.200 OPS and 13 stolen bases in 24 games played.
P/DP Hannah Wells, Coahoma, Sr.
Wells, one of the Lone Star State’s best two-way players, was recognized as the MVP of the 3A DII UIL Softball State Championship game after leading the Bulldogettes to their third straight state title. She finished her senior season with a .602 batting average (65-for-108), 75 RBIs, 54 runs scored, 48 extra-base hits, 15 doubles, two triples, 31 home runs, 16 walks, 2.287 OPS, three stolen bases and a .976 fielding percentage in 35 games played. Wells – a Texas Longhorns signee – also tallied a 22-1 record with two saves in 25 appearances in the circle, as Coahoma’s ace recorded 258 strikeouts, 42 walks, 49 hits allowed, a 0.49 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, a 0.112 opponents’ batting average in 127 ⅔ innings pitched.
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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Who should be the ARN’s 2025 Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Softball Player of the Year?
Reporting by Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
