Today, we continue our look at the top 100 players in the 2019 class… we’re spotlighting 10 each day as we count down from 100 to No. 1.

These players were chosen based on input and feedback from college and club coaches who’ve seen them play all across the nation.

Criteria for choosing and ranking the players including performances at the club and high school levels and projecting how they will play at the collegiate level.

Today we feature players No. 30 to 21 with standout players from Alabama, California (5), Florida (2), Georgia and South Carolina.  

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30—Devyn Flaherty, MIF… Team Mizuno – Morgan (committed to Florida State)
Devyn is a 5-foot-8, incredible athlete with great upside. Defensively she has great range and quickness and her throw angles are all really good. At the plate, the Florida standout has great bat speed and against top 16U and 18U pitching last summer ranging from the D9 Summer Classic to PGF 16U Nationals, she hit .395 with a .469 on-base percentage. Her recruiting blew up over the summer, too, as there would sometimes be two dozen college coaches at her games to watch her play including major programs from the ACC, Big Ten and SEC.  Devyn committed to the Seminoles over Thanksgiving weekend.

29—Anise Alatorre, 3B… Explosion-Greg (uncommitted)
Anise has the ability to take over games offensively and defensively and coaches in the Explosion program have been raving about her all fall.  Playing for Greg Borzilleri and one of the top 16U teams in the country, Anise showcased her stellar defensive skills and great pop in her bat at events like the PGF Ultimate Challenge and has caught the eye of ACC and SEC schools.  She has excellent range and is fearless in the field.  At the plate, Anise is a clutch hitter who can drive the ball to the gaps or over the fence.  She will be one of the most heavily recruited players in the country if she’s still on the board when the summer starts.
 

28—Anna Hazlewood, P/1B… Huntsville Sparks (Tennessee)
Anna is a 5-foot-11 dominating pitcher who can max out at 66 mph while consistently hitting 63-64 mph, but her change-up is what makes her SEC-tough.  It’s so impressive the pitch has its own name: the “Equalizer.”  She capped off a strong fall by pitching four games with only one earned run in the final event of 2015, the Troy Spookfest Exposure tournament. Anna is also a very powerful hitter and is impressively athletic for her size.  She can play first or DH and will pitch and hit when she makes it to the University of Tennessee.

27—Deijah Pangilinan, OF… Sorcerer Gold (Oregon)
Deijah’s most common heard strength is she plays years beyond her physical age.  Her defense is superb and she’s not afraid to lay out to make the tough catch on fly balls.  The Nor Cal freshmen takes great routes to the ball too.  Offensively, she stays in her legs like a college player and is a power hitter who does a great job keeping her hands inside the ball.  Deijah is skilled at putting the ball on or over the wall but can chop it up the middle just as well.  She became a national recruit at the PGF 14U Nationals two years ago when colleges from the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC watched her and teammate Rachel Cid, a 2018 infielder also going to the Univ. of Oregon.  Deijah didn’t wait long to commit, either, choosing the Ducks in the 8th grade.

26—Maya Brady, SS/OF… OC Batbusters – Campbell (UCLA)
Maya is super athletic and can play wherever she is needed including centerfield or shortstop.  Coaches rave about her natural abilities and agree that she was born with skills that you can’t teach which put her a notch ahead of her peers.  Adding to the athletic package is her strong work ethic.  Maya hits left and has excellent speed down the line. She has very quick reflexes in the field, both moving in or going laterally in or back on balls.  She’s the total package in that she can hit, run, and bunt well.  She’s reportedly the niece of New England Patriot QB Tom Brady too.

25—Kinley Stewart, OF/1B… Georgia Impact – Stewart (Georgia Tech)
Kinley plays all the outfield positions as well as first base.  She has developed into one of the most consistent hitters on the loaded Impact – Stewart team, coached by her father Jon Stewart, and hits the ball to the right center gap better than anyone.  She rarely strikes out—between club and high school she only had 5 K’s all year. Kinley also has a gun for an arm and opponents are learning to not try to run on her. With interest from schools in the ACC, Pac-12 and SEC, the Georgia freshman committed to Georgia Tech in mid-December after being offered two months earlier.

24—Kendall Jennings, SS… So Cal Choppers – Fausett (uncommitted)
Kendall has great instincts and does things most every player can’t.  She’s light on her feet defensively, can arm fake to paralyze the runner or back door for the out.  Kendall flies in from the Dallas area to practice with the Choppers and she has become one of the most well-liked players by coaches and teammates alike.  One coach calls her a “hitting machine” who can hit and slap the ball all over the field.  She bats left and anchors the 3-hole while playing shortstop exclusively. Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 schools have shown strong interest in the Texan who leads by example with her glove and bat both.

23—Mia Buffano, OF… Sante Fe Nowling (Florida)
Mia is an unbelievable athlete from Florida who hits and throws left-handed.  She has a cannon from the outfield and at the plate has tremendous power with above average speed.  The most heavily recruited player ever from Jason Nowling’s Sante Fe program, she’s also the youngest player on the team. Mia has great tools and is described by coaches as having the “It” factor, meaning she rises to the occasion and excels when it counts the most.  She has 2.7-2.8 speed home-to-first and is very skilled at stealing bases as well. She’s not a national name yet, but expect the future Gator to become well-known very quickly this year.

22—Bailey Betenbaugh, P/1B… Carolina Elite – Fisher (South Carolina)
Bailey is a fast-rising pitcher who throws in the mid-60’s, regularly hitting 63-64 mph, and can mix her speeds well. She’s also a standout hitter who had an excellent fall at top events like Diamond9, Veteran’s Tribute and Scenic City as she allowed seven earned runs in 40 innings while recording 56 strikeouts.  At the plate she hit .431 with four home runs and played a strong first base. Her ceiling is very high and the word among coaches is she’s the “real deal.”Bailey had ACC and SEC offers and took unofficial visits to schools like North Carolina, Georgia, College of Charleston and Kentucky before she committed to South Carolina this week (early February). 

21—Ciara Briggs, OF… So Cal Athletics – Briggs (LSU)
Ciara is a 5-tool athlete who plays for her father, Ken Briggs, and has been one of the top outfielders in her class for the past several years.  One major D1 coach said she gets the best jumps in centerfield she’s ever seen and another said she’s a “game changer” in how she takes command of the game. Ciara’s anticipation and reads off the bat are among her strengths.  Offensively, she is an outstanding hitter who can lead-off or bat high in the order as well.  Ciara is strong at dragging, slapping or hitting away and can hit to all fields with power as well. The So Cal star has a high softball IQ and has other intangibles including leadership ability and a strong work ethic.  Before committing to LSU she had over 30 schools after her.


Related: Florida State Softball: Can You be Comfortable being Uncomfortable?