HSOT Watch List & Top 25: Softball

HighSchoolOT is previewing the upcoming softball season with its annual watch list plus preseason rankings.

The watch list includes a 20 players from each of the state's six area codes.

The rankings are done in an East and West top 25 that factors all teams from all classifications. The East/West line mirrors that of the NCHSAA's, which puts Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Moore, and Richmond in the East while bordering the West counties of Rockingham, Guilford, Randolph, Montgomery, and Anson.

Last year's all-state team with its format and final rankings are at the bottom of this story.

Watch Lists

828 Watch List (WNC + Catawba Valley)

Kayleigh Jean Ammons, Smoky Mountain
Kaylee Anderson, South Caldwell
Kadie Becker, South Caldwell
Delany Buchanan, Tuscola
Faith Carrigan, Alexander Central
Emma Chandler, Madison
Reagan Chapman, Rosman
Elizabeth Daves, Rosman
Riley Dockery, Murphy
Tori Ensley, Franklin
Memory Frapp, Robbinsville
Alannah Hopkins, Smoky Mountain
Emily Huddleston, R-S Central
Karlyn Pickens, North Buncombe
Caley Powell, Bunker Hill
Zoie Shuler, Robbinsville
Chesney Stikeleather, Alexander Central
Kiera Taylor, Hiwassee Dam
Riley Vogel, Fred T. Foard
Zoey Walker, Hibriten

910 Watch List (Sandhills + Wilmington/Jacksonville)

Kylie Aldridge, Gray's Creek
Santana Anderson, Fairmont
Madi Bagley, Gray's Creek
Rachel Blanchard, James Kenan
Summer Bullard, Purnell Swett
Makenzi Curry, Laney
Peyton Duncan, South Columbus
Kenleigh Frye, Richmond
Nicole Gilroy, Cape Fear
Emma Hooks, Whiteville
Rylie Horne, Cape Fear Christian
Takyra McLean, Triton
Tessa Nicholson, Whiteville
Allie Royal, Hoggard
Sydney Short, Hoggard
Ashlynn Tom, Jacksonville
Zoey Vincent, Topsail
Taylor Waitley, Scotland
Madalyn White, Trask
Haven Wittkofsky, North Brunswick

919 Watch List (Greater Triangle)

Mia Aiello, Cardinal Gibbons
Dayna Bland, Wakefield
Carson Bradsher, Orange
Kennedy Byrd, South Johnston
Caroline Fox, Wayne Christian
Ella Fox, Wayne Christian
Ava Hodges, North Raleigh Christian
Nicole Keim, Ravenscroft
Kalyn Kyle, Clayton
Lauren Jackson, Orange
Mia Montanus, Panther Creek
Takia Nicholas, Cedar Ridge
Raegan Rudd, Green Level
Kendall Smith, Fuquay-Varina
Rachel Smith, Cary
Ashbee Standridge, Falls Lake Academy
Nadia Sykes, Rolesville
Lily Thorpe, Sanderson
Brianna Verme, Wayne Christian
Olivia Williams, Wake Forest

704 Watch List (Greater Charlotte)

Kaylyn Belfield, A.L. Brown
Kaylan Brown, Mountain Island Charter
Lacie Coubal, West Cabarrus
Austyn Dixon, Kings Mountain
Mary Catherine Eaton, Charlotte Christian
Betsy Eatmon, East Lincoln
Ellie Goins, Mooresville
Wynne Gore, Charlotte Christian
Braley Hamilton, Stuart Cramer
Jamie Hearn, Charlotte Country Day
Anna Hinde, Charlotte Christian
Mary Hinson, South Stanly
Sierra Holmes, Sun Valley
Samantha Ladowski, Lake Norman
Camryn Martin, Anson County
Abbey Nixon, Jesse Carson
Brantleigh Parrott, Central Cabarrus
Jillian Thomas, Piedmont
Taliyah Thomas, East Lincoln
Katriel Williams, Marvin Ridge

