Minnesota’s top high school softball players: Meet the state’s best pitchers

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Minnesota’s top high school softball players: Meet the state’s best infielders (Pt. 1)

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 cover the state’s premiere pitchers.

There are hundreds of standout baseball players in Minnesota, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

The following athletes will be included in our "Who is the top pitcher in Minnesota high school softball?" poll to be posted on Tuesday.

Note: Some statistics have been updated more recently than others by nature of variance in games played.

Kaitlyn Geschwill, senior, Pequot Lakes

Geschwill is 19-2 in 21 games of work in the circle, yet despite her large workload, has been an elite arm in 2023.

A three-time all-conference and all-section picture with a 2022 second team all-state nod, Geschwill is the only player in program history with 100 career hits and over 500 strikeouts as a pitcher.

This season, she boasts a .40 ERA, .43 WHIP and in 122 innings pitched, has allowed just 36 hits and 13 runs.

Natalie Vitek, senior, Hermantown

Vitek was named to the Class 3A second team All-State last season. She is signed to play softball at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Megan Sherwood, senior, West Lutheran

Sherwood has been a starter in the West Lutheran program since she was an eighth grader, operating at first base, center field and primarily in the circle as a pitcher.

A two-year captain who has led her team to two conference championships, a third place section finish and a section runner-up, she put up a perfect 15-0 record through her team’s first 16 games in 2023.

With a .30 ERA, she’s allowed 28 hits while striking out 100 through 78 innings. At the plate, she’s batting .380 with three doubles, three triples, three home runs and 13 RBIs. Next year, she is continuing her softball career at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Cierra Moore, senior, Forest Grove

Moore, a strong outfielder and pitcher for Forest Grove, made the senior all-star series. Through the season’s first 17 games, she’s notched nine RBIs in addition to 19 singles and a double with 11 stolen bases.

As a pitcher, she brings a .995 ERA and has recorded a perfect game this season.

Ashley Mandell, senior, Chisago Lakes

Mandell is committed to West Texas A&M University, and last season she was named to the Class 3A second team All-State.

Rylynn Krein, junior, Fergus Falls

Krein, primarily a pitcher, has also played spurts at shortstop, first base, second and even one game as a catcher.

“When she is not pitching she can truly play anywhere I put her,” coach Devonie Smith said.

She’s batting .544 with a .842 SLG. She has 31 total hits and 18 RBIs with 21 singles, six doubles, one triple and three home runs. In 15 games as a pitcher, she has struckout 108 with 21 walks and an ERA of 1.741. Krein has played a “huge leadership role” while also consistently serving as Fergus Falls’ third or fourth batter.

“She is driven to always leave everything on the field and has played a huge role in our success,” Smith said.

Rylee Blandin, senior, Northfield

Blandin has “improved leaps and bounds since the beginning of 2022,” according to coach Josten Coleman.

“She became dominant down the stretch of 2022 and had 22 strikeouts in a section elimination game.”

Blandin has picked up this season where she left off last spring. She’s 6-2 through 12 games and boasts a 1.71 ERA with 88 strikeouts. She will continue her career as a pitcher next season at Bethel University.

Chloe Brandt, senior, Le Sueur-Henderson

Brandt was named to the Class 2A first team All-State last season. Brandt is one of the top pitchers in Minnesota softball.

Brooklyn Geerdes, junior, Mankato West

Geerdes is hitting .302 at the plate with nine runs and 18 RBIs, but as a pitcher is 11-3 with a 1.05 ERA.

“Brooklyn Geerdes has improved by leaps and bounds this year,” coach Donald Krusemark said.

Mankato West graduated two all-state pitchers ahead of the season but Geerdes has replaced them “flawlessly.”

“Brooklyn is only going to get better and with her work ethic, I expect her to be one of the top-rated pitchers in Minnesota next year,” Krusemark said.

