Minnesota’s top high school softball players: Meet the state’s best outfielders
Over the past week, we’ve been taking a look at some of the top players across the Minnesota softball scene this season.
Rosemount softball's Isabelle Nosan voted SBLive's top infielder in Minnesota high school softball
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This list will cover the state’s premiere outfielders.
There are hundreds of standout softball players in Minnesota and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.
The following athletes will be included in a poll to be posted on Wednesday.
Note: Some statistics have been updated more recently than others by nature of variance in games played.
Kenzie Jones, senior, Rogers
Jones has been her team’s leadoff hitter and starting center fielder since she was an eighth grader.
“She has speed for days and covers more ground then any outfielder we have ever had,” coach Christopher Donnay said.
She has 17 outfield assists and Donnay said this year teams in their conference won't attempt to run against her.
She’s batting .442 with 18 runs and 12 stolen bases. She was a second team all-stater last year and has a host of all-conference honors.
Emma Collins, senior, Minnetonka
Collins operates out of right field and is a team captain who tied the school’s career home runs (19) and shattered the RBI record with 87 over the past three seasons.
She bats .406 with a team-leading .828 SLG. A previous all-conference, section and honorable mention all-state honoree, she has 26 hits, 13 singles, six doubles, seven home runs and 33 RBIs.
Kennedy Hedrick, sophomore, Minnetonka
Hedrick is another talented bat for coach Mary Beth Wiig. She’s hitting .441 with a .794 SLG with 14 singles, 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 28 RBIs and 26 runs. In her first year on varsity, she’s playing left field.
“She has power, speed and the ability to hit homeruns,” Wiig said. “She is an impact player with an outstanding arm in the outfield.”
She has the school’s individual record for doubles.
Izzy Guttenfelder, junior, Minnetonka
Guttenfelder commands the center of a talented Minnetonka outfield. She’s batting .344 with 21 hits, nine singles, eight doubles, four homeruns, 20 RBIs and 22 runs.
“Izzy is one of the most outstanding center fielders that I have coached,” Wiig said. “She consistently throws out runners at the plate.”
Guttenfelder has a .951 fielding percentage and “great speed” to cover the outfield. She is a back-to-back all-conference player.
Allie Leither, junior, Kimball Area
According to coach Emily Greniger, Leither has had a breakthrough at the plate this year. She’s batting .545 with a .643 OBP and 1.552 OPS.
She’s knocked in 16 singles, four doubles, four homers and 25 RBIs.
“Allie works hard to get it right every time,” Greniger said. “She is also very coachable. … In addition to her impressive stats, she is a great team player. If the game doesn't go her way, it doesn't affect her support for her teammates.”
Bree Driver, sophomore, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
Driver is both a center fielder and catcher. Through 12 games, she’s batting .368 with five runs, 14 hits, eight RBIs, two doubles, a triple and six stolen bases. She also boasts a .903 fielding percentage.
“Bree has stepped up this year and solidified her spot as our leadoff hitter,” coach Garrett Elg said. “Bree is always a threat at the plate and on the bases.”
Brooke Christianson, junior, Glencoe-Silver Lake
Christianson is batting .475 with a .533 OBP. She’s also notched 19 runs, 12 stolen bases, two triples and two home runs.
“She’s a speedy outfielder who can make some incredible plays on defense,” coach Taylor Jones said. “Hits for power occasionally and is a terror on the bases.”
Avery Kuklinski, senior, Esko
The senior can play multiple positions in the outfield, and last season she was named to the Class 2A All-State second team for right field.
Shakira Olson, senior, Kerkhoven/Murdock/Sunburg
Olson is a three-year starter, who would be a four-year starter if not for Covid-19. This season, she’s batting .519 with 28 hits, six doubles, two triples, five home runs and 19 RBIs. She has never been thrown out stealing.
“Shakira has amazing speed, can lay down a bunt and beat it out or hit it deep,” coach Eileen Suter said. “A very hard worker, stays after every night to take extra hits. One game this year alone she was intentionally walked three times.”
Brooklyn Bode, senior, Nicollet
Bode is the “silent” leader of Nicollet. She’s batting third with an average of .378 with 16 runs and 10 RBIs, while operating at center field.
“She does damage with her bat and her feet,” coach Marc Bode said. “She’s super fast and puts a lot of pressure on teams. … One of the best outfielders in the area as she covers gap to gap with ease — very strong and accurate throwing arm.”
A captain and two-time all-conference player, she will continue her career next year at Iowa Lakes Community College.
