2021 Hot 100: Players 90-81
2021 Hot 100: Players 90-81
Here's a look at FloSoftball's 2021 Hot 100 rankings. Today we feature players No. 90 to 81, who come from California (6), Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
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FloSoftball continues our look at the Class of 2021 as we update the Hot 100 over the next two weeks, spotlighting 10 or more outstanding players each day on the way to the unveiling of No. 1.
We'll announce the top 10 of the class on Friday, May 19, and shortly after will profile the No. 1 player and then the "Next In" classes comprising prospects Nos. 101-200, 201-300, 301-400, and 401-500!
FloSoftball has ranked the Hot 100 beginning with the 2014 Class and has done every year since: 2015, '16, '17, '18, '19, and '20. We've also updated most of those years several times, the 2019 Hot 100 being the most recent (updated in February).
And as for the 2021s -- who are just in the eighth grade, even though many are playing up at the varsity high school level already -- we'll update the Hot 100 list several times too over the next five years, so know this is just the starting point!
These honorees were chosen based on input and feedback from college and club coaches as well as our own FloSoftball event and in-person observations.
Criteria for choosing and ranking the players includes performances at the club and high school levels and projecting how they will play at the collegiate level.
Today, we feature players No. 90 to 81, who come from California (6), Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
***
90--Celeste Wood SS… Tulsa Elite (uncommitted)
Wood was a key contributor on the Tulsa Elite 12U team that won the national championship at the USSSA Nationals in Arkansas last summer and finished fifth at The Top Gun Invitational. She's a lefty who one coach says simply "can flat out ball at shortstop." Wood has good lateral quickness and the arm to make throws from anywhere in the six-hole. Offensively, she can play small ball or hit the gaps and uses her speed to steal the extra base when the outfield is not paying attention. After her strong fall with the Elite, she is drawing the interest of several schools, including programs from the Big 12.
T-89--Alexis "Lexi" Chavez SS/2B… Explosion -- Flores/Lumus (uncommitted)
Chavez has been on the national recruiting map since the 2015-16 season, when she helped her 12U team earn a PGF Nationals berth and was noted as the top hitter on that team. Chavez is a lefty slapper who can bunt or swing away and hit for the extra base, because once she puts the ball into play, the So Cal talent is known to swipe an extra bag or two. A good student of the game, Chavez has also become a vocal leader and, as a smooth middle infielder, has a "collegiate style of throwing," according to one coach. Her strong summer and fall has led to her being followed by several top Division I schools. Playing for coaches Bobby Flores and Eddie Lumus, she'll compete against top teams in major tournaments in front of dozens of elite programs.
T-89--Madison Droz P… Tampa Mustangs -- Hennigar (uncommitted)
Droz is one of the top aces in the South and as a lefty has already blown past 60 mph with a complementary lineup of pitches to go with her heat. Full of confidence and competitiveness, she's also a natural swinging lefty at the plate with plenty of home run power and bats for a .500-plus average as well. Droz is also athletic and versatile enough to play the outfield when needed and is solid at first base defensively. Mustangs head coach Jody Hennigar said, "Madison is also smart on the base paths and has a great attitude with no fear on the mound or at the plate." The Florida athlete is being followed by Florida, Ohio State, Purdue, Washington, and South Florida, among others.
88--Taylor Minnick C/OF… Georgia Impact -- Newland (uncommitted)
Minnick is a lefty catcher and outfielder who is one of the top defensive prospects in her class. In the fall, the the Indiana native played two premier positions up the middle -- catcher and center field -- and had a fielding percentage of 1.000. Minnick has great hands at the plate and good power to all fields. She batted an eye-opening .667 in fall showcases, which garnered her several Power Five offers with more visits upcoming. One scout said of Minnick, "She plays at an elite level," while Derek Allister of OnDeck Softball said, "Taylor's a good athlete with solid potential and will be a high-level recruit out of the Midwest."