Maddy Walsh, senior, Proctor

Walsh has been a threat at the plate, in addition to in the circle. She’s batting .430 with a .510 OBP and 1.233 OPS. She’s collected 25 RBIs, seven doubles and three homers.

As a pitcher, she sits at 13-1 with a .050 ERA, 140 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 77 innings pitched. It’s another excellent season for Walsh after she went 24-2 last season with a .090 ERA and a pair of no hitters.

“What makes Maddy special is her hard work ethic,” coach Bud Joyce said. “She's strong mentally to grind through practices and works hard in the off season to work on her weaknesses. She was determined to pitch in high school by 7th grade and she has not looked back.”

Brenna Koeppel, senior, St. Charles

As a pitcher, Koeppel is a perfect 15-0 thus far with 133 strikeouts and a .032 ERA in 88 innings pitched. Koeppel didn’t allow a run until the 11th game of the season and it was unearned.

She has thrown two no-hitters and has five one-hitters. She holds virtually ever pitching record in the school’s softball program history.

“She has inspired the next generation (fifth and sixth graders) to ‘want to pitch like Brenna,’" coach Adam Gust said. “Her success is ensuring St. Charles will have good pitching to come because little girls see how hard she works and they want to be like her.”

Ella Voit, junior, St. Cloud Cathedral

Voit was the St. Cloud Times player of the year last season, and she was also named to the Class 2A second team All-State.

Claire Maus, eighth grade, Kimball Area

With a 1.947 ERA, 1.152 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in the circle, “Claire has carried the calm on our team this year,” coach Emily Greniger said. “She has such maturity and poise for her young age. She has such control on the mound while also hitting aggressive spots.”

As a batter, Maus has made several splashes, too, batting .471 with a .654 OBP and 1.183 OPS.

“Claire has also had a breakout year for hitting,” Greniger said. “She has really taken to making adjustments to her swing to make her effective at the plate.”

Chloe Barber, senior, White Bear Lake

Barber was one of the premier pitches in the state last season, earning Class 4A first team All-State honors, and she was named the East Metro player of the year by the Pioneer Press. This season, she has a 0.63 ERA with 255 strikeouts to 55 walks.

Jessa Snippes, senior, Rosemount

Snippes is one of the top pitchers in the state. The right-hander is committed to the University of Minnesota. She is a key part to Rosemount’s undefeated season so far.

Rachel Evers, senior, Osseo

Evers has a 3.13 ERA, a 1.86 WHIP and 70 strikeouts through 80 innings pitched. Evers is Osseo’s primary pitcher and has taken on heavy innings in a “tough” spring season that has required back-to-back-to-back games.

“She shows an amazing level of confidence when in the circle and when at the plate getting ready to hit,” coach Tarek Morey said, noting her ability to get clutch strikeouts and consistency in pitching out of jams.

Lydia Dietel, junior, Glencoe-Silver Lake

In 58.1 innings, Dietel has turned in a 1.32 ERA, striking out 61. At the plate, she’s batting .325 with a .471 OBP.

“Lydia has a great presence in the circle and is tough to hit,” coach Taylor Jones said. “She just keeps getting better as the season goes on.”

Tegan Livesay, senior, Fairmont

Livesay is 12-1 as a pitcher, allowing 17 hits through 71 innings with 180 strikeouts and a .394 ERA. On offense, the former transfer is batting .480, .600 OBP, .920 SLG with 24 RBIs, eight doubles, a triple and for home runs.

“She has fit in with the other girls very well, and brings an infectious confidence to the rest of the team,” coach Cory Hainey said. “She has pitched all of our key games, and has been nothing short of dominant.”

Briana Blais, sophomore, Pillager

Blais is 11-3 as a pitcher this season with two no hitters and a one hit game to go along with 108 strikeouts. Of her 4656 career pitches thrown, 3150 have been for strikes.

