1st Team FloSoftball All-Americans: Multi-Purpose
1st Team FloSoftball All-Americans: Multi-Purpose
Pictured: Kaija Gibson of Redmond (Washington) High makes a diving catch over the outfield fence to help secure a one-run playoff victory. Today finishes ou
Unlock this article, live events, and more with a subscription!
Already a subscriber? Log In
Pictured: Kaija Gibson of Redmond (Washington) High makes a diving catch over the outfield fence to help secure a one-run playoff victory.
Today finishes our week of honoring prep standouts who dominated and excelled at the high school level as All-Americans… tomorrow: we announce our National Player & Coach of the Year!
***
1st Team FloSoftball All-Americans: Multi-Purpose
Jr. P/UT Grace Baalman Calhoun (Hardin IL)—Kentucky
Grace earned Illinois 1A 1st Team All-State honors after helping lead her Warriors team to a second straight state title. A three-sport star who has won an Illinois State Championship in basketball and is a fierce outside hitter on the volleyball team, she is most dominating on the softball field where the 6-foot-2 hurler set state records with 589 strikeouts in 277 innings and a 39 K performance in a 17-inning win in the semifinals. For the season she went 34-2 with a 0.21 ERA. Grace is ranked No. 27 player in the FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100.
Sr. P/IF Cayla Drotar Hartsville (SC)—South Carolina
A repeat 1st Team FloSoftball All-American, Cayla is also a three-time Gatorade State Player of the Year and her stats in the circle and at the plate show why. Leading the Red Foxes to a 32-3 record and Class 3A state title, Cayla went 20-2 with a 0.42 ERA and struck out 204 opponents in 130 innings pitched, giving up only six earned runs and one home run all year. Offensively the six-time All-State selection (she was all-state in 7th and 8th grades), hit .500 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI. Cayla is the No. 15 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. P/UT Miranda Elish Crown Point (IN)—Oregon
Miranda captured her second straight 1st Team FloSoftball All-American and third straight Gatorade State Player of the Year honor after putting up strong numbers once again, going 15-2 with a 0.41 ERA along with 196 strikeouts in 103 innings. Equally impressive, Miranda gave up only 31 hits and just 13 walks on the season for her 28-2 team that also featured Notre Dame-bound pitcher Alexis Holloway. The Duck signee was equally adept with the bat, hitting at a .505 clip and knocking in 26 RBI. Miranda is the No. 1 prospect in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. P/IF Bradie Fillmore Eagle (ID) —Cal
Bradie went 13-0 in the circle with a 0.49 ERA to lead the Eagles to a No. 3 national ranking in the FloSoftball FAB 50 as her team won the Class 5A state title and finished with a perfect 29-0 record. In the playoffs, Bradie was near perfect, pitching an eight-inning shutout in the semis and combining with teammate Autumn Moffat (BYU) to throw a no-hitter in the championship win. At the plate, she hit .641 with 57 RBI and 14 home runs to help her clinch her fourth straight 1st Team All-State selection and win Gatorade State Player of the Year honors. Bradie is rated as the No. 61 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
So. P/1B Montana Fouts East Carter (Grayson KY)—Alabama
Montana is one of the most promising young pitchers at the prep level and, though just a sophomore, helped lead the Raiders to a 37-2 mark and all kinds of honors including Kentucky 2A Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State and Gatorade State Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1 righthander went 33-2 with a 0.48 ERA and 479 strikeouts in 221 innings pitched and dominating the competition with 14 no-hitters and nine perfect games. Offensively she batted .446 with 50 RBI and a .520 on-base percentage in 39 games played. Montana is ranked as the No. 8 player in the FloSoftball 2018 Hot 100.
Sr. OF/SS Kaija Gibson Redmond (WA) —Washington
Kaija began the season at shortstop but was moved to centerfield mid-season to strengthen the outfield defense and that helped spark the team from a sub-.500 record to a 7th place finish at state. She batted .511 on the season with a .604 on-base percentage to help earn 1st Team All-KingCo 4A honors. Kaija shined on offense as a speedy slapper and on defense with her sparkling plays including a diving catch over the outfield fence to secure a one-run playoff victory. She subsequently hit a grand slam in the next game to send the Mustangs to the state playoffs. Kaija is ranked No. 42 in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. SS/OF Maddison Kettler West (TX)—Baylor
Maddison helped the Trojans win its first ever Texas Class 3A State Championship and get legendary coach Guyla Smith her 602nd win, breaking the old record of 586 to give her the most victories of any high school softball coach in Longhorn State history. Maddison’s numbers were superb: a .667 batting average with 43 RBI, eight triples, an on-base percentage of .742 and 47 runs scored. She only struck out twice all year while drawing 29 walks and was rewarded with several honors including Texas Super Centex Player of the Year, 3A All-State (shortstop), State All-Tournament Team and District 19-3A MVP. Maddison is ranked as the No. 89 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Jr. P/UT Maddie MacGrandle Frisco (TX)—Texas A&M
Maddie pitched all but two innings for her Texas team as she went 31-2 with a 0.81 ERA and had 385 strikeouts in 213 1/3rd innings. The No. 65 rated player in the 2017 Hot 100, she also batted .529 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI this spring. The Gatorade State Player of the Year, she also earned 1st Team All-State honors and was the District 9-5A MVP for the second straight season. Maddie is the No. 62 player in the FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100.
