Hot 100 2017’s… #20-11
Hot 100 2017’s… #20-11
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. 20 to 11 with standout players from Alabama, California (5), Florida, Missouri and New Jersey (2). Pictured: Mary Katherine Tedder slugs a home run.
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20—Mary Katherine Tedder SS… Birmingham Thunderbolts (Texas)
Mary Katherine, who also goes by “MK,” is a five-tool player who has always always been a great hitter but over the last year has developed into a power hitter to go along with her high batting average. As her high school team prepares to play in the Alabama Area Tournament this weekend, she has a .448 average with 19 home runs and 65 RBI in 47 games played. The slugging onslaught began last fall in Las Vegas when she hit six home runs in a tournament against elite pitching and since then she’s been on a tear. But her talents aren’t limited to her bat: Mary Katherine can do it all on the field including making sparkling plays on defense. Her athletic abilities aren’t limited to softball, either, as MK is a multi-year letter winner in cross country. Her father, Scott, played in the White Sox organization and one coach joked, “He’s the second best ball player in the Tedder family!”
19—Mary Iakopo C… Firecrackers – Rico (Oregon)
Many college and club coaches feel Mary has the best arm in the class and is part of a defensive skill set behind the plate that includes quickness and athleticism. One coach said, “Mary deserves recognition at the highest level because she has an arm from heaven.” The So Cal standout plays for one of the top high schools in the country, Los Alamitos (California) High, which has been a Top 5 team this season. Mary has become a strong batterymate and knows how to manage the game behind the plate. Her gifts have been primarily physical, but she’s now developing the mental side as well. Offensively she’s beginning to use the whole field and once her offensive skills catch up to her defense she will be an All-American talent. Mary had major programs from the Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC after her before she committed to the Ducks in January of 2014.
18—Kelsey Oh P… Jersey Intensity (South Carolina)
Kelsey had a meteoric rise two years ago when she put herself on the map as an elite prospect and had programs from all over the nation pursuing her. The 6-foot-1 pitcher capped off an All-State freshman year when she threw a 13-inning masterpiece to give her New Jersey high school the state title. Last year as a sophomore she earned FloSoftball 1st Team All-American status and Gatorade State Player of the Year honors after going 26-2 with a 0.25 ERA and 310 Ks in 170 innings while batting .474. This spring, Kelsey started the season with a 12-2 record and only eight earned runs in 85 innings. The right-hander throws in the mid-60’s with excellent movement on her riseball and curve, but coaches feel her best aspects in the circle are her composure and mental toughness.
17—Kyra Lockhart 1B… Jersey Intensity (Alabama)
Kyra is one of the top power hitters in the country and was a USA Today Pre-Season All-American last year and finished her sophomore campaign as a 2nd Team FloSoftball All-American. She began her athletic career by playing baseball and switched over to softball and was so mechanically advanced she started playing 18U Gold ball in the seventh grade. Kyra has a great eye at the plate and will work the count to get the pitch she wants. As a freshman, when she had a .593 on-base percentage, she didn’t strike out all year. The New Jersey slugger blew up in the eighth grade after attending an OnDeck Camp and by her freshman year had committed to the Tide.
16—Malia Quarles 3B… Ohana Tigers (UCLA)
Malia has long been considered one of the top hitters in the younger age groups because of her excellent bat speed which is among the best in the country. She’s a monster power hitter because of her strength and eye at the plate where she can foul off pitches she doesn’t want until she gets her pitch to hit. In her first 14 games this year, Malia has put up a .533 batting average even though teams usually don’t give her much to hit. Playing for her father Shawn on the Tigers 16U team at PGF Nationals last summer, she was flawless in the field with 34 put outs and five assists at third. Malia plays at the same high school, Cerritos (California) Gahr, that her father and current UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez attended where they became friends.
15— Alyssa Martinez SS… Explosion - Denio/Wilson (Ole Miss)
“AMar,” as she is called, is an amazing defensive shortstop with a big bat. She led Explosion in doubles in the fall against an extremely competitive schedule where she batted .385. Alyssa is versatile and could play just about anywhere on the field, but has the quickness to be a franchise shortstop. She is hitting .375 this year with a .464 on-page percentage for one of the top high schools in Southern California, Grand Terrace High. Defensively she’s smooth and fluid and makes plays that few other shortstops can make. Alyssa is an excellent athlete and played basketball and soccer before quitting to focus on softball. She was coveted by major programs across the nation before committing to Ole Miss in March of 2015.
14—Kendyll Bailey MIF… DeMarini Aces (Missouri)
Kendyll’s abilities and accomplishments continue to rise as she can do it all: hit for average and home runs while playing a stellar defense due to her soft hands up the middle and ability to get to anything hit in the infield. Kendyll has been a standout in the Aces’ organization since she was 14 and batted .450 with multiple home runs. On a team packed with talent, she was second on the team last year with eight home runs hitting in the 3-hole and currently is tied for second in home runs, slugging percentage and OPS (1.136) playing spring club ball. Kendyll was a 1st Team Missouri All-State pick after a stellar fall and had programs from every major conference including the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC after her before she chose to stay close to home and play for the Tigers as the Missouri campus is just 90 minutes from her home.
