Texas' best high school softball players: Top 40 right-handed pitchers in 2023

The 2023 Texas high school softball playoffs are underway and SBLive is unveiling the most impactful right-handed pitchers across the state in 2023.

The high school softball state championship began Tuesday, May 30 and runs through Saturday, June 3 as finalists across all classification square off. 

Through the spring, many right-handed pitchers in Texas, one of the deepest states in the country in terms of softball talent, have separated themselves from the crowd. 

We’re taking an inside look at the Top 40 right-handed pitchers in Texas high school softball.

Editor's note: There are hundreds of outstanding right-handed pitchers in Texas, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Tag us on Twitter or Instagram @SBLiveTX and let us know about other right-handed pitchers worthy of fans’ attention.

TOP 40 RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS IN TEXAS

This list is in alphabetical order

Amy Abke, Sr., Katy Seven Lakes

Abke, who has been signed with Sam Houston State since 2021, notched her 1,000th career high school strikeout in a fitting 17-strikeout outing against Fulshear Jordan. She threw 75 strikeouts as a junior and a 20-strikeout no-hitter to go to the fourth round as a sophomore. She led Katy Seven Lakes in batting average (0.371), on-base percentage (0.551), home runs (five) and was dominant on the mound to the tune of 149 strikeouts, 1.68 ERA in 87.1 innings pitched.

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Ava Brown, Sr., Montgomery Lake Creek

The Florida signee is the No. 4 prospect in the country in 2023, according to Perfect Game, delivered all year for Lake Creek. She threw an 11-strikeout no-hitter to clinch a playoff berth against Elgin. Simply put, she was dominant in 25 appearances, posting a 0.56 ERA and 23-0 record with 257 strikeouts across 150 innings. Gatorade Texas Player of the Year as a junior. 

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Nevaeh Brown, Jr., Harker Heights

Brown was utterly dominant again after a breakout sophomore season. She was named District 12 MVP and struck out 19 of the 21 batters she faced in Harker Heights' postseason opening win over Legacy. As a sophomore, she posted a 22-3 record with a 1.87 ERA and 317 strikeouts in 29 appearances in the circle this season.

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Mattison Buster, Sr., Como-Pickton

Louisiana Tech signee is a dominant presence in the circle. She threw 358 strikeouts during her junior seasons and hit 13 home runs and drove in 46 RBI at-bat. In the regional final opener, she struck out eight in a 14-1 win over Shelbysville.

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Haley Carmona, Sr., Comal Canyon

Senior leader (one of two) and the top arm has led undefeated Comal Canyon (31-0) to the 5A state semifinals. She's been brilliant and moments and remarkably consistent. Carmona had a perfect game in a late March regular season bout with Boerne Champion where she had 13 strikeouts, then turned around and threw 15 more strikeouts and added a home run at the plate against Pieper.

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Savannah Carter, Jr., Klein Collins

Carter, the District 15-6A MVP, led Klein Collins to a 30-10 season and a 6A Region II quarterfinals and broke Klein Collins' season stirkeouts record with 282, along with 38 earned runs and a 1.44 ERA in 184 innings pitched. 

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Mya Cherry, Soph., Aubrey

The sophomore turned a perfect game in the opening round against Wilmer-Hutchins and has a 16-2 record on the season. In 109 innings pitches, she's carrying a 1.67 ERA with 154 strikeouts and 29 walks on the year — and leading Aubrey alongside her twin sister, star bat Tamia Cherry.

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Cambree Creager, Jr., Georgetown

Creager recorded six strikeouts, a walk, six hits and two earned runs in an 8-2 win over Lake Creek, the nation's No. 1 softball team, which ended Lake Creek's 83-game streak and struck out 20 in the three-game series. Creager, an Arizona State commit, posted a 1.69 ERA with 146 strikeouts in 112 innings as a sophomore and led Georgetown to the 5A championship, where it lost to Lake Creek. Forms a dominant pitching duo with junior Houston commit Madison Hartley, who is also a standout corner infielder.

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Lucy Crowder, Jr., Carrollton Hebron

The first team all-6A District 6 selection is committed to the University of Central Arkansas. Carrollton Hebron's season (17-9-1) ended in the district round. As a sophomore, she helped lead Carrollton Hebron to its first district title, helping lead Hebron to the regional quarterfinals in the 6A playoffs and ended the year with 204 strikeouts, a 1.07 ERA and a 22-7 record after pitching 208 ⅔ innings.

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Faith Drissel, Sr., Flower Mound Marcus

Tarleton State commit is a multi-time all-district selection who was named the Dallas Fort Worth area Fastpitch Pitcher of the Year and was an all-Metroplex pick. As a junior, Drissel had an 18-9 record with 230 strikeouts across 175 innings. Flower Mound Marcus is 18-14-1 and saw its season end to Guyer in the area round.