336 Watch List (Greater Triad)

Bethany Aubee, East Forsyth
Taylor Apple, Western Alamance
Maddie Booth, Morehead
Maci Clark, Roxboro Community
Isabelle Curry, Wilkes Central
Kenna Raye Dark, Eastern Alamance
Kierston Deal, East Forsyth
Bri Gallagher, Southern Alamance
Alex Gray, North Davidson
Lexi Hall, High Point Christian
Greta Hessenthaler, Southern Alamance
Kyra Jones, Eastern Alamance
Emma Mazzarone, Providence Grove
Makayla McClain, Providence Grove
Damyia McFadden, Southwest Guilford
Emily Mutter, West Forsyth
Niree Pickett, Western Guilford
Lilly Proffitt, West Wilkes
Salem Ward, Central Davidson

252 Watch List (ENC + NENC)

Kyleigh Barrett, North Pitt
Mary Grace Beyer, South Lenoir
Hanna Black, Northside of Beaufort County
Savannah Bland, Farmville Central
Morgen Brewton, Camden County
Alicia Carrington, New Bern
Laci Campbell, Washington
Charly Cooper, Vance Charter
Carson Fleming, D.H. Conley
Ashlyn Guthrie, East Carteret
Rebekah Howard, South Lenoir
Jill Leary, Manteo
Madison Mercer, Hunt
Holland Miller, Wilson Christian
Hannah Mosley, West Carteret
Kamryn Nash, Camden County
Trinity Nicholas, D.H. Conley
Kaileigh Nixon, Perquimans
Hannah Pippins, Edenton Holmes
Katherine Pollock, Washington
Reagan Stoop, Pungo Christian
Carlyn Tanis, Camden County

Preseason Top 25: East

Teams are listed with this year's classification and last year's final HSOT ranking.

1. Southern Alamance (4A, 3)
2. Camden County (2A, 2)
3. D.H. Conley (4A, 8)
4. Hoggard (4A, 1)
5. Eastern Alamance (3A, 10)
6. Western Alamance (3A, 18)
7. Holly Springs (4A, 6)
8. Fuquay-Varina (4A, 7)
9. Gray's Creek (4A, 13)
10. Clayton (4A, 17)
11. Topsail (4A, 5)
12. Cape Fear (3A, 12)
13. Purnell Swett (4A, 14)
14. Apex Friendship (4A, 16)
15. Scotland (3A, 15)
16. South Granville (2A, 4)
17. Orange (3A, NR)
18. Wake Forest (4A, 21)
19. Cleveland (4A, 20)
20. Richmond (4A, 24)
21. Panther Creek (4A, 23)
22. South Lenoir (2A, NR)
23. Person (3A, 22)
24. Jack Britt (4A, 11)
25. North Duplin (1A, 9)

Preseason Top 25: West

Teams are listed with this year's classification and last year's final HSOT ranking.

1. East Forsyth (4A, 1)
2. North Buncombe (3A, 5)
3. Alexander Central (4A, 4)
4. South Caldwell (4A, 3)
5. Central Cabarrus (3A, 9)
6. East Lincoln (3A, 10)
7. Central Davidson (3A, 12)
8. North Davidson (3A, 13)
9. Piedmont (4A, 14)
10. Charlotte Christian (NCISAA 4A, NR)
11. Jesse Carson (3A, 7)
12. Mooresville (4A, 18)
13. West Rowan (3A, 6)
14. West Stanly (2A, 1)
15. Marvin Ridge (4A, 16)
16. Providence Grove (2A, 22)
17. Randleman (2A, 20)
18. Cox Mill (4A, 17)
19. East Rowan (3A, 8)
20. South Stanly (1A, 15)
21. Eastern Randolph (1A, 11)
22. Hibriten (3A, 24)
23. West Wilkes (2A, NR)
24. Rockingham County (3A, 21)
25. Oak Grove (3A, 19)

HSOT All-State softball team released for 2021 season

Hoggard, West Stanly lead HSOT's final softball rankings