Sr. P/OF Shelby McGlaun Atascocita (Humble TX)—Baylor
Shelby led the Eagles to a 30-7 record and No. 35 final ranking in the FloSoftball FAB 50 as she recorded a 0.95 ERA with 205 strikeouts in 155 innings while limiting opponents to a .168 batting average. At the plate the future Baylor Bear batted .509 with 36 RBI. She was recognized as the Texas Girls Coaches Association as the 2015-16 5A-6A Athlete of the Year and District 16-6A MVP thanks in large part for helping her team come two games within a state inning before falling in extra innings to eventual champ Keller. Shelby is listed as the No. 24 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Jr. P/1B Ashley Morgan Chapel (Snellville GA)—Tennessee
Ashley led her Panthers team to a 32-3 record and the Class 5A state title last season as she recorded a 19-1 pitching mark with a 0.81 ERA and batted .505 with 11 homes and 43 RBI. The lefty hurler earned Gatorade and Class 5A state Player of the Year recognition and repeated as a 1st Team All-State selection while also being named County Player of the Year for the third year in a row. Ashley is the No. 56 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. P/SS Madilyn Nickles Merced (CA)—UCLA
Madi, or “Bubba” as she is nicknamed, has had a remarkable year: she was named as the National Gatorade Player of the Year on June 8 and presented the award at her school by Jenny Finch. She was the only high school player invited to play with the USA Softball Jr. National Team and train with the 2016 Women’s National Elite Team. On the field, she repeats as a 1st Team FloSoftball All-American after going 20-5 with a 0.63 ERA in the circle and striking out 308 batters in 167 1/3rd innings pitched, which included nine shutouts and three no-hitters. Offensively she hit .552 with 27 RBI and no strikeouts in her 104 plate appearances. Madi is ranked as the No. 2 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Jr. P/IF Jessica Seely Foothill (Palo Cedro CA)—Sacramento State
Jessica exploded onto the softball scene in Northern California by having such an impressive year, she was honored as a finalist for California Ms. Softball by CalHiSports.com. She led the Cougars to a 29-1 record and CIF Northern Section Div. III championship by hitting .510 with eight homers and 42 RBI while going 24-1 on the mound with 242 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched, 0.31 ERA and just 18 walks. Jessica even went 22-for-24 in steals on her way to earning Northern Section Player of the Year honors as well.
Sr. 1B/P Megan Stevens Etiwanda (CA)—Grand Canyon
Megan teamed with teammate and state home run leader Vanessa Taukeiaho (20) to give the Eagles a potent one-two punch. Primarily a first baseman, she hit .614 with 49 RBI and 19 homers to come in 2nd in the state this year in that category. Megan also had a .642 on-base percentage and a 1.297 slugging percentage and was also successful as a pitcher going 6-1 with a 1.25 ERA. The senior even threw a no-hitter as part of her team’s 29-3 record.
Jr. SS/OF Taylon Snow Chino Hills (CA)—Auburn
Taylon is already a three-time FloSoftball 1st Team All-American and had another strong season this year. Batting in the 3-hole, she hit .448 with an on-base percentage of .508 and had nine home runs and a .867 slugging percentage, both career highs. Taylon shined on defense too, compiling a .981 fielding percentage as she only made two errors in 104 chances at shortstop. She is rated as the No. 1 player in the FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100.
Jr. MIF/OF Karell Sparacino Alhambra (Martinez CA)—Oregon
Karell and UCLA-bound teammate Bri Perez helped the NorCal team finish 24-2 with Karell’s big numbers helping her earn East Bay and CIF North Coast Section Player of the Year honors. She batted .620 with seven home runs with 57 RBI after batting .448 with 45 RBI as a sophomore. Hitting in the 3-hole, she scored 51 runs this year and showed athleticism and speed by stealing 22 bases.