“She is the hardest working softball player that I have ever had the chance to coach…,” coach Greg Bennett said. “She is the backbone of the softball team. [Blais] motivates and drives the other players with her work ethic. She is a one-of-a-kind softball player.”

Anja Nielsen, freshman, Windom Area

Nielsen, just a freshman, is batting .333 and leading the team in RBIs and total hits. As a pitcher, she’s got a 1.95 ERA with 113 strikeouts in 89 innings pitched.

“She is the team leader; works very hard every day to make herself a better player,” coach Jess Smith said. “She has worked very hard to become one of the top pitchers in our conference and section.”

Carter Raymond, sophomore, Randolph

Raymond has pitched 101 innings with a 17-1 record, 17 strikeouts, seven walks and .970 ERA and helped her team reach a No. 1 ranking so far this season.

“Carter is the catalyst of our team, everything revolves around her on the mound,” coach Dennis Trom said.

Raymond started on varsity as an eighth grader at third base for Randolph on the undefeated 2021 State Championship team, and the following year, as a freshman, she became the starting pitcher and led the team to a third place finish in the state tournament.

At the plate this season, she’s batting .533 with a .577 OBP and .833 SLG. She has 19 singles, eight doubles, five triples and 36 RBI.

“She has good speed and excellent control of her pitches,” Trom said. “She can spot a fastball at any time in all four quadrants. … She can throw a great drop ball along with a developing rise ball. Those pitches along with an excellent changeup make her a very tough pitcher to hit.”

Sydney Borchert, freshman, St. Francis

Borchert has been a varsity pitcher since seventh grade. Thus far this year, she is 9-4 with 80 innings pitched. She has 133 strikeouts with a 2.362 ERA and .925 WHIP. She has a perfect game and recently threw all 14 innings with 23 strikeouts in another to go along with four shutouts.

“She is a young pitcher to be watched in the state of Minnesota and in class AAA,” coach Sharon Bergman said. “She has proven her strength to pitch many full games.”

Kendra Behrens, sophomore, St. Michael-Albertville

Behrens is hitting .358 with a .452 OBP and 1.093 OPs. She has 19 hits, a team-leading four homers, and 14 RBIs. In the circle, she’s 9-0 with 67.1 innings, 55 strikeouts, 17 walks and a 1.975 ERA.

“This is Kendra's first year on varsity and has earned a spot in our pitching staff and batting order,” coach Rebekah Sande said. “She commands the game in the circle. She has been very clutch and powerful at bat for us this year.”

Taylor Gallahue, junior, Simley

Gallahue has five wins as a starting pitcher with a 2.44 ERA and 80 strikeouts. She was named to BreakdownSports Top 75 Juniors, All-Metro East, All Breakdown Top players Section 3AAA and All Breakdown Class 3A Top players.

“Taylor leads the Spartans in the pitching circle and throws around 60 miles-per-hour with great spin,” coach Nick Gallahue said. “She is a powerful hitter with speed and a high Softball IQ.”

Gallahue is committed to play next season at University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Makayla Steffes, senior, Winona

Steffes is 9-0 as a starting pitcher with a .12 ERA, 89 strikeouts and .052 WHIP in 59.6 innings. As a leadoff, she’s hitting .471 with a .529 OBP and 1.158 OPS.

She has 23 RBIs, 33 hits, eight doubles and a home run to go along with 10 stolen bases while being struck out just once.

A two-time all-state pitcher, she “has been almost impossible to hit and score against this season,” coach Mitch Grossell said. “Hands down, [Steffes] is one of the best softball players in the state of Minnesota.”

Ava Hamsund, senior, Winona

Hamsund is 7-2 as a secondary pitcher for Winona. In 50.3 innings she has an impressive .83 ERA with 65 strikeouts and .89 WHIP. She’s hitting .478, .500 OBP and 1.065 SLG with 33 hits and 21 RBI. “Ava is another fantastic pitcher, who has had an outstanding season,” Grossell said.

Jack Butler contributed to this article.