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high school sportsSoftball

The Dallas Morning News 2024 softball all-area first, second and third teams

See which athletes were among the best of the best in DFW this season.

Below are The Dallas Morning News’ selections for its 2024 all-area softball teams...

The Dallas Morning News 2024 softball Player of the Year: Melissa’s Caigan Crabtree

Offensive, Pitcher, Newcomer and Coach of the Year

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First-team pitchers

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Sadie Beck

Keller, Sr.

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The Tarleton State signee was the District 4-6A MVP. She was 24-7 with a 1.96 ERA and 266 strikeouts, leading Keller to the Class 6A Region I final for the second straight year. She had a .407 batting average. Beck was a first-team all-area selection for the second straight year and was 42-12 in her final two years of high school.

Gisela Boitmann

Lovejoy, Fr.

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The freshman was 17-5 with a 1.30 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 134 2/3 innings — averaging 10.2 strikeouts per seven innings for 5A Region II quarterfinalist Lovejoy. The District 13-5A newcomer of the year pitched a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 1-0 win over 6A Region II finalist Rockwall, she threw a five-hitter in a 4-1 win over 5A state semifinalist Lake Belton and she pitched a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 3-0 playoff win over 5A Region II finalist Forney. But Boitmann’s most impressive win was when she threw a two-hit complete game in an 8-1 win over 5A state champion Melissa.

Rockwall’s Ainsley Pemberton pitches during the fifth inning of a softball game against...
Rockwall’s Ainsley Pemberton pitches during the fifth inning of a softball game against Waxahachie High on Friday, May 5, 2023 at Rockwall High School in Rockwall. (Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer)

Ainsley Pemberton

Rockwall, Sr.

The Penn signee was 28-8 with a 2.22 ERA and 279 strikeouts in 204 2/3 innings for Class 6A Region II finalist Rockwall. The all-state pick and District 10-6A pitcher of the year averaged 9.5 strikeouts per seven innings and held opponents to a .205 batting average. Pemberton pitched a three-hit shutout in a 10-0 win over 6A state runner-up Waco Midway in Game 2 of the best-of-3 regional final series, and that was the seventh playoff game in which she allowed one run or less. Pemberton was rated a top-20 player in the nation by Extra Inning Softball on multiple occasions during high school.

Alex Starr

Melissa, Jr.

The Michigan State pledge led Melissa to the Class 5A state title in its first trip to the state tournament, going 2-0 at state and pitching 12 1/3 innings without allowing a run. The District 13-5A pitcher of the year was 29-1 with a 1.01 ERA, and she struck out 218 in 138 2/3 innings. She was 7-0 with a 0.91 ERA in the playoffs, and she allowed just one earned run in the final 26 1/3 innings that she pitched.

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First-team catcher

Hope “Lillie” Gaudio

Mansfield Legacy, Fr.

The all-state freshman catcher hit .465 and ranked among the Dallas-area leaders with 14 home runs. She had 47 hits, 39 RBIs, a .509 on-base percentage and 1.069 slugging percentage, and 62% of her hits went for extra bases as Legacy reached the 6A Region II quarterfinals. Gaudio has been rated the 70th-best player in the nation in the Class of 2027.

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First-team infielders

Lewisville shortstop Paislie Allen (1) gets in position to make a play during the District...
Lewisville shortstop Paislie Allen (1) gets in position to make a play during the District 6-6A title game between Hebron and Lewisville at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas on Friday, April 22, 2022.(Emil Lippe / Special Contributor)

Paislie Allen

Lewisville, Sr.

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The Georgia signee was all-state and the District 6-6A co-defensive player of the year, and she earned her second straight first-team all-area award. She hit .473 with 11 home runs and 48 runs, and 59% of her hits went for extra bases. She walked an extraordinary 37 times — 28% of her plate appearances — and she had a .626 on-base percentage and 1.065 slugging percentage. Allen has been rated the eighth-best player in the nation, and in January she was selected for the 2024 USA Softball under-18 national team.

Kennedy Bradley

Melissa, So.

Bradley hit 20 home runs — tied for third-most in a season in Dallas-area history — as Melissa won its first softball state title. Bradley hit .526 and had 72 hits and 64 RBIs (tied for the team high) for a 38-2-1 team that averaged 9.3 runs per game and ended its season ranked No. 13 in the nation by MaxPreps. She had 40 extra-base hits, a .574 on-base percentage and a 1.117 slugging percentage, and she played a big role in Melissa going 10-0 in the playoffs. She has been ranked as high as No. 35 in the nation in the Class of 2026. She was the District 13-5A defensive MVP as a third baseman.

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Scarlett Kuhn

Southlake Carroll, Jr.

The Minnesota pledge was all-state and hit .422 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs for 6A Region I semifinalist Carroll. She had 57 hits and 29 extra-base hits in 43 games for a 33-10 team that lost two games to one to nationally ranked Denton Guyer in the fourth round of the playoffs — a series that Carroll was three outs from sweeping. Kuhn finished with a .440 on-base percentage and .867 slugging percentage.

