Hot 100 2017’s… #80-71
Hot 100 2017’s… #80-71
Today, we continue our look at the top 100 players in the 2017 class… we’re spotlighting 10 each day as we count down from 100 to No. 1. These players were
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Today, we continue our look at the top 100 players in the 2017 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. 80 to 71 with standout players from California (4), Georgia (2), Illinois, Nevada, Texas and Washington. Pictured above: Julia Jensen, a 1st Team All-American who was also the Nevada Gatorade State Player of the Year.
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80—Maddie Morgan SS/2B… Washington Ladyhawks – Miller (Alabama)
Maddie is a dangerous hitter who hits for a high average and also can drive the ball with power. She is a fierce competitor who coaches say is a leader by example because of her passion for the sport as well as her willingness to improve. Maddie has dominated at the high school level each year, hitting .575 with 34 RBI as a freshman and then broke her own school record by batting .657 last season. Maddie has also hit at a high level in club, too, batting .481 with the Ladyhawks the fall of ’14 and having led the Ladyhawks to a Top 10 finish at PGF 18U Nationals. The Washington native committed to Alabama during her freshman year.
79—Summer Hargett C/1B… San Diego Power Surge (Northwestern)
Summer is an athletic catcher with the skills to play many positions. She has an explosive swing and can drive the ball over the fence in all fields. The San Diego star won an ASA National Championship in 2012 with the Power Surge and has earned All-Western League honors the last two years in a league that included infielder Sarai Niu (Mississippi State freshman) and pitcher Megan Faraimo (UCLA commit). Defensively, Summer is smooth and fluid with a cannon for an arm and is difficult to run against. She has speed on the basepaths and has great overall athletic skills. Summer is a black belt in karate and picked Northwestern because the Big Ten school has one of the top Engineering programs in the nation.
78—Grace Baalman P… St. Louis Chaos (Kentucky)
Grace is a tall (6-foot-2), hard-throwing right-hander who runs her fastball into the mid-60’s, changes speeds and is able to locate her pitches to make it difficult on opposing batters. The Illinois standout has an intense work ethic and resilient drive that can be masked by her calm demeanor and composure which serves her well in the circle. Grace struck out an eye-opening 467 batters as a sophomore and is on pace to better that mark this year. She is also a threat in the batter’s box, banging out 19 home runs last year. As a first year 16U with the Chaos, she was instrumental in her team’s 3rd place finish at the 2014 USA ASA 18U Nationals while playing up with her older sister. Grace is a three-sport athlete in high school and has led both her softball team and basketball team to Illinois State Championships. She is also a fierce outside hitter on the volleyball team.
77—Niki Carver C/3B… Georgia Impact (Ohio State)
Niki is a power hitter who has great hands and a strong arm behind the plate and in the infield. She also has a strong bat at the plate and can drive the ball to all parts of the field. An all-around athlete, Niki also plays high school basketball and isn’t afraid to get dirty as she goes hard every play. Coaches praise her for being a great, supportive teammate who loves to be at the ballpark and work— not just on her game but at clinics and practices helping younger players too. She’s a two-time Georgia All-Region selection who committed to the Buckeyes in the summer of 2014.
76—Ashleigh Inae MIF/3B/OF… Explosion – Greg (East Carolina)
Ashleigh attacks everything she does on he softball field and only knows one way to play the game: full speed ahead. She’s 5-foot-5 and packed with power, heart and versatility, according to her coaches. Ashleigh mashes the ball at the plate but its her triple threat offensive skills that make her special. She may also be the top utility player in the country because she can play anywhere on the diamond. Ashleigh’s also well-respected by her teammates. Ashleigh was a key contributor as a freshman on the same Riverside (Calif.) high school that featured current Alabama pitching standout Alexis Osorio with the squad reaching the CIF Southern Section Div. I Championship in 2014.
75—Kyra Snyder P/1B… OC Batbusters – Lastrapes (Louisville)
Kyra is one of the top dual threats in the country as a top of the rotation pitcher while being a dangerous hitter in the 3-5 hole spots. The So Cal junior has had great success individually and in leading her teams at the top high school and club levels. Her Mission Viejo (Calif.) team finished second in the CIF playoffs last summer and 3rd in the nation as she played first base and hit fourth in the order. This season the Diabolos have been ranked as high as No. 3 in the FloSoftball FAB 50 as Kyra has pitched and played first base when Hanna Nilsen, an Illinois signee, is in the circle. Last year her So Cal Bandits team finished 13th at PGF Nationals 16U as Kyra had a 24 inning scoreless streak during the week and ultimately lost to the National Champion runners-up.