T-87--Sydney Carter P/MIF… Cincy Slammers (uncommitted)
Julie Joseforsky's Ohio program is getting some of the top talent in the Midwest, including players such as Carter, a fast-rising pitcher and shortstop who was named as one of the USA Elite Select's Top 30 players last August. She was also honored as an Under Armour Preseason All-American in December because of her versatility in the field. Carter throws in the high 50s with a nice change at 44 mph. Add in a screw, curve, rise, and drop curve and it's no wonder she had a 0.99 ERA last year with 264 Ks. Carter is equally impressive at the plate, where she hit .503 last season. A lefty slapper who can swing away, she already has three offers and serious SEC and Big Ten interest. The Buckeye State native is an excellent shortstop and according to her coach "wants to be an everyday player and pitch so she's focusing on those DI schools that will allow her to pitch, play middle infield, and hit in the lineup."
T-87--Olivia Silvestre OF… Universal Fastpitch -- Garcia (uncommitted)
Silvestre is the type of leadoff hitter who can do it all at the plate -- she has great bat control, which makes her a true triple threat. She has occasional pop and can leave the yard at times, but it's her 2.6-second home-to-first speed and smarts on the basepaths that wreaks havoc on defenses. In the outfield, "O" as she's known, covers a ton of ground and has excellent tracking ability, which allows her to make the tough catches look easy. She also gets great jumps and takes good angles on balls hit into the gaps. Silvestre is a naturally lefty who can swing the bat better than most slappers and is known to be coachable and a hard worker. She'll get a lot of looks on a team loaded with talent, including Pac-12 future players such as C/IF Isabela Emerling (Cal commit).
86--Darlene Montoya OF… Explosion -- Flores/Lumus (uncommitted)
Montoya's best softball is ahead of her as she hadn't played competitive ball at a high level prior to joining Explosion but in a short amount of time has become one of the most well-rounded outfielders in her class. She throws right-handed and bats from the left side, where she is known for her power and ability to drive the ball a long way. Montoya is also known for having a great eye for the strike zone and attacks pitches very well. In the outfield, she's a heady player with good instincts who makes difficult plays look easy. Several elite DI programs are going after her because they like her approach to hitting, and this fall she'll attend high school at one of the top softball powers in Southern California, Grand Terrace High, which won the CIF Division III Section Championship last year.
85--Logan Sutton SS… Lady Lightning Futures (uncommitted)
Sutton has the pure athleticism you want manning the infield, but it's her competitive fire that sets her apart as one of the top players in the country. Says one coach, "Logan possesses the desire to win at all cost. She plays with endless amounts of intensity and literally wills her team to victory." Her physical tools include speed on the base paths, power at the plate, and excellent range and a strong arm at short. The North Carolina standout has hit over .400 in her last 40 games and her ceiling to improve is very high. SEC and ACC schools are already showing strong interest.
T-84--Savannah Adams 1B/OF… Corona Angels (uncommitted)
Adams is another in a long line of top prospects coming out of Marty Tyson's Corona Angels program. A good all-around athlete with the physical skills to play a variety of positions, Adams is solid defensively at first base and covers a lot of ground in the outfield. She has a good, accurate arm and at the plate has the power potential and big-game experience to be an early contributor at a Power Five school. Derek Allister of OnDeck Softball calls the Southern California athlete "one of the West Coast's best all-around prospects."
T-84--Kayla Chavez 3B… OC Batbusters -- Campbell 03 (uncommitted)
The word coaches use to describe Chavez is "calm," in that she plays steadily and consistently without getting riled up no matter how tense the situation. She has "uncanny power," according to one West Coast scout, and also is a gap hitter who bats for a high average. Chavez also rises to the occasion and plays her best in big moments as shown by her going 14 for 25 (.560 average) with five doubles when playing with the Power Surge 12U team last summer at PGF Nationals. Two years ago, Chavez helped her So Cal Choppers 02 team finish second at PGF and went 2 for 3 in the title game. Defensively, she's a vacuum at third and can stop all balls hit in her direction while having the quickness to pounce on bunts. Expect her recruiting stock to blow up this summer as she is showcased at top events like Boulder IDT with one of the top teams in her age division.