Drea Wilson

North Forney, Jr.

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Wilson, committed to national runner-up Texas, hit .527 with 13 home runs, 53 RBIs, 41 runs and 20 stolen bases. She had a .646 on-base percentage, a 1.243 slugging percentage and saw 56% of her hits go for extra bases. She finished the regular season ranked No. 6 in the Dallas area in RBIs. She had 11 multi-hit games, and she had 11 games with at least three RBIs, including a six-RBI game and a five-RBI game.

First-team outfield

Lyndsey Hooker

Prosper Walnut Grove, Jr.

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Hooker, committed to Michigan State as an outfielder, hit .474 with 64 hits, 70 runs and 43 RBIs in 43 games for a 38-5 team that had a 33-game winning streak and reached the Class 5A Region II semifinals in its first season of varsity softball. The District 10-5A MVP had 10 doubles, seven triples and 12 home runs, she stole 30 bases and she hit .474 with runners in scoring position. She walked 26 times and had a .567 on-base percentage. As a pitcher, she was 20-2 with a 2.33 ERA and struck out 147 in 114 innings.

Rockwall’s Ava Wallace hits during the fourth inning of a softball game against Waxahachie...
Rockwall’s Ava Wallace hits during the fourth inning of a softball game against Waxahachie High on Friday, May 5, 2023 at Rockwall High School in Rockwall. (Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer)

Ava Wallace

Rockwall, Sr.

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The Kansas signee was all-state and the District 10-6A MVP for a 31-9-1 team that reached the 6A Region II final and came within one win of the state tournament. Wallace hit .398 with 47 hits, nine home runs, 38 RBIs and 35 runs. She walked 23 times and had a .500 on-base percentage and .763 slugging percentage.

Nevaeh Watkins

Sachse, Sr.

The Missouri signee hit .646 with 64 hits, 43 RBIs, 48 runs and 29 stolen bases in 35 games. Watkins was the District 9-6A MVP, and she had 15 doubles, seven triples and six home runs as 44% of her hits went for extra bases. She had a hit in every game but two, and she had 22 multi-hit games. She has been rated the 31st-best player in the nation.

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First-team utility

Olivia Buettner

Denton Ryan, Jr.

The Baylor pledge hit .690 — the second-best batting average in the Dallas area in the regular season. The District 7-5A co-MVP was 60 for 87, was intentionally walked 18 times and had 23 doubles and 28 stolen bases. She was 11-6 with a 2.05 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 106 innings as a pitcher, and she also played shortstop and made only two errors all season.

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Frisco Lone Star shortstop Emilee Prochaska (10, left) throws the ball in an attempt to get...
Frisco Lone Star shortstop Emilee Prochaska (10, left) throws the ball in an attempt to get out Frisco Heritage outfielder Savanna Hunter (17, center) during a one-game Class 5A Region II final playoff at Frisco Reedy High School on Friday, May 26, 2023.(Liesbeth Powers / Staff Photographer)

Emilee Prochaska

Frisco Lone Star, Sr.

The Houston signee was an all-state selection and the District 9-5A co-MVP. She has been rated the 30th-best player in the nation in the Class of 2024. She earned first-team all-area honors for the second straight season after hitting .477 with 52 hits (25 for extra bases), 48 runs, 42 RBIs and 25 stolen bases for a 30-7 team. She hit .381 with eight runs, seven RBIs and eight stolen bases in seven playoff games.

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Finlee Williams

Allen, Fr.

The all-state freshman shortstop has been ranked as the 20th-best player in the nation in the Class of 2027. Williams was the District 5-6A co-offensive player of the year and hit .542 with 64 hits, 33 extra-base hits, 65 RBIs, 54 runs and 28 stolen bases for a 27-9-1 team. Williams had 18 doubles, eight triples and seven home runs as 52% of her hits went for extra bases. She was named the District 5-6A offensive player of the year.