74—Hannah Martinez 3B… So Cal Athletics – Richardson (Arizona)
Hannah, whose nickname is “Peanut,” is a lefty hitter although she throws right. She is a gap hitter who bats for a high average thanks to her quick hands and good feet. One coach says she had a great fall and is getting better and better swinging the bat. On the field she’s an all-out gamer, fiery and vocal and openly wears her love for softball on her sleeve. Hannah has twice led club teams to Top 5 finishes at PGF Nationals and both seasons led her squads in RBI, demonstrating how she’s clutch when it counts. Hannah has been coached by some of the top club coaches in the game including Ken Briggs, Bruce Richardson and Mike Stith. She committed to the Wildcats in February of her freshman year.
73—Julia Jensen P… Sorcerer Gold (Nevada)
Julia has won about every type of award there is, earning 1st Team FloSoftball All-American honors last year as well being named as the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year. She went 34-2 as a sophomore with a 0.80 ERA and recorded 346 K’s in 211 innings. Her team won the State Championship as Julia also hit .477 with 43 RBI. Her win total of 34 is a state record. A right-hander nicknamed the “Dragon Slayer,” Julia competes at a level way above her age whether its high school or club. At PGF Nationals 18U Premier last summer, she went 3-1 against elite teams. Julia is also a standout in volleyball; she had offers in softball from Big Ten, Big West and Pac-12 schools before committing to Nevada.
72—Skylar Hayward P… EC Bullets (Georgia Tech)
Skylar is a power pitcher who can also bring the curve and change-up. She has good command of no less than six pitches but her strength may be her mental toughness. A fierce competitor, Skylar led her team to the Georgia 6A State Championship for Big Schools and pitched phenomenally in the title run. For the season, the junior went 18-4 with a 1.04 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 134 innings and allowed only gave up seven total runs in eight games with just four of those being earned. Skylar pitched a very limited amount last summer for club ball as she had a back injury, but is expected to improve and impress as she heads into this summer.
71—Kelcy Leach C/3B… Texas Sudden Impact (Texas Tech)
If the Leach name is familiar, it’s because Kelcy is the younger sister of Aubrey Leach, a 1st Team FloSoftball All-American and member of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club last year who is having a great freshman campaign at the Univ. of Tennessee. However, unlike her infielder sister, Kelcy is a power-hitting catcher with excellent defensive skills and an advanced softball IQ to where she has regularly called her own games. The Texan was the District Newcomer of the Year as a freshman when she hit .341 with 10 homers and hasn’t looked back, making the State Tournament Final Four and Championship Game the last two years and being named as the Texas State Championship All-Tournament Team catcher selection. Unfortunately, Kelcy will miss the rest of the playoffs this year as she fractured a bone in her hand on a foul tipped ball in the team’s last district game. She finished her junior year hitting .419 with 47 RBI—third best at the 6A level.
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. 80 to 71 with standout players from California (4), Georgia (2), Illinois, Nevada, Texas and Washington. Pictured above: Julia Jensen, a 1st Team All-American who was also the Nevada Gatorade State Player of the Year.
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80—Maddie Morgan SS/2B… Washington Ladyhawks – Miller (Alabama)Maddie is a dangerous hitter who hits for a high average and also can drive the ball with power. She is a fierce competitor who coaches say is a leader by example because of her passion for the sport as well as her willingness to improve. Maddie has dominated at the high school level each year, hitting .575 with 34 RBI as a freshman and then broke her own school record by batting .657 last season. Maddie has also hit at a high level in club, too, batting .481 with the Ladyhawks the fall of ’14 and having led the Ladyhawks to a Top 10 finish at PGF 18U Nationals. The Washington native committed to Alabama during her freshman year.
79—Summer Hargett C/1B… San Diego Power Surge (Northwestern)Summer is an athletic catcher with the skills to play many positions. She has an explosive swing and can drive the ball over the fence in all fields. The San Diego star won an ASA National Championship in 2012 with the Power Surge and has earned All-Western League honors the last two years in a league that included infielder Sarai Niu (Mississippi State freshman) and pitcher Megan Faraimo (UCLA commit). Defensively, Summer is smooth and fluid with a cannon for an arm and is difficult to run against. She has speed on the basepaths and has great overall athletic skills. Summer is a black belt in karate and picked Northwestern because the Big Ten school has one of the top Engineering programs in the nation.
78—Grace Baalman P… St. Louis Chaos (Kentucky)Grace is a tall (6-foot-2), hard-throwing right-hander who runs her fastball into the mid-60’s, changes speeds and is able to locate her pitches to make it difficult on opposing batters. The Illinois standout has an intense work ethic and resilient drive that can be masked by her calm demeanor and composure which serves her well in the circle. Grace struck out an eye-opening 467 batters as a sophomore and is on pace to better that mark this year. She is also a threat in the batter’s box, banging out 19 home runs last year. As a first year 16U with the Chaos, she was instrumental in her team’s 3rd place finish at the 2014 USA ASA 18U Nationals while playing up with her older sister. Grace is a three-sport athlete in high school and has led both her softball team and basketball team to Illinois State Championships. She is also a fierce outside hitter on the volleyball team.
