Minnesota’s top high school softball players: Meet the state’s best infielders (Pt. 2)
Over the next week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top players across the Minnesota softball scene this season. This list will begin to cover the state’s premiere infielders.
There are hundreds of standout softball players in Minnesota and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.
Minnesota’s top high school softball players: Meet the state’s best infielders (Pt. 1)
The following athletes will be included in SBLive's "Who is the top infielder in Minnesota high school softball?" poll to be posted on Thursday.
Note: Some statistics have been updated more recently than others by nature of variance in games played.
Shawntee Snyder, junior, Blooming Prairie
Through 17 games, Snyder, a third baseman, is batting .450 with a .500 OBP, nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 25 RBIs.
As an offensive player, coach Cam Rutledge noted that her power hitting is a standout trait.
“One of our top fielders, she makes it very difficult for teams to hit a ball by her or drop down a bunt to third,” Rutledge said.
Avery Lerfald, sophomore, Tri City United
A first baseman and outfielder, Lerfald leads her team in most every offensive category including batting average (.511), hits (23), runs (17), doubles (3), triples (2), RBIs (15) and stolen bases (4).
“She is a consistent and confident hitter when she's in the batter's box, and can be counted on to come through when needed,” coach Justin Lerfald said.
“She is a savvy and aggressive base runner that understands the moment and risk/reward when she is on the bases.”
He noted her arm talent as both first and in the outfield as a key reason for her success.
“At first base, she is a vacuum that rarely lets a ball get past,” he said.
Kendall Kotzmacher, sophomore, Hill-Murray
Kotzmacher is a strong utility player, and she was named to the 2022 Class 3A All-State second team as a freshman last season.
Addison Staples, sophomore, West Central Area
Staples bats .412 with a .508 OBP and 1.3112 OPS to go along with 17 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 49 RBIs. A 6-foot sophomore with over 100 career singles, coach Vanessa McNamara described her as “unstoppable” behind the plate.
The catcher also has a “rocket for an arm.” She has 98 putouts this year despite catching in roughly 70 percent of the team’s games.
“Her strong stature and awareness of the runners keeps people from moving on the bases,” McNamara said.
Cameron Chard, junior, Belle Plaine
Chard is committed to the University of Minnesota as a catcher, and last season she was named to the Class 2A All-State first team.
Kadance Roeske, sophomore, Paynesville
In her third year starting at shortstop, Roeske is batting .460 with 25 runs scored, 19 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Coach Zachael Nelson commended her for her ability to play anywhere and be a leader.
“She has a great understanding of the game and plays very fast because of that,” he said.
Roeske is also a Division I recruit as a hockey goalie.
Eleanor Rolf, freshman, West Lutheran
A three-year starter at shortstop, Rolf is a “strong arm with great range.”
She is West Lutheran’s leadoff hitter, batting .472 with a .548 OBP, 21 singles, a double, a triple and 23 RBIs to go along with 12 stolen bases. “‘E’ as the kids call her is our igniter,” coach Jaime Sherwood said. “She gets the game started and is a triple threat — hits for power, gets on base and is a nightmare for catchers.”
She helped lead West Lutheran to a perfect 16-0 regular season.
Marissa Tusler, freshman, West Lutheran
Another elite freshman out of the West Lutheran program, Tusler, a first baseman, “makes all the easy plays at first and all the tough plays to keep runners off the base,” Sherwood said.
She has also started since she was a seventh grader and is this year’s second leading hitter with a .478 BA, .607 OBP, 15 singles, two doubles, four singles, 23 RBIs and seven steals.
“We have a motto as a team and that is to "Do Damage" when we hit,” Sherwood said. “Marissa leads the team with that mentality.”
Rhyan Fritz, senior, LaSueur-Henderson
Fritz has been an instrumental part of the team over the past three seasons, which includes a 2021 Class 2A state title. She had two RBIs in the title game.
Carly Kimmes, junior, Randolph
Kimmes has been Randolph’s spark plug going on three years now, according to coach Dennis Trom. She started at shortstop and was the leadoff hitter as a freshman on Randolph’s undefeated state championship team in 2021.
She did the same last year leading the program to a third place finish in states. She has continued the wave of success this year, batting .508 with a .556 OBP, .908 SLG, 16 singles, 11 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 28 RBI for a 17-1 squad ranked No. 1 in 1A.
“She has a great eye at the plate with exceptional bat control hitting to all fields or laying down a perfect bunt,” Trom said. “Carly has great speed on the base paths and is an excellent base runner. At shortstop she has great range with a very accurate, strong arm.”
Ashley Olson, senior, Parkers Prairie
Olson, a catcher, is batting .446 with 12 RBIs, 23 runs and 32 stolen bases. She has thrown 15 of 18 runners out on steal attempts.
“Ashley and I work together to call balls and strikes with the pitching staff,” coach Bill Wagner said. “Often I allow her to call many of the pitches during the game as we are almost always on the same page when determining pitches and locations.”
She is a team captain who has a “great understanding of the game.”
