The State’s best: Meet the 2023 all-area high school softball team
A look at The State’s Midlands high school softball players of the year and all-area team and for the 2023 season.
All-Area Softball Team
—The State’s Co-Players of the Year—
Karley Shelton and Kiley Shelton, Lexington
—Readers’ choice Player of the Year (Fan vote)—
Precious Bross, Irmo
—The State’s All-Area Team—
Joy Back, Camden: Senior hit .424 with two home runs and 21 RBIs this season. Back was all-state and North-South All-State selection.
Grace Beacham, Hammond: Junior hit .566 with three home runs and 24 RBIs this season. As a pitcher, Beachem had a 2.38 ERA, 127 strikeouts and was a SCISA North-South All-Star selection.
Symari Bowers, Mid-Carolina: Junior hit .387 with six home runs and 18 RBIs this season.
Precious Bross, Irmo: Junior hit .522 with five home runs and 26 RBIs, and stole 24 bases. Bross was Region 4-4A Player of Year, all-state selection and has committed to play at Georgia.
Leah Cabe, Chapin: Senior hit .371 with 27 RBIs and had a 2.32 ERA with 60 strikeouts as a pitcher. Cabe signed with Lander.
Taylor Corley, Gray Collegiate: Senior was 11-3 with a 2.51 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched. Corley was an all-state selection.
Ashley Dooley, Lugoff-Elgin: Senior hit .404 with 20 RBIs this season. Dooley was a North-South All-Star selection.
Makayla Drakeford, Westwood: Junior was 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 139.1 innings pitched.
Abby Gates, White Knoll: Senior hit .408 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs this season. Gates was a North-South All-Star selection and signed with West Virginia Tech.
Lauren Hardy, Blythewood: Senior was 14-6 with 100 strikeouts as a pitcher. At the plate, she hit .330 with five home runs and 12 RBIs. Hardy was an all-state selection and signed with Indiana.
June Heitman, Ridge View: Junior pitcher had a 2.36 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 101 innings. At the plate, Heitman hit .394 with 15 RBIs and was an all-state selection.
Jordin Hammett, Ridge View: Freshman hit .559 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs this season.
Amber Hughes, Mid-Carolina: Senior hit. 481 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in helping Mid-Carolina to its first state championship appearance. As a pitcher, she had a 1.80 ERA, was all-state selection and signed to play at North Greenville.
Avery Ingram, Airport: Sophomore catcher hit .535 with a home run, 19 doubles and 24 RBIs. Ingram was an all-state selection.
Ayden Leaphart, Gilbert: Junior hit .469 with 20 RBIs this season and was an all-state selection.
Maddox Long, Gray Collegiate: Sophomore hit .452 with six home runs, 35 RBIs and eight doubles. As a pitcher, she struck out 50 in 39.2 innings.
Ella Majchrzak, Chapin: Junior pitcher/infielder/outfielder hit .384 with 25 RBIs this season. As a pitcher, Majchrzak had a 2.22 ERA with 113 strikeouts. She was an all-state selection and committed to Tusculum.
Na’Veah Matthews, Gray Collegiate: Sophomore hit .438 with two homers and 25 RBIs.
Maddie McMillion, Chapin: Senior hit .465 with 27 RBIs and struck out once in 97 plate appearances.
Cameron Moody, Brookland-Cayce: Senior was all-state and North-South All-Star selection.
Aubre Moore, Lugoff-Elgin: Junior hit .489 with 18 RBIs and stole 35 bases this season.
Jordan Nostrant, AC Flora: Junior hit .354 with six home runs and 28 RBIs this season.
Reece Pickett, Lugoff-Elgin: Junior hit .333 with seven home runs, 23 RBIs. As a pitcher, Pickett had a 1.38 ERA and had 90 strikeouts. Pickett was an all-state selection.
Gabi Riddle, Mid-Carolina: Sophomore was 11-5 with a 1.42 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 73 innings. Riddle also hit .327 with 18 RBIs.
Karley Shelton, Lexington: The junior shortstop/pitcher hit .456 with five home runs, 35 RBIs, 12 doubles and five triples. As a pitcher, she was 6-2 with 58 strikeouts and a 2.35 ERA. Shelton was an all-state selection and committed to South Carolina.
Kiley Shelton, Lexington: Senior center fielder hit .489 with 10 home runs, 49 RBIs and 14 doubles. Shelton was an all-state selection and signed with Cornell.
MaKynzi Sprague, Gilbert: Senior hit .385 with 20 RBIs this season. Sprague was an all-state selection and played in the North-South All-Star game.
Kiarra Thomas, Spring Valley: Senior pitcher/utility player hit .464 with eight home runs, 33 RBIs and seven doubles. Thomas also struck out 89 and had a save. She was an all-state, North-South game selection and signed with Converse College.
Maya van Zyl, Blythewood: Sophomore catcher hit .420 with two home runs and 23 RBIs.
Livi Warren, Lexington: Freshman hit .517 with 24 RBIs and 11 doubles. Warren as an all-state selection.
—Honorable Mention—
Johanna Anderson, AC Flora; Mackenzi Bradley, White Knoll; Sarah Bryant, Mid-Carolina; Maya Drennon, Lexington; Nikki Gallardo, White Knoll; Shields Greene, Gray Collegiate; Maggie Hinz, Lexington; Macie McCracken, Airport; Samantha Minick, Saluda; Pressli Reynolds, AC Flora; Maddy Rivers, Airport; Abigail Thompson, Spring Valley; Iyanna Velez, Blythewood; Taylor Palfrey, Chapin; Madge Miller, Hammond; Savannah Moore, Mid-Carolina; Tyra Robinson, Ridge View; Josie Smythe, Blythewood