77—Niki Carver C/3B… Georgia Impact (Ohio State)Niki is a power hitter who has great hands and a strong arm behind the plate and in the infield. She also has a strong bat at the plate and can drive the ball to all parts of the field. An all-around athlete, Niki also plays high school basketball and isn’t afraid to get dirty as she goes hard every play. Coaches praise her for being a great, supportive teammate who loves to be at the ballpark and work— not just on her game but at clinics and practices helping younger players too. She’s a two-time Georgia All-Region selection who committed to the Buckeyes in the summer of 2014.
76—Ashleigh Inae MIF/3B/OF… Explosion – Greg (East Carolina)Ashleigh attacks everything she does on he softball field and only knows one way to play the game: full speed ahead. She’s 5-foot-5 and packed with power, heart and versatility, according to her coaches. Ashleigh mashes the ball at the plate but its her triple threat offensive skills that make her special. She may also be the top utility player in the country because she can play anywhere on the diamond. Ashleigh’s also well-respected by her teammates. Ashleigh was a key contributor as a freshman on the same Riverside (Calif.) high school that featured current Alabama pitching standout Alexis Osorio with the squad reaching the CIF Southern Section Div. I Championship in 2014.
75—Kyra Snyder P/1B… OC Batbusters – Lastrapes (Louisville)Kyra is one of the top dual threats in the country as a top of the rotation pitcher while being a dangerous hitter in the 3-5 hole spots. The So Cal junior has had great success individually and in leading her teams at the top high school and club levels. Her Mission Viejo (Calif.) team finished second in the CIF playoffs last summer and 3rd in the nation as she played first base and hit fourth in the order. This season the Diabolos have been ranked as high as No. 3 in the FloSoftball FAB 50 as Kyra has pitched and played first base when Hanna Nilsen, an Illinois signee, is in the circle. Last year her So Cal Bandits team finished 13th at PGF Nationals 16U as Kyra had a 24 inning scoreless streak during the week and ultimately lost to the National Champion runners-up.
74—Hannah Martinez 3B… So Cal Athletics – Richardson (Arizona)Hannah, whose nickname is “Peanut,” is a lefty hitter although she throws right. She is a gap hitter who bats for a high average thanks to her quick hands and good feet. One coach says she had a great fall and is getting better and better swinging the bat. On the field she’s an all-out gamer, fiery and vocal and openly wears her love for softball on her sleeve. Hannah has twice led club teams to Top 5 finishes at PGF Nationals and both seasons led her squads in RBI, demonstrating how she’s clutch when it counts. Hannah has been coached by some of the top club coaches in the game including Ken Briggs, Bruce Richardson and Mike Stith. She committed to the Wildcats in February of her freshman year.
73—Julia Jensen P… Sorcerer Gold (Nevada)Julia has won about every type of award there is, earning 1st Team FloSoftball All-American honors last year as well being named as the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year. She went 34-2 as a sophomore with a 0.80 ERA and recorded 346 K’s in 211 innings. Her team won the State Championship as Julia also hit .477 with 43 RBI. Her win total of 34 is a state record. A right-hander nicknamed the “Dragon Slayer,” Julia competes at a level way above her age whether its high school or club. At PGF Nationals 18U Premier last summer, she went 3-1 against elite teams. Julia is also a standout in volleyball; she had offers in softball from Big Ten, Big West and Pac-12 schools before committing to Nevada.
72—Skylar Hayward P… EC Bullets (Georgia Tech)Skylar is a power pitcher who can also bring the curve and change-up. She has good command of no less than six pitches but her strength may be her mental toughness. A fierce competitor, Skylar led her team to the Georgia 6A State Championship for Big Schools and pitched phenomenally in the title run. For the season, the junior went 18-4 with a 1.04 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 134 innings and allowed only gave up seven total runs in eight games with just four of those being earned. Skylar pitched a very limited amount last summer for club ball as she had a back injury, but is expected to improve and impress as she heads into this summer.
71—Kelcy Leach C/3B… Texas Sudden Impact (Texas Tech)If the Leach name is familiar, it’s because Kelcy is the younger sister of Aubrey Leach, a 1st Team FloSoftball All-American and member of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club last year who is having a great freshman campaign at the Univ. of Tennessee. However, unlike her infielder sister, Kelcy is a power-hitting catcher with excellent defensive skills and an advanced softball IQ to where she has regularly called her own games. The Texan was the District Newcomer of the Year as a freshman when she hit .341 with 10 homers and hasn’t looked back, making the State Tournament Final Four and Championship Game the last two years and being named as the Texas State Championship All-Tournament Team catcher selection. Unfortunately, Kelcy will miss the rest of the playoffs this year as she fractured a bone in her hand on a foul tipped ball in the team’s last district game. She finished her junior year hitting .419 with 47 RBI—third best at the 6A level.