Fr. P/1B Sydney Supple Oshkosh North (Oshkosh WI)—Northwestern
Although just a freshman, Sydney helped her team to the state playoffs for the first time in 38 years as the Spartans finished 5th in state and had its best record ever at 23-3. Sydney was a 1st Team All-State honoree and went 18-2 in the circle with a 0.79 ERA to go with 176 K’s in 123 2/3rd innings. In her very first varsity at-bat, the Wisconsin star hit a homer and went on to bat .595 for the season with six dingers. Sydney is rated by FloSoftball as the No. 4 prospect in the 2019 class.
Sr. PT/UT Ashlee Swindle Curry (Jasper AL)—Auburn
You could make a strong case that Ashlee had the best statistical season of any player in the nation. She went 45-2 in the circle with a 0.59 ERA and had 385 strikeouts to give her 1,015 for her career. At the plate the USA Today Player of the Year was also dangerous as she batted .557 with an eye-opening 86 RBI and 13 home runs, reaching base in 47 of the team’s 49 games. A repeat 1st Team FloSoftball All-American, she led the Yellow Jackets to a second straight Class 4A title as well. Ashlee is rated as the No. 59 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
So. P/UT Brooke Vestal Canyon (New Braunfels TX)—Oklahoma
Brooke is a two-sport standout, excelling in volleyball as well, but her pitching prowess and emerging batting skills helped earn her FloSoftball All-American status. A Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State pick and the District 29-4A MVP, she went 25-8 with a 1.73 ERA and 346 Ks in 211 innings for the season. She tossed three no-hitters in the playoffs and also hit .432 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. Brooke is the No. 1 player in the FloSoftball 2018 Hot 100.
Sr. P/UT Missy Zoch La Grange (TX) —Uncommitted
Missy led the Lady Leps (40-2) to a Class 4A state title by going 32-2 in the circle with a miniscule 0.53 ERA, 325 strikeouts in 212 1/3rd innings and tossed 31 complete games, 15 shutouts and four no-hitters (one perfect game). She was so dominant that opponents only hit .127 against her. Missy also helped her cause with the bat, hitting .310 with 28 RBI and committing only two errors all season.
Today finishes our week of honoring prep standouts who dominated and excelled at the high school level as All-Americans… tomorrow: we announce our National Player & Coach of the Year!
- Wed., June 22 - FloSoftball 2nd Team All-Americans
- Thu., June 23 - FloSoftball 1st Team All-Americans (Pitchers)
- Fri., June 24 - FloSoftball 1st Team All-Americans (Catchers)
- Sat., June 25 - FloSoftball 1st Team All-Americans (Infielders)
- Sun., June 26 - FloSoftball 1st Team All-Americans (Outfielders)
- Mon., June 27 - FloSoftball 1st Team All-Americans (Multi-Purpose)
- Tue., June 28 - FloSoftball High School Player & Coach of the Year
- performance on the field
- overall contribution to the team’s success
- talent and skills (athletic and softball-specific)
- off the field success (academic, community, charity, etc.)
***
1st Team FloSoftball All-Americans: Multi-Purpose
Jr. P/UT Grace Baalman Calhoun (Hardin IL)—Kentucky
Grace earned Illinois 1A 1st Team All-State honors after helping lead her Warriors team to a second straight state title. A three-sport star who has won an Illinois State Championship in basketball and is a fierce outside hitter on the volleyball team, she is most dominating on the softball field where the 6-foot-2 hurler set state records with 589 strikeouts in 277 innings and a 39 K performance in a 17-inning win in the semifinals. For the season she went 34-2 with a 0.21 ERA. Grace is ranked No. 27 player in the FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100.