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Cassidy Fixico, Sr., South Grand Prairie

She closed out a memorable high school career by winning 6A District 8 MVP honors and leading South Grand Prairie to the regional quarterfinals, where it lost to Flower Mound. As a junior, Fixico led the Warriors into the regional semifinals in the 6A playoffs with a 23-2 record, 1.70 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 148 IP and held her opponents scoreless in 13 of her 28 total appearances.

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Caydance Gaddis, Jr., McKinney

McKinney's standout righty was selected first team all-district and gave coaches few reasons to rotate others in the circle. In a March 31 start, she struck out 15 in six innings with one earned run to break the program strikeout record — 393 in her career, 173 on the season.

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Brenlee Gonzales, Jr., Aledo

Junior Oregon State commit was a force in the circle for Aledo on its run to the UIL 5A area round. She had a seven strikeout, five inning no-hitter in the district title against Grabury. She had a 10-strikeout start in a win over Richland, an eight-strikeout complete game start at Northwest. She's the No. 35 ranked junior prospect in the nation, according to Perfect Game. 

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McKenna Guest, Sr., Prairiland

New Mexico commit was a District MVP and all-state selection who led Prairieland to a regional quarterfinal win as a junior and back as a senior, where it lost to Whitesboro in two games. She was originally committed to Stephen F. Austin

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Jensin Hall, Sr., Frisco Heritage

The Dartmouth commit has been a key part of Frisco Heritage's run to the 5A state semifinals against Montgomery Lake, the nation's No. 1 team. Hall's last 26 innings pitched have been scoreless with 41 strikeouts while forfeiting 11 hits. As a junior, the Coyotes’ junior ace was one of the state’s top arms with 328 strikeouts, a 0.70 ERA and a 27-1 record in 28 appearances, leading Class 5A pitchers in shutouts (17) and no-hitters (seven) this season too.

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Landrie Harris, Sr., Flower Mound

Harris, a Grand Canyon signee, closed out a decorated high school career by winning 6A District 6 Pitcher of the Year honors. She was 17-3 with a 1.05 ERA and a career-best 229 strikes on the season (731 career Ks, 57-14 record, 1.20 ERA) for Flower Mound. 

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Arlette Hernandez, Soph., La Joya

After a breakout freshman season, Hernandez posted built on it as a sophomore. She posted a 0.78 ERA with 285 strikeouts and 16 earned runs allowed in 143.2 innings pitched. La Joya reached the bi-district round where they lost to Harlingen. Hernandez struck out 23 in a 10-inning shutout in her varsity debut and posted 323 strikeouts, a 1.31 ERA, a 23-4 record and 13 shutouts in 33 games in the circle as a freshman.

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Kenzie Jones, Sr. Crawford

New Mexico signee is 30-2 on the season and threw an 11-strikeout no-hitter against Trenton to help Crawford reach the state tournament again. It's Jones' fourth state appearance with Crawford in as many years. She was a part of the school's 2021-22 team that won a UIL 2A state title.

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Jacey Lees, Jr., Richland

After throwing 161 strikeouts as a sophomore, Lees took another step forward as a shut-down pitcher and hitter as a junior. She was named District 7-5A MVP and honorable mention in the DFW All-Metroplex fastpitch team after helping lead Richland to its first regional quarterfinal appearance in nine years.

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Hosanna Lindblade, Sr., Waller HCYA

The Mississippi State signee is a two-time all-state selection and has made quite an impact for HCYA homeschool team. She was a part of a combined no-hitter in game one of the best-of-three state championship series as HCYA won state. Lindblade can hit, too.

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Kayla Looper, Jr., D'Hanis

Junior pitcher helped D'Hanis win the Class 1A title in 2022 and has them right back on the precipice. She's 10-3 on the season and the top arm for a team playing for the 1A state softball championship. She's also the team's top hitter and catcher — she post a .727 batting average with 52 RBI and 11 home runs.

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Finley Montgomery, Fr., Guyer

The freshman is an undefeated 21-0 on the mound, is a big reason why Guyer is in its first state softball tournament since 2010 and is shining brightest on the biggest stage. She tossed consecutive complete game shutouts in Games 2 and 3 of the 6A Region I final against Keller with nine combined strikeouts.

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Ainsley Pemberton, Jr., Rockwall

Penn commit surpassed 700 career strikeouts as a junior and posted a 1.05 ERA, 193 strikeouts and 18 wins in the regular season. As a sophomore, she notched a 19-0 record, .140 opponent batting average, 1.19 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 105 ⅔ innings pitched and was named a Dallas Morning News All-Area first team pitcher as well as the District 10 6A pitcher of the year.