Second team

PositionNameSchoolClass.Notable
PLucy CrowderHebronSr.Central Arkansas signee was 6-6A MVP, 21-5 with 1.44 ERA, 183 strikeouts for regional quarterfinalist. Crowder led Hebron in batting average (.462), hits (55), RBIs (34) and doubles (15)
PAudrey RichardsonFrisco Lone StarSr.Grambling State signee was all-state, 27-5 with 1.70 ERA, hit .456 with 10 home runs, 55 RBIs for 5A Region II quarterfinalist
PCailey SladeForneyJr.Was all-state and District 14-5A MVP, 24-3 with 1.83 ERA, 224 strikeouts for 5A Region II finalist, hit .361 with 39 RBIs
CKaiya FabelaKellerJr.BYU pledge hit .424 with 8 home runs, 32 RBIs for 6A Region I finalist Keller, hit game-winning grand slam vs. Northwest Eaton in regional quarterfinals
IFElla BerlageProsper Walnut GroveJr.South Dakota State pledge hit .508 with 64 hits, 60 RBIs, 53 runs. The 10-5A offensive MVP had 21 doubles, seven triples and nine home runs as 58% of her hits went for extra bases. She hit .530 with runners in scoring position and had a .591 on-base percentage
IFKassidy ChanceMansfield Lake RidgeSr.McNeese State signee was all-state, 11-6A MVP, hit .583 with 56 hits, 45 runs, 32 RBIs, ended season on 26-game hitting streak
IFBri DuffeyRoyse CitySo.Was all-state, hit .505 with 23 doubles, 11 home runs, 60 RBIs and 47 runs, 10-6A offensive player of the year
IFErin PetersonDenton GuyerSr.Texas State signee was all-state, hit .486, 37 runs, 22 extra-base hits, team-high 46 RBIs for 6A state semifinalist, 5-6A co-offensive player of the year
P/OFNatalie MoreauxMansfield LegacyJr.Was all-state, 18-5, 1.46 ERA, 256 strikeouts, hit .364, 43 hits, 12 home runs, 41 runs, 30 RBIs
C/OFSydney MurphyWylieSr.Was all-state, hit .431 with 56 hits, 9 home runs, 51 RBIs, .815 slugging percentage for 6A Region II quarterfinalist
OFKayla SantiagoWylieJr.Texas A&M-Corpus Christi pledge hit .416 with 52 hits, 28 extra-base hits, 59 runs, 36 RBIs, .760 slugging percentage
UTILEva DanielsForneyJr.North Texas pledge hit .454 with 59 hits, 18 doubles, 5 home runs, 52 runs, 39 RBIs, 24 stolen bases for 5A Region II finalist
UTILRylie HarrisForneySr.North Texas signee was all-state, hit .441 with 49 hits, 57 RBIs for 5A Region II finalist, 19 extra-base hits (including 7 home runs), .519 on-base percentage, .793 slugging percentage
UTILJasmyn LloydSouth Grand PrairieSr.New Mexico signee was 8-6A co-MVP, hit .510 with 52 hits, 51 runs, 16 doubles, 11 home runs, 41 RBIs, 20 stolen bases
UTILJordan StewartSouthlake CarrollJr.Southern Illinois pledge was all-state, hit .425 with 57 hits, 11 doubles, 8 triples, 42 RBIs for 6A Region I semifinalist, struck out only 3 times in 43 games
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Third team

PositionNameSchoolClassNotable
PCarra CleavesPlano WestSr.Pitched Game 3 shutouts vs. Allen, South Grand Prairie, Hebron in playoffs, had team-best .360 batting average in playoffs for 6A Region I semifinalist
PCarly HolmanJohn Paul IIJr.23-2, 1.19 ERA, 204 strikeouts for TAPPS Division I state semifinalist, hit .418 with 6 home runs, 27 RBIs
PChloe PoteeteFM MarcusJr.6-6A pitcher of the year was 17-4 with 1.73 ERA, 250 strikeouts in 162 innings for 6A Region I quarterfinalist
PMorgan WrightAllenJr.Stephen F. Austin pledge was 5-6A co-MVP, 19-9 record, hit .461 with 22 extra-base hits, 40 RBIs
CClaire SchreinerFrisco WakelandJr.9-5A co-catcher of the year was all-state, hit .462 with 48 hits, 19 doubles, 6 home runs, 56 RBIs for 5A Region II semifinalist
IFIzabell AstranArlington MartinSr.The all-state pick hit .395 with 16 home runs, 46 RBIs, 44 runs in 30 games
IFCoryn BurrisBirdvilleJr.Was all-state, hit .505 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles, 46 RBIs, 52 hits
IFGraci GreenColleyville HeritageSr.7-5A offensive MVP hit .419 with 12 home runs, 15 doubles, 56 RBIs, 44 runs for 5A Region I quarterfinalist
IFMegan LauFrisco ReedyJr.9-5A co-MVP hit .492 with 59 hits, school-record 59 runs, 35 stolen bases for 5A Region II quarterfinalist
OFIzzy DunnPlano WestJrSouth Dakota State pledge hit .400 for the season and .431 in district, 45 hits, 43 runs for 6A Region I semifinalist
OFEmily JohnsonMelissaSr.Hit .476 with 60 hits, 53 runs, 13 doubles, 21 stolen bases for 5A state champion
OFAvery RichFM MarcusSr.Hit .368 with 42 hits, 7 triples, 5 home runs, 33 RBIs, 47 runs for 6A Region I quarterfinalist, 6-6A co-defensive player of the year
UTILTamia CherryAubreyJr.Texas Woman’s pledge was all-state, 11-4A MVP, hit .504 with 12 home runs, 60 RBIs, 1.056 slugging percentage for 4A Region II finalist
UTILErin JacintoNorthwest EatonSo.4-6A offensive MVP hit .473, 62 hits, 12 doubles, 9 triples, 47 runs for 6A Region I quarterfinalist
UTILKaelani RogersCarrollton CreekviewJr.9-5A co-offensive MVP hit .513 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs in 30 games, ranked fourth in Dallas area in home runs
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