13—Alexa Schultz OF… Ohana Tigers (Oklahoma)
Alexa is an explosive hitter who comes up big in the clutch when needed. She’s a tough-nosed player who plays leftfield for the Tigers and helped the 16U team to a 5-2 record and top 5 finish as she was second on the team in hitting (.333) and led the So Cal-based squad with three home runs, six RBI, an on-base percentage of .524, a slugging percentage of 1.000 and an OPS of 1.524. Like Mary Iakopo (see #19 above), she also plays for Los Alamitos High and has had a strong spring capped off with a grand slam. Playing for Shawn Quarles when part of the So Cal A’s organization, Alexa won an ASA 14U National Championship and in one day at those Nationals had four home runs. One coach described her as “the model of a player who does everything well and is consistently excellent at the plate and in the outfield.”
12—Danielle Romanello C/1B… Gold Coast Hurricanes (Florida)
Danielle is a lefty power hitter who drives the ball to the gaps and over the fence. She has the athletic ability to catch and play first and even the outfield if needed. Many coaches say she’s at the top of the list of physically strong players in the ’17 class. Danielle has been a star on the Florida high school scene since her freshman year when she was an All-American after batting .575 with 43 RBI to lead her St. Petersburg team to a second straight Class 2A Title (she started as an eighth grader also). A quiet leader, she hit .563 as a junior and .606 this year with 31 RBI and a 1.106 slugging percentage. She fulfilled a life-long dream as an eighth grader by committing to the Gators—both her parents attended Florida too.
11—Kinsley Washington SS/OF… Corona Angels (UCLA)
Kinsley is the top triple threat hitter in the country and the prototype lead-off hitter who can slap, swing away, spray the ball or hit the ball deep—all depending on what the defense gives her. She’s played at the Gold level since her freshman year when Coach Marty Tyson of the Angels invited her to guest in Colorado and he liked what he saw so much he asked her to join the 18U team permanently. Kinsley went on to help the Angels win the TC/USA Nationals and finish 2nd at PGF Nationals. Last summer at PGF 18U Nationals, Kinsley batted .400 and had seven walks to set the table for the big hitters behind her. The So Cal speedster is also versatile and athletic enough to play all the infield and outfield spots as needed. Kinsley was first noticed by UCLA as a 10-year-old at the Bruin camps and committed to the Pac-12 school in the fall of her freshman year.
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. 20 to 11 with standout players from Alabama, California (5), Florida, Missouri and New Jersey (2). Pictured: Mary Katherine Tedder slugs a home run.
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20—Mary Katherine Tedder SS… Birmingham Thunderbolts (Texas)Mary Katherine, who also goes by “MK,” is a five-tool player who has always always been a great hitter but over the last year has developed into a power hitter to go along with her high batting average. As her high school team prepares to play in the Alabama Area Tournament this weekend, she has a .448 average with 19 home runs and 65 RBI in 47 games played. The slugging onslaught began last fall in Las Vegas when she hit six home runs in a tournament against elite pitching and since then she’s been on a tear. But her talents aren’t limited to her bat: Mary Katherine can do it all on the field including making sparkling plays on defense. Her athletic abilities aren’t limited to softball, either, as MK is a multi-year letter winner in cross country. Her father, Scott, played in the White Sox organization and one coach joked, “He’s the second best ball player in the Tedder family!”
19—Mary Iakopo C… Firecrackers – Rico (Oregon)Many college and club coaches feel Mary has the best arm in the class and is part of a defensive skill set behind the plate that includes quickness and athleticism. One coach said, “Mary deserves recognition at the highest level because she has an arm from heaven.” The So Cal standout plays for one of the top high schools in the country, Los Alamitos (California) High, which has been a Top 5 team this season. Mary has become a strong batterymate and knows how to manage the game behind the plate. Her gifts have been primarily physical, but she’s now developing the mental side as well. Offensively she’s beginning to use the whole field and once her offensive skills catch up to her defense she will be an All-American talent. Mary had major programs from the Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC after her before she committed to the Ducks in January of 2014.
18—Kelsey Oh P… Jersey Intensity (South Carolina)Kelsey had a meteoric rise two years ago when she put herself on the map as an elite prospect and had programs from all over the nation pursuing her. The 6-foot-1 pitcher capped off an All-State freshman year when she threw a 13-inning masterpiece to give her New Jersey high school the state title. Last year as a sophomore she earned FloSoftball 1st Team All-American status and Gatorade State Player of the Year honors after going 26-2 with a 0.25 ERA and 310 Ks in 170 innings while batting .474. This spring, Kelsey started the season with a 12-2 record and only eight earned runs in 85 innings. The right-hander throws in the mid-60’s with excellent movement on her riseball and curve, but coaches feel her best aspects in the circle are her composure and mental toughness.