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Sidne Peters, Jr., Santa Fe

Peters emerged as a difference-maker as a sophomore, leading Sante Fe to a Class 5A regional semifinal berth. The Washington Huskies commit delivered again as a junior, posting a 1.12 ERA with 356 strikeouts in 194.1 innings pitched — and 10 games with 15 or more strikeouts as Sante Fe reached the regional semifinals where it lost to Georgetown.

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Grace Riney, Sr. Krum

Tarleton State signee was a two-time all-district and all-area team selection entering her senior year, posting 101 strikeouts and a .422 batting average as a junior. As a senior, she had a 1.80 ERA with 147 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched.

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Reagan Rios, Sr., Longview

The District 15-5A MVP, Rios was a dominant presence in the circle all spring for Longview. In a key regular season win over Pine Tree, she had 14 strikeouts and just one earned run in seven innings. The LSU-Eustace commit had an even more impressive ERA (0.70) in her final season than she did as a junior (0.73), and struck out 285 batters in 161 innings pitched — 15 complete game starts.

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Delilah Robles, Sr., Pflugerville

Robles finished her high school career strong, leading Pflugerville to the 5A regional quarterfinals where it lost to Lake Creek, the nation's No. 1 team. The Odessa College pledge had 332 strikeouts and 15 walks on the season. Robles is a multi-year standout for Pflugerville. She was district pitcher of the year as a sophomore. 

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Amira Rodriguez, Soph., San Benito

Not only has Rodriguez been one of the most productive hitters of the UIL state softball postseason, she's also been San Benito's leader in the circle. Rodriguez has struck out around 200 batters to go with her hitting prowess to help the Greyhounds reach the 6A state tournament. She had 87 strikeouts as a freshman in around 50 innings pitched. 

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Katy Sanders, Sr., Hamshire-Fannett

Sanders posted a 2.50 ERA with 166 strikeouts and 35 balls in 151.2 innings pitched to help lead Hamshire Fannett to the 4A Region III quarterfinals, where it lost to Bullard. As a junior, the righty helped lead the Longhorns to the area round of with 313 strikeouts, a .131 opponent batting average, a 0.99 ERA and a 26-4 record through 191 innings in the circle on the season.

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Meredith Schmitt, Sr., Kingwood

The UTSA signee helped Kingwood reach the 6A Region III quarterfinals where it lost to Pearland. She emerged as one of the top arms in the district as a sophomore, and as a junior she was nearly un-hittable, posting a 0.93 ERA in 21 appearances. She's a four-time all-district selection who will take her talents to the American Conference.

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Desirae Spearman, Sr., El Paso Hanks

The New Mexico State commit posted a 1.38 ERA in 31 appearances — 147.1 innings pitched — and 271 strikeouts on the season, leading Hanks to the 5A regionals semifinals. She's also a standout short stop, and was voted SBLive's Texas Athlete of the Week in February after throwing for 34 strikeouts, 18 walks, 14 hits and five earned runs in 21.2 innings pitched at a tournament. 

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Jessi Sumpter, Jr., Neches

Sumpter led Neches to its first state tournament appearance with a 15-3 record on the season. In regional final against Chester, she threw eight strikeouts opposite one earned run and four hits (and also hit a home run and a double). She was a first team 1A all-state selection by the Texas coaches association as a sophomore. 

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Kaitlynn Torres, Soph., Grand Oaks

After a breakout freshman season, Torres put together a strong sophomore campaign. A top recruit nationally in the class of 2025, Torres also plays short stop and is among Grand Oaks' top hitters. She should have no shortage of college options. 

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Lilly Waddell, Sr., New London West Rusk

Waddell carried a 0.79 ERA , posting a sub-1.00 ERA for all four yearrs at New London West Rusk, and had 245 strikeouts in 26 appearances (124 innings pitched) as a senior to lead West Rusk to the area round. She holds the school record for strikeouts in a game, 21, which she set as a junior.

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Emma Wardlox, Sr. Comfort

The Lamar signee was once again dominant in the circle for Comfort, which made the 3A Region 1 area round. She had 27 strikeouts in a two-game stretch against Brady and Ingram, which at the time had a combined record of 21-1 and surpassed 500 career strikeouts in late March.

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Alexis "Lexie" Warncke, Sr., East Bernard

The Baylor commit posted a 1.16 ERA with 368 strikeouts in 181.2 innings pitched as a senior, leading East Bernard on a deep 3A playoff run that ended with a return trip to the regional semifinals. Think that's impressive? As a junior, she limited her opposition to a cumulative .119 batting average, struck out 310 batters, picked up 21 wins and a 1.03 ERA through 156 ⅔ IP to help East Bernard battle into the regional semifinals of the Class 3A playoffs. She's the No. 46 prospect in the country, per Perfect Game.

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