Sr. P/IF Cayla Drotar Hartsville (SC)—South Carolina
A repeat 1st Team FloSoftball All-American, Cayla is also a three-time Gatorade State Player of the Year and her stats in the circle and at the plate show why. Leading the Red Foxes to a 32-3 record and Class 3A state title, Cayla went 20-2 with a 0.42 ERA and struck out 204 opponents in 130 innings pitched, giving up only six earned runs and one home run all year. Offensively the six-time All-State selection (she was all-state in 7th and 8th grades), hit .500 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI. Cayla is the No. 15 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. P/UT Miranda Elish Crown Point (IN)—Oregon
Miranda captured her second straight 1st Team FloSoftball All-American and third straight Gatorade State Player of the Year honor after putting up strong numbers once again, going 15-2 with a 0.41 ERA along with 196 strikeouts in 103 innings. Equally impressive, Miranda gave up only 31 hits and just 13 walks on the season for her 28-2 team that also featured Notre Dame-bound pitcher Alexis Holloway. The Duck signee was equally adept with the bat, hitting at a .505 clip and knocking in 26 RBI. Miranda is the No. 1 prospect in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. P/IF Bradie Fillmore Eagle (ID) —Cal
Bradie went 13-0 in the circle with a 0.49 ERA to lead the Eagles to a No. 3 national ranking in the FloSoftball FAB 50 as her team won the Class 5A state title and finished with a perfect 29-0 record. In the playoffs, Bradie was near perfect, pitching an eight-inning shutout in the semis and combining with teammate Autumn Moffat (BYU) to throw a no-hitter in the championship win. At the plate, she hit .641 with 57 RBI and 14 home runs to help her clinch her fourth straight 1st Team All-State selection and win Gatorade State Player of the Year honors. Bradie is rated as the No. 61 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
So. P/1B Montana Fouts East Carter (Grayson KY)—Alabama
Montana is one of the most promising young pitchers at the prep level and, though just a sophomore, helped lead the Raiders to a 37-2 mark and all kinds of honors including Kentucky 2A Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State and Gatorade State Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1 righthander went 33-2 with a 0.48 ERA and 479 strikeouts in 221 innings pitched and dominating the competition with 14 no-hitters and nine perfect games. Offensively she batted .446 with 50 RBI and a .520 on-base percentage in 39 games played. Montana is ranked as the No. 8 player in the FloSoftball 2018 Hot 100.
Sr. OF/SS Kaija Gibson Redmond (WA) —Washington
Kaija began the season at shortstop but was moved to centerfield mid-season to strengthen the outfield defense and that helped spark the team from a sub-.500 record to a 7th place finish at state. She batted .511 on the season with a .604 on-base percentage to help earn 1st Team All-KingCo 4A honors. Kaija shined on offense as a speedy slapper and on defense with her sparkling plays including a diving catch over the outfield fence to secure a one-run playoff victory. She subsequently hit a grand slam in the next game to send the Mustangs to the state playoffs. Kaija is ranked No. 42 in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. SS/OF Maddison Kettler West (TX)—Baylor
Maddison helped the Trojans win its first ever Texas Class 3A State Championship and get legendary coach Guyla Smith her 602nd win, breaking the old record of 586 to give her the most victories of any high school softball coach in Longhorn State history. Maddison’s numbers were superb: a .667 batting average with 43 RBI, eight triples, an on-base percentage of .742 and 47 runs scored. She only struck out twice all year while drawing 29 walks and was rewarded with several honors including Texas Super Centex Player of the Year, 3A All-State (shortstop), State All-Tournament Team and District 19-3A MVP. Maddison is ranked as the No. 89 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Jr. P/UT Maddie MacGrandle Frisco (TX)—Texas A&M
Maddie pitched all but two innings for her Texas team as she went 31-2 with a 0.81 ERA and had 385 strikeouts in 213 1/3rd innings. The No. 65 rated player in the 2017 Hot 100, she also batted .529 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI this spring. The Gatorade State Player of the Year, she also earned 1st Team All-State honors and was the District 9-5A MVP for the second straight season. Maddie is the No. 62 player in the FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100.
Sr. P/OF Shelby McGlaun Atascocita (Humble TX)—Baylor
Shelby led the Eagles to a 30-7 record and No. 35 final ranking in the FloSoftball FAB 50 as she recorded a 0.95 ERA with 205 strikeouts in 155 innings while limiting opponents to a .168 batting average. At the plate the future Baylor Bear batted .509 with 36 RBI. She was recognized as the Texas Girls Coaches Association as the 2015-16 5A-6A Athlete of the Year and District 16-6A MVP thanks in large part for helping her team come two games within a state inning before falling in extra innings to eventual champ Keller. Shelby is listed as the No. 24 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Jr. P/1B Ashley Morgan Chapel (Snellville GA)—Tennessee
Ashley led her Panthers team to a 32-3 record and the Class 5A state title last season as she recorded a 19-1 pitching mark with a 0.81 ERA and batted .505 with 11 homes and 43 RBI. The lefty hurler earned Gatorade and Class 5A state Player of the Year recognition and repeated as a 1st Team All-State selection while also being named County Player of the Year for the third year in a row. Ashley is the No. 56 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Sr. P/SS Madilyn Nickles Merced (CA)—UCLA
Madi, or “Bubba” as she is nicknamed, has had a remarkable year: she was named as the National Gatorade Player of the Year on June 8 and presented the award at her school by Jenny Finch. She was the only high school player invited to play with the USA Softball Jr. National Team and train with the 2016 Women’s National Elite Team. On the field, she repeats as a 1st Team FloSoftball All-American after going 20-5 with a 0.63 ERA in the circle and striking out 308 batters in 167 1/3rd innings pitched, which included nine shutouts and three no-hitters. Offensively she hit .552 with 27 RBI and no strikeouts in her 104 plate appearances. Madi is ranked as the No. 2 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
Jr. P/IF Jessica Seely Foothill (Palo Cedro CA)—Sacramento State
Jessica exploded onto the softball scene in Northern California by having such an impressive year, she was honored as a finalist for California Ms. Softball by CalHiSports.com. She led the Cougars to a 29-1 record and CIF Northern Section Div. III championship by hitting .510 with eight homers and 42 RBI while going 24-1 on the mound with 242 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched, 0.31 ERA and just 18 walks. Jessica even went 22-for-24 in steals on her way to earning Northern Section Player of the Year honors as well.