83--Boo Guevara 2B/OF… California Grapettes (uncommitted)
Guevara comes from a softball family as both parents are club coaches, and she's the third of three daughters who have played club ball. A three-sport athlete who also excels in volleyball and basketball, the Stockton, California, native is an ideal top-of-the-order hitter as she is prolific in getting on base either as a leadoff hitter or in the two-hole. Last summer the Nor Cal star helped her Grapettes 14U team win the PGF Platinum National Championship and in the fall take third place in the PGF Invitational Shootout, where she wowed onlookers with her great defensive skills. Guevara is a lefty power hitter who is consistently averaging around .400 but can catch fire like she did at the St. Paddy's Day Tourney in Las Vegas this spring, where she hit .643. She's receiving interest from Pac-12, Mountain West, SEC, and MAC schools and in June will attend the OnDeck Jamboree in Hemet, CA.
82--Cayden Baker SS/OF… Tennessee Mojo (uncommitted)
Watch out this year for the Tennessee Mojo, which is loaded with talent, including Baker, a rangy shortstop/centerfielder who has tons of speed and is a smart, heady defensive player. Baker was invited to the Select 30 camp in Alabama last year because she's a game changer on defense as well as on the base paths. One of Tennessee's top talents, she can use her 2.6-2.7 home-to-first speed to disrupt the defense and is now adding power from the lefty side to complement her slapping game. Baker is also very consistent in her hitting: She batted .389 in 96 games last summer, and she hit .388 in 38 games while playing at the 18U level in the fall. She's taken unofficial visits to Duke and Tennessee, with more set in the near future and is very high on the short list of several Power Five programs.
81--Lauralee Scott P/MIF… SC Firecrackers -- Reese (uncommitted)
Scott is already starting varsity for her Greenwood, South Carolina, high school and last year as a seventh-grader had 65 strikeouts going against players five years older than her. She emerged as a national prospect last summer when she was selected as a first-team All-American at the Select 30 camp and started in the All-American game. In the circle, she has great movement and spin on her throws combined with tough off-speed pitches, aided by working out with Jessica van der Linden-Boulware, the former Florida State All-American pitcher. Scott is equally dangerous at the plate due to her great bat speed and ball exit speed. She hit .485 batting third in the Firecracker lineup last year and in 75 games led the team in runs (85), steals (32), and walks. A great all-around athlete, she started karate at age 3 and earned her black belt at 10 years old. She has several SEC schools after her, and national interest is also picking up.
We'll announce the top 10 of the class on Friday, May 19, and shortly after will profile the No. 1 player and then the "Next In" classes comprising prospects Nos. 101-200, 201-300, 301-400, and 401-500!
FloSoftball has ranked the Hot 100 beginning with the 2014 Class and has done every year since: 2015, '16, '17, '18, '19, and '20. We've also updated most of those years several times, the 2019 Hot 100 being the most recent (updated in February).
And as for the 2021s -- who are just in the eighth grade, even though many are playing up at the varsity high school level already -- we'll update the Hot 100 list several times too over the next five years, so know this is just the starting point!
These honorees were chosen based on input and feedback from college and club coaches as well as our own FloSoftball event and in-person observations.
Criteria for choosing and ranking the players includes performances at the club and high school levels and projecting how they will play at the collegiate level.
Today, we feature players No. 90 to 81, who come from California (6), Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
***
90--Celeste Wood SS… Tulsa Elite (uncommitted)
Wood was a key contributor on the Tulsa Elite 12U team that won the national championship at the USSSA Nationals in Arkansas last summer and finished fifth at The Top Gun Invitational. She's a lefty who one coach says simply "can flat out ball at shortstop." Wood has good lateral quickness and the arm to make throws from anywhere in the six-hole. Offensively, she can play small ball or hit the gaps and uses her speed to steal the extra base when the outfield is not paying attention. After her strong fall with the Elite, she is drawing the interest of several schools, including programs from the Big 12.
T-89--Alexis "Lexi" Chavez SS/2B… Explosion -- Flores/Lumus (uncommitted)
Chavez has been on the national recruiting map since the 2015-16 season, when she helped her 12U team earn a PGF Nationals berth and was noted as the top hitter on that team. Chavez is a lefty slapper who can bunt or swing away and hit for the extra base, because once she puts the ball into play, the So Cal talent is known to swipe an extra bag or two. A good student of the game, Chavez has also become a vocal leader and, as a smooth middle infielder, has a "collegiate style of throwing," according to one coach. Her strong summer and fall has led to her being followed by several top Division I schools. Playing for coaches Bobby Flores and Eddie Lumus, she'll compete against top teams in major tournaments in front of dozens of elite programs.
