FloSoftball continues our look at the Hot 100 for the Class of 2021 by spotlighting 10 or more outstanding players each day on the way through the countdown from 100 to No. 1.

We'll announce the Top 10 of the class this 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 Nos. 40 to 31, who come from Alabama (two), California, Georgia (three), Indiana (two), Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina (two), Ohio, and Texas (2).

***

T-40--Kennedy Barron P/IF… Birmingham Thunderbolts 03 (uncommitted)
Barron is a right-handed pitcher who throws a curve, drop, and is working on a rise. She helped lead the Bolts on the mound and at the plate last year and was named a USSSA Elite Select First-Team All-American in 2016 after pitching her Pisgah High (Alabama) varsity team to the 3A state championship game as a seventh-grader, leading the team in batting average and RBIs. This spring, as an eighth-grader, Barron has led the team to an 11th straight county title and has eight home runs as her team continues in postseason play. The 5-foot-10 multi-sport athlete has taken unofficial visits to South Carolina, Arizona, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Duke.

T-40--Anna Holloway SS/UT… Beverly Bandits -- Harkness (uncommitted)
Holloway has shortstop instincts and excellent physical tools, especially her impressive range, but a high softball IQ and passion for the game allows her to play anywhere on the field (and she's the type who will take any position as long as she's between the lines). She can hit anything and do it for average and power. The righty moves into the four-hole for Ramsey Harkness' team this year and has hit over .400 with five homers. Her main asset, though, is put simply by one coach as, "clutch, clutch, clutch -- she comes up big when she needs to." Holloway is considered the quarterback of the defense and has the leadership abilities that allow her to set the defense on every pitch. She's been on visits to Oklahoma, Northwestern, and Notre Dame as a high academic student-athlete with a strong upside.

T-39--Mary Newton P/OF… Ohio Hawks (uncommitted)
Newton is a fast-rising prospect who, as a 5-foot-8 right-handed pitcher, is hitting the low 60s with a great change and drop. Last year at a PGF Nationals Qualifier, she had an ERA of under 1.00 and in an ASA National Qualifier didn't give up an earned run. Newton is a solid athlete who can play the corners or any outfield position because she has a great bat and can hit for power. Her vast improvement over the last six months in the circle has a lot of colleges jumping on board to chase her pitching skills, including several in the ACC and at least one of which has offered. Also a competitive club volleyball player, she has visited Ohio State, Pitt, Drexel, Lehigh, and Valparaiso.

T-39--Toni McInnis MIF/OF… Texas Glory (uncommitted)
McInnis is a very athletic, tall, fast triple threat from the lefty side of the plate whose soft hands and efficient swing give her the ability to execute the short game and drive the ball to all fields. The Texan has great speed and her savvy on the bases make her a terror to pitchers and catchers. Defensively, her fundamentals are sound and she is a natural in the middle infield but has the skills and tools to be comfortable playing anywhere but in the circle or behind the plate. Glory organization lead Kevin Shelton said, "Toni has a strong work ethic and loves the game -- both contribute to her considerable upside." She has visited LSU and Penn State with more coming up this summer.

38--Sydney Osada P… Georgia Impact -- Gusaeff (uncommitted)
Osada is a 6-foot-plus left-handed pitcher who throws in the 63 mph range and complements her hard stuff with an effective rise ball. She can also come back with a nasty change and leave a batter waving at air. Sydney has control of her multiple pitches and has continued to improve since her impressive debut with the Impact at PGF Nationals last summer when she threw a one-hitter and put herself on the national recruiting map. The Georgia hurler has had an ERA under 1.00 this spring and is averaging more than a strikeout per inning. She has several Power Five offers already and multiple schools are showing heavy interest with more jumping on board each month.

37--Anabelle Widra MIF/P… Birmingham Thunderbolts 02 (uncommitted)
Widra is one of the young stars in the deep Bolts organization as she moves well in the middle and is dominant in the circle. She's a great talent physically but is also a leader as she thinks like a coach and manages the energy of the team by her "lead by example" approach. Widra will line up at shortstop and second for the Thunderbolts, and in the fall season her batting average was .472 and her on-base percentage was .525 -- second best on the team. Playing for Spain Park High (Alabama) this spring, she's hit .493 with a pitching record of 21-1 and a 1.50 ERA halfway through the season. Widra already has offers from ACC, Big 12, and SEC schools, and one coach said simply, "She is just one of those kids who has 'it.'"

T-36--Riley McNemar MIF/C... DeMarini Aces (uncommitted)
Riley is one of the top power bats in the class and when she squares up on the ball, it usually is for an extra base hit.  She cranks up the gun regularly hitting balls with a 70-plus mph exit velocity. She has been a big component to the Aces' line-up which has outscored opponents 173-20 over the last year and a main reason is Riley's defensive skills.  She has excellent feet in the middle infield and is always in the right place at the right time. She has a strong arm which serves her well be it in the infield or behind the plate. The standout from Kansas has been on vists to Auburn and Texas A&M and the interest is sure to grow over the next few months.