Leah Bode, sophomore, Nicollet
Bode has been a varsity starter since eighth grade. She’s an outfielder but recently started pitching as well. She’s batting .571 with 13 RBI and 10 runs scored.
“She has a lot of power and gets a lot of extra base hits,” Bode said. “She’s very quick and able to take extra bases at any time.”
The speed allows her to form a dynamic sibling duo in the outfield with Brooklyn. She’s a captain and two-time all-conference player.
Sam Kettner, senior, Nicollet
Kettner is the “big bopper” of Nicollet’s lineup.
“She has been driving the ball all over the field this year with authority,” Bode said. “She has been the one the team has leaned on for the big swing.”
She’s batting .524 with 24 RBIs, 19 runs and four homeruns. She also plays both left field and first base and is a captain and all-conference nominee.
“She covers a lot of ground and has a very strong arm,” Bode said.
Jackie Larsen, senior, Bloomington Jefferson
Larsen is committed to Bemidji State University to continue her softball career. She was an honorable mention on the Class 4A All-State list.
Olivia Poulin, junior, Winona
Poulin, a center fielder, is batting .429 with a .486 OBP and 1.121 OPS.
“Olivia is a quick footed center fielder who hits for power and has the ability to play any position on the field,” coach Mitch Grossell said.
She’s got 27 hits, seven doubles, two home runs, eight stolen bases and 29 RBIs.
Jenna Hotovec, junior, New Ulm Cathedral
Hotovec was named to the Class 1A All-State first team as a sophomore last season.
Alyda VandeGriend, sophomore, Edgerton-Southwest Christian
VandeGriend was also named to the Class 1A All-State first team.
Maddy Tusler, junior, West Lutheran
Tusler is a three-year starter in center field who “controls the outfield” for coach Jaime Sherwood’s program.
“Blessed with a strong arm,” she has the ability to throw out runners at first on base hits.
She serves as the team’s cleanup hitter. She’s batting .622 with a .702 OBP and .911 SLG to go along with 17 singles, nine doubles, two triples, 23 RBIs and eight stolen bases.
A former all-conference and section player, Tusler is a captain for a 16-0 team.
“Maddy has won five close games this year either with her aggressive base running or her clutch hitting,” Sherwood said.
Camryn Dubel, sophomore, St. Michael-Albertville
In her first year on varsity, Dubel, a catcher and outfielder, has broken out. In the leadoff spot, she’s batting .433 with a .452 OBP and 1.085 OPS.
She’s knocked in 16 RBIs and three home runs.
“She quickly earned her spot in the hitting lineup…,” coach Rebekah Sande said. “She is a hard worker, great teammate, and great person.” When not catching, Dubel roams the outfield where Sande said she has quickly assimilated and become a standout.
Carlee Emery, senior, Mankato West
Emery, a former all-conference, section and city honoree is batting .521 with 29 RBIs, five home runs and 17 total runs.
“She was an instrumental player in our state championship last year,” coach Donald Krusemark said.
Next season, she will continue her career at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Madelyn Bode, junior, Mankato West
Another standout outfielder and former all-conference player, Bode is hitting .463 with 19 runs, 18 RBIs and two homers.
While she didn’t hit last season due to a broken finger, she has been a threat upon returning to the lineup this season.
“She plays a great defensive outfielder,” Krusemark said. “She’s very fast — strong arm.
Kurstyn Patnode, senior, Becker
Patnode was named to the Class 3A first team All-State last season as a center fielder. Patnode is committed to Minnesota State University to continue her softball career.
Courtney Graff, senior, Northfield
Graff is a pitcher and outfielder for Northfield, while also acting as their leading hitter going on two seasons now.
A two-year captain, Graff is hitting .481 with a .565 OBP and 1.510 OPS. Through 18 games she’s turned in 14 singles, three doubles, five triples and four home runs with 17 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
“She is an exceptional player, baserunner, hitter, and fielder,” coach Josten Coleman said. “She was honorable mention all-state last year with statistics deserving of first team all-state.”
Alyssa Downhour, junior, Simley
Among the state’s top 75 juniors, according to BreakdownSports, Downhour is batting .357 with a .413 OBP.
She’s got 20 hits, good for 11 singles, eight doubles, a triple, 14 RBIs, 11 runs and seven stolen bases.
“Alyssa is a consistent line drive hitter with home run power and a lot of speed,” coach Nick Gallahue said. “She anchors the Spartans in centerfield and has a high Softball IQ.”
Jack Butler contributed to this article.