T-89--Madison Droz P… Tampa Mustangs -- Hennigar (uncommitted)
Droz is one of the top aces in the South and as a lefty has already blown past 60 mph with a complementary lineup of pitches to go with her heat. Full of confidence and competitiveness, she's also a natural swinging lefty at the plate with plenty of home run power and bats for a .500-plus average as well. Droz is also athletic and versatile enough to play the outfield when needed and is solid at first base defensively. Mustangs head coach Jody Hennigar said, "Madison is also smart on the base paths and has a great attitude with no fear on the mound or at the plate." The Florida athlete is being followed by Florida, Ohio State, Purdue, Washington, and South Florida, among others.
88--Taylor Minnick C/OF… Georgia Impact -- Newland (uncommitted)
Minnick is a lefty catcher and outfielder who is one of the top defensive prospects in her class. In the fall, the the Indiana native played two premier positions up the middle -- catcher and center field -- and had a fielding percentage of 1.000. Minnick has great hands at the plate and good power to all fields. She batted an eye-opening .667 in fall showcases, which garnered her several Power Five offers with more visits upcoming. One scout said of Minnick, "She plays at an elite level," while Derek Allister of OnDeck Softball said, "Taylor's a good athlete with solid potential and will be a high-level recruit out of the Midwest."
T-87--Sydney Carter P/MIF… Cincy Slammers (uncommitted)
Julie Joseforsky's Ohio program is getting some of the top talent in the Midwest, including players such as Carter, a fast-rising pitcher and shortstop who was named as one of the USA Elite Select's Top 30 players last August. She was also honored as an Under Armour Preseason All-American in December because of her versatility in the field. Carter throws in the high 50s with a nice change at 44 mph. Add in a screw, curve, rise, and drop curve and it's no wonder she had a 0.99 ERA last year with 264 Ks. Carter is equally impressive at the plate, where she hit .503 last season. A lefty slapper who can swing away, she already has three offers and serious SEC and Big Ten interest. The Buckeye State native is an excellent shortstop and according to her coach "wants to be an everyday player and pitch so she's focusing on those DI schools that will allow her to pitch, play middle infield, and hit in the lineup."
T-87--Olivia Silvestre OF… Universal Fastpitch -- Garcia (uncommitted)
Silvestre is the type of leadoff hitter who can do it all at the plate -- she has great bat control, which makes her a true triple threat. She has occasional pop and can leave the yard at times, but it's her 2.6-second home-to-first speed and smarts on the basepaths that wreaks havoc on defenses. In the outfield, "O" as she's known, covers a ton of ground and has excellent tracking ability, which allows her to make the tough catches look easy. She also gets great jumps and takes good angles on balls hit into the gaps. Silvestre is a naturally lefty who can swing the bat better than most slappers and is known to be coachable and a hard worker. She'll get a lot of looks on a team loaded with talent, including Pac-12 future players such as C/IF Isabela Emerling (Cal commit).
86--Darlene Montoya OF… Explosion -- Flores/Lumus (uncommitted)
Montoya's best softball is ahead of her as she hadn't played competitive ball at a high level prior to joining Explosion but in a short amount of time has become one of the most well-rounded outfielders in her class. She throws right-handed and bats from the left side, where she is known for her power and ability to drive the ball a long way. Montoya is also known for having a great eye for the strike zone and attacks pitches very well. In the outfield, she's a heady player with good instincts who makes difficult plays look easy. Several elite DI programs are going after her because they like her approach to hitting, and this fall she'll attend high school at one of the top softball powers in Southern California, Grand Terrace High, which won the CIF Division III Section Championship last year.