Abbi Ruckheim, senior, Parkers Prairie
Ruckheim, a third baseman, is batting .451 with 23 hits, six doubles, a triple, a homerun, 14 RBIs, 17 runs and 10 stolen bases.
“Abbi Ruckheim is an extremely solid player at third with a great arm and speed to react to those bunting situations,” Wagner said. “She hits in the four spot for our team because of her knack to put the ball in play while runners are on base.”
Avery Carlson, junior, Wabasso
Carlson was on the Class 1A All-State first team last season.
Breck Carlson, senior, Mankato West
Carlson, a shortstop, is a two-time all-conference and section player hitting .395 with 19 runs, 18 RBIs and three home runs. A captain, she’s a “great defensive player at shortstop,” according to coach Donald Krusemark.
She will continue her playing career next year at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Jessica Moberg, senior, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley
Moberg was named to the 2022 Class 1A All-State first team as a catcher last season.
Bethany Weiss, senior, Forest Lake
In the eyes of coach Sean Hall, Weiss, who plays catcher for Forest Lake, “has been one of the best players in the state the last few years.”
This season, in 18 games, she’s collected 16 RBIs, 16 singles, eight doubles, a home run and six stolen bases. She was named to the senior all-star series.
Khendal Johnson, senior, St. Michael-Albertville
Johnson, a third baseman, is a team captain and leader who “commands our infields,” said coach Rebekah Sande.
She is batting .390 with a .493 OBP, 1.052 OPS, 23 hits and 15 runs.
“She is loud and energetic and holds our team accountable to work hard and do everything the right away,” Sande said. “She is a tough out at the plate and perfectly resembles the hot corner at third and gets everything hit her way.”
Johnson will continue her career at University of Minnesota-Duluth next fall.
Taylor Tschida, junior, St. Michael-Albertville
Tschida is a first baseman, hitting .362 with a .421 OBP and .928 OPS.
“Taylor is a great hitter for us,” Sande said. “Her ability to adjust to the pitchers is amazing and she battles through long at bats and comes out on top.”
She has racked up 25 hits and 17 RBIs with 16 runs and a .992 fielding percentage.
“As a first baseman,” Sande said, “she is constantly being a communicative leader with the rest of our team. She picks many balls out of the dirt for putouts and is an aggressive fielder too.”
Tschida will continue her career at University of Minnesota-Duluth next season.
Rowan Smith, sophomore, Simley
Smith is one of the top power hitters in the state, according to BreakdownSports. She’s hitting .446 with a .463 OBP and has 21 singles, five doubles, a triple and two homers with 15 RBIs, 14 runs and three stolen bases.
“Rowan is an RBI-hitter with home run power and is one of the top power hitters in the state,” coach Nick Gallahue said. “She is a solid third baseman with a lot of range who also can play outfield at a high level.”
Paige Zender, senior, Rosemount
Earlier in the season, the senior hit two homers, driving in seven runs, in a 15-0 win at Apple Valley, April 29.
She had another homer and three RBI in an 11-1 win over Lakeville North, April 27. She is a leader on a top Irish squad.
Isabelle Nosan, senior, Rosemount
Nosan is one of the top shortstops in the state. She is also committed to continue her softball career at Iowa State University.
Charli Raymond, eighth grade, Simley
Raymond is another talented hitter for Gallahue’s squad. As just an eighth grader, she’s batting .396 with a .467 OBP, 19 singles, a double, a triple, five RBI, 15 runs and 14 stolen bases.
“Charli is a line drive hitter who knows how to get on base and has tons of speed,” Gallahue said. “She is a rangy shortstop and can also play outfield at a high level.”
Brooke Holmes, senior, Prior Lake
Holmes, a shortstop, is batting .574 with .613 OBP and 1.657 OPS through 20 games. She’s got 25 singles, five doubles and nine home runs to go along with 28 RBIs.
“Brooke is the type of player that will sacrifice everything she has to win ball games and make the most of her time as a Laker…,” coach Erika Smyth said. “Brooke has been one of the toughest outs with a powerful bat this season. She increased her home runs from zero her junior year to nine and counting this season.”
In her fifth varsity season, Holmes has won multiple Gold Glove Awards and will be continuing her career next season at St. Cloud State.
Brooklyn Jones, senior, Anoka
Jones is committed to the University of Minnesota. She was a member of the 2022 Class 4A All-State second team.
Maria Hagen, freshman, Mankato West
Hagen, a freshman second baseman is hitting .481 in her first year on varsity and has earned the right to be the team’s leadoff. She has 22 runs, 21 stolen bases and uses her speed to her advantage.
“Maria Hagen is a phenomenal athlete with physical skills that not a lot of people have,” coach Donald Krusemark said. “Maria is one of the hardest working athletes I have ever worked with. She has great hand/eye coordination and possesses a strong arm.”
Kaylie Scanlon, senior, Delano
Scanlon is a leader behind the plate, and she is a large reason for Delano’s WCC-East Conference title. Scanlon was a member of the 2022 Class 3A All-State first team.