Sr. 1B/P Megan Stevens Etiwanda (CA)—Grand Canyon
Megan teamed with teammate and state home run leader Vanessa Taukeiaho (20) to give the Eagles a potent one-two punch. Primarily a first baseman, she hit .614 with 49 RBI and 19 homers to come in 2nd in the state this year in that category. Megan also had a .642 on-base percentage and a 1.297 slugging percentage and was also successful as a pitcher going 6-1 with a 1.25 ERA. The senior even threw a no-hitter as part of her team’s 29-3 record.
Jr. SS/OF Taylon Snow Chino Hills (CA)—Auburn
Taylon is already a three-time FloSoftball 1st Team All-American and had another strong season this year. Batting in the 3-hole, she hit .448 with an on-base percentage of .508 and had nine home runs and a .867 slugging percentage, both career highs. Taylon shined on defense too, compiling a .981 fielding percentage as she only made two errors in 104 chances at shortstop. She is rated as the No. 1 player in the FloSoftball 2017 Hot 100.
Jr. MIF/OF Karell Sparacino Alhambra (Martinez CA)—Oregon
Karell and UCLA-bound teammate Bri Perez helped the NorCal team finish 24-2 with Karell’s big numbers helping her earn East Bay and CIF North Coast Section Player of the Year honors. She batted .620 with seven home runs with 57 RBI after batting .448 with 45 RBI as a sophomore. Hitting in the 3-hole, she scored 51 runs this year and showed athleticism and speed by stealing 22 bases.
Fr. P/1B Sydney Supple Oshkosh North (Oshkosh WI)—Northwestern
Although just a freshman, Sydney helped her team to the state playoffs for the first time in 38 years as the Spartans finished 5th in state and had its best record ever at 23-3. Sydney was a 1st Team All-State honoree and went 18-2 in the circle with a 0.79 ERA to go with 176 K’s in 123 2/3rd innings. In her very first varsity at-bat, the Wisconsin star hit a homer and went on to bat .595 for the season with six dingers. Sydney is rated by FloSoftball as the No. 4 prospect in the 2019 class.
Sr. PT/UT Ashlee Swindle Curry (Jasper AL)—Auburn
You could make a strong case that Ashlee had the best statistical season of any player in the nation. She went 45-2 in the circle with a 0.59 ERA and had 385 strikeouts to give her 1,015 for her career. At the plate the USA Today Player of the Year was also dangerous as she batted .557 with an eye-opening 86 RBI and 13 home runs, reaching base in 47 of the team’s 49 games. A repeat 1st Team FloSoftball All-American, she led the Yellow Jackets to a second straight Class 4A title as well. Ashlee is rated as the No. 59 player in the FloSoftball 2016 Hot 100.
So. P/UT Brooke Vestal Canyon (New Braunfels TX)—Oklahoma
Brooke is a two-sport standout, excelling in volleyball as well, but her pitching prowess and emerging batting skills helped earn her FloSoftball All-American status. A Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State pick and the District 29-4A MVP, she went 25-8 with a 1.73 ERA and 346 Ks in 211 innings for the season. She tossed three no-hitters in the playoffs and also hit .432 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. Brooke is the No. 1 player in the FloSoftball 2018 Hot 100.
Sr. P/UT Missy Zoch La Grange (TX) —Uncommitted
Missy led the Lady Leps (40-2) to a Class 4A state title by going 32-2 in the circle with a miniscule 0.53 ERA, 325 strikeouts in 212 1/3rd innings and tossed 31 complete games, 15 shutouts and four no-hitters (one perfect game). She was so dominant that opponents only hit .127 against her. Missy also helped her cause with the bat, hitting .310 with 28 RBI and committing only two errors all season.