85--Logan Sutton SS… Lady Lightning Futures (uncommitted)
Sutton has the pure athleticism you want manning the infield, but it's her competitive fire that sets her apart as one of the top players in the country. Says one coach, "Logan possesses the desire to win at all cost. She plays with endless amounts of intensity and literally wills her team to victory." Her physical tools include speed on the base paths, power at the plate, and excellent range and a strong arm at short. The North Carolina standout has hit over .400 in her last 40 games and her ceiling to improve is very high. SEC and ACC schools are already showing strong interest.
T-84--Savannah Adams 1B/OF… Corona Angels (uncommitted)
Adams is another in a long line of top prospects coming out of Marty Tyson's Corona Angels program. A good all-around athlete with the physical skills to play a variety of positions, Adams is solid defensively at first base and covers a lot of ground in the outfield. She has a good, accurate arm and at the plate has the power potential and big-game experience to be an early contributor at a Power Five school. Derek Allister of OnDeck Softball calls the Southern California athlete "one of the West Coast's best all-around prospects."
T-84--Kayla Chavez 3B… OC Batbusters -- Campbell 03 (uncommitted)
The word coaches use to describe Chavez is "calm," in that she plays steadily and consistently without getting riled up no matter how tense the situation. She has "uncanny power," according to one West Coast scout, and also is a gap hitter who bats for a high average. Chavez also rises to the occasion and plays her best in big moments as shown by her going 14 for 25 (.560 average) with five doubles when playing with the Power Surge 12U team last summer at PGF Nationals. Two years ago, Chavez helped her So Cal Choppers 02 team finish second at PGF and went 2 for 3 in the title game. Defensively, she's a vacuum at third and can stop all balls hit in her direction while having the quickness to pounce on bunts. Expect her recruiting stock to blow up this summer as she is showcased at top events like Boulder IDT with one of the top teams in her age division.
83--Boo Guevara 2B/OF… California Grapettes (uncommitted)
Guevara comes from a softball family as both parents are club coaches, and she's the third of three daughters who have played club ball. A three-sport athlete who also excels in volleyball and basketball, the Stockton, California, native is an ideal top-of-the-order hitter as she is prolific in getting on base either as a leadoff hitter or in the two-hole. Last summer the Nor Cal star helped her Grapettes 14U team win the PGF Platinum National Championship and in the fall take third place in the PGF Invitational Shootout, where she wowed onlookers with her great defensive skills. Guevara is a lefty power hitter who is consistently averaging around .400 but can catch fire like she did at the St. Paddy's Day Tourney in Las Vegas this spring, where she hit .643. She's receiving interest from Pac-12, Mountain West, SEC, and MAC schools and in June will attend the OnDeck Jamboree in Hemet, CA.
82--Cayden Baker SS/OF… Tennessee Mojo (uncommitted)
Watch out this year for the Tennessee Mojo, which is loaded with talent, including Baker, a rangy shortstop/centerfielder who has tons of speed and is a smart, heady defensive player. Baker was invited to the Select 30 camp in Alabama last year because she's a game changer on defense as well as on the base paths. One of Tennessee's top talents, she can use her 2.6-2.7 home-to-first speed to disrupt the defense and is now adding power from the lefty side to complement her slapping game. Baker is also very consistent in her hitting: She batted .389 in 96 games last summer, and she hit .388 in 38 games while playing at the 18U level in the fall. She's taken unofficial visits to Duke and Tennessee, with more set in the near future and is very high on the short list of several Power Five programs.
81--Lauralee Scott P/MIF… SC Firecrackers -- Reese (uncommitted)
Scott is already starting varsity for her Greenwood, South Carolina, high school and last year as a seventh-grader had 65 strikeouts going against players five years older than her. She emerged as a national prospect last summer when she was selected as a first-team All-American at the Select 30 camp and started in the All-American game. In the circle, she has great movement and spin on her throws combined with tough off-speed pitches, aided by working out with Jessica van der Linden-Boulware, the former Florida State All-American pitcher. Scott is equally dangerous at the plate due to her great bat speed and ball exit speed. She hit .485 batting third in the Firecracker lineup last year and in 75 games led the team in runs (85), steals (32), and walks. A great all-around athlete, she started karate at age 3 and earned her black belt at 10 years old. She has several SEC schools after her, and national interest is also picking up.