17—Kyra Lockhart 1B… Jersey Intensity (Alabama)Kyra is one of the top power hitters in the country and was a USA Today Pre-Season All-American last year and finished her sophomore campaign as a 2nd Team FloSoftball All-American. She began her athletic career by playing baseball and switched over to softball and was so mechanically advanced she started playing 18U Gold ball in the seventh grade. Kyra has a great eye at the plate and will work the count to get the pitch she wants. As a freshman, when she had a .593 on-base percentage, she didn’t strike out all year. The New Jersey slugger blew up in the eighth grade after attending an OnDeck Camp and by her freshman year had committed to the Tide.
16—Malia Quarles 3B… Ohana Tigers (UCLA)Malia has long been considered one of the top hitters in the younger age groups because of her excellent bat speed which is among the best in the country. She’s a monster power hitter because of her strength and eye at the plate where she can foul off pitches she doesn’t want until she gets her pitch to hit. In her first 14 games this year, Malia has put up a .533 batting average even though teams usually don’t give her much to hit. Playing for her father Shawn on the Tigers 16U team at PGF Nationals last summer, she was flawless in the field with 34 put outs and five assists at third. Malia plays at the same high school, Cerritos (California) Gahr, that her father and current UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez attended where they became friends.
15— Alyssa Martinez SS… Explosion - Denio/Wilson (Ole Miss)“AMar,” as she is called, is an amazing defensive shortstop with a big bat. She led Explosion in doubles in the fall against an extremely competitive schedule where she batted .385. Alyssa is versatile and could play just about anywhere on the field, but has the quickness to be a franchise shortstop. She is hitting .375 this year with a .464 on-page percentage for one of the top high schools in Southern California, Grand Terrace High. Defensively she’s smooth and fluid and makes plays that few other shortstops can make. Alyssa is an excellent athlete and played basketball and soccer before quitting to focus on softball. She was coveted by major programs across the nation before committing to Ole Miss in March of 2015.
14—Kendyll Bailey MIF… DeMarini Aces (Missouri)Kendyll’s abilities and accomplishments continue to rise as she can do it all: hit for average and home runs while playing a stellar defense due to her soft hands up the middle and ability to get to anything hit in the infield. Kendyll has been a standout in the Aces’ organization since she was 14 and batted .450 with multiple home runs. On a team packed with talent, she was second on the team last year with eight home runs hitting in the 3-hole and currently is tied for second in home runs, slugging percentage and OPS (1.136) playing spring club ball. Kendyll was a 1st Team Missouri All-State pick after a stellar fall and had programs from every major conference including the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC after her before she chose to stay close to home and play for the Tigers as the Missouri campus is just 90 minutes from her home.
13—Alexa Schultz OF… Ohana Tigers (Oklahoma)Alexa is an explosive hitter who comes up big in the clutch when needed. She’s a tough-nosed player who plays leftfield for the Tigers and helped the 16U team to a 5-2 record and top 5 finish as she was second on the team in hitting (.333) and led the So Cal-based squad with three home runs, six RBI, an on-base percentage of .524, a slugging percentage of 1.000 and an OPS of 1.524. Like Mary Iakopo (see #19 above), she also plays for Los Alamitos High and has had a strong spring capped off with a grand slam. Playing for Shawn Quarles when part of the So Cal A’s organization, Alexa won an ASA 14U National Championship and in one day at those Nationals had four home runs. One coach described her as “the model of a player who does everything well and is consistently excellent at the plate and in the outfield.”
12—Danielle Romanello C/1B… Gold Coast Hurricanes (Florida)Danielle is a lefty power hitter who drives the ball to the gaps and over the fence. She has the athletic ability to catch and play first and even the outfield if needed. Many coaches say she’s at the top of the list of physically strong players in the ’17 class. Danielle has been a star on the Florida high school scene since her freshman year when she was an All-American after batting .575 with 43 RBI to lead her St. Petersburg team to a second straight Class 2A Title (she started as an eighth grader also). A quiet leader, she hit .563 as a junior and .606 this year with 31 RBI and a 1.106 slugging percentage. She fulfilled a life-long dream as an eighth grader by committing to the Gators—both her parents attended Florida too.
11—Kinsley Washington SS/OF… Corona Angels (UCLA)Kinsley is the top triple threat hitter in the country and the prototype lead-off hitter who can slap, swing away, spray the ball or hit the ball deep—all depending on what the defense gives her. She’s played at the Gold level since her freshman year when Coach Marty Tyson of the Angels invited her to guest in Colorado and he liked what he saw so much he asked her to join the 18U team permanently. Kinsley went on to help the Angels win the TC/USA Nationals and finish 2nd at PGF Nationals. Last summer at PGF 18U Nationals, Kinsley batted .400 and had seven walks to set the table for the big hitters behind her. The So Cal speedster is also versatile and athletic enough to play all the infield and outfield spots as needed. Kinsley was first noticed by UCLA as a 10-year-old at the Bruin camps and committed to the Pac-12 school in the fall of her freshman year.