T-36--Cassidy Wall C… Carolina Elite (uncommitted)
Wall is an advanced catcher defensively and receives and frames the ball as good as any player in the East in her class. She blocks so well that pitchers aren't afraid to throw drop balls, changes, drop curves, or any pitch, knowing that Wall will be able to keep it in front of her. Her release is quick, and she threw out double-digit numbers of attempted base stealers last fall when she also showed she can hit too, putting up a .384 average. Cassidy is a line-drive, ground ball-type hitter, and the ball jumps off the bat when she makes contact. She works out with former All-SEC catcher Adrienne Genovese-Nix and is getting recruited by ACC and SEC schools along with programs like East Carolina and Liberty.

35--Savannah Jones P/OF… Beverly Bandits Futures -- Helbling (uncommitted)
Jones is a big-game pitcher and has been called one of the best spin pitchers in the 2021 class. She is best known for her devastating off-speed pitches, which include a drop curve and change that she's not afraid to throw in any situation. One coach said, "Savannah throws circus pitches that make good hitters look bad." She has late breaking movement on her screwball and is mastering a rise. In the fall, the Indiana native pitched 86 innings and recorded 90 Ks with a 1.45 ERA. She throws in the high 50s and isn't super tall, but don't let that fool you -- one scout said she may be the Bandits' best pitcher. When not in the circle, she plays outfield and second and is a solid line-drive hitter. She was a Select 30 All-American last summer and has visited SEC and Big Ten schools so far.

34--Alaina Smith MIF… East Cobb Bullets -- Byars (uncommitted)
Smith is a five-tool player who is very athletic and one of the rare breeds in the leadoff spot who can hit a home run in any at-bat as well as slap the ball for a hit. Defensively, her range in the middle infield really stands out due to her advanced level of footwork and technique. She routinely dives all over the field and makes plays you don't see made very often thanks to her great reaction time and strong arm. Home to first, she has 2.7 speed and leads the team in steals and has instinctive base-running skills. Her variety of physical tools and aggressive approach offensively and defensively have attracted the attention of ACC and SEC schools such as North Carolina and Georgia as well as locals Kennesaw State and Georgia State.

33--Abbey Smith OF/IF… Impact Gold -- Mata (Auburn)
Smith is a 5-foot-6 triple threat utility player who runs home to first in 2.7 seconds and had most of the SEC interested because of her explosive athleticism. She committed to Auburn as one of the Tigers' first members of their '21 class. She first became a national sensation in 2013 when she earned the title of the Houston Astros' "MLB Pitch, Hit and Run" Champion at the 10U regional level. She would go on to win the next four years to be the only four-time winner in the Astros' history. Her softball résumé is also full of similar honors: 2016 USA Elite Select 30 First-Team All-American and a 2017 Under Armour Softball Factory Preseason All-American. Smith was snatched up early by Auburn because her physical skills and tools allow her to play all over the field at a high level, and she is the rare type who can star at one position or add depth at many.

32--Katie Brooks P/MIF… DeMarini Aces (uncommitted)
Brooks has a long frame and pitches in the 62-63 mph range and throws overhand at 63. One coach said, "She is always one of the best and most explosive athletes on the field no matter where she is." Katie is equally skilled on the mound or at shortstop and usually bats in the three-spot for the Aces, where she hits over .400. Typically, she puts the ball in the gaps and alleys as half of her hits have been for extra bases thanks to her power and speed. In her last 59 innings, she's struck out 79 opponents so colleges have the pleasurable problem of trying to decide where to best play her. Organization head Ryan Taylor said, "Katie has been a great shortstop and pitcher for us this fall and spring and will be one of the best players to have come through my program." The athlete has been on visits to Oregon, Florida, Washington, and Oklahoma State and will have schools from every Power Five conference after her by the time she's ready to commit.

T-31--Lauren Wiles P… Lady Lightning Futures (uncommitted)
Wiles is a power pitcher with velocities up to 63 mph on the gun and can take over a game like few pitchers in her class. In her last 100 innings, she has rung up 150 strikeouts. She also is calm and collected no matter the score or situation in the game. One coach said: "Lauren is poised on the mound and she handles the pressure like a true veteran." Rated as one of the top pitchers in the East, she is already getting interest from Pac-12, ACC, and SEC schools and expect her to be even more sought after by the end of the summer. With the sudden passing of Lightning Futures coach Jeff Fain this month, Wiles should be even more focused and determined to triumph this summer in memory and honor of the organization's beloved field leader.

T-31--Devyn Greer P/OF… Athletics - Mercado/Sosa (uncommitted)
Greer is another in the stable of talented players in the David Mercado Athletics program and along with the coaching of Joe Sosa, has become one of the top pitcher-utility players in the country. Greer throws in the low 60s and has good movement and a great drop ball after coming to the A's from the PowerSurge. She's a lefty who can do it all offensively as Devyn can slap or hit for power and batted .505 this past season with 14 homers and 51 RBIs. In one So Cal PGF Qualifier, she pitched a 2-1 win while hitting the game-winning home run. The So Cal dual threat was called a "beast of an athlete" by one coach and has received good training from Jenny Finch's father as a pitching coach and Crystal Bustos as a hitting coach. She's getting a lot of looks from Power Five schools and has at least one big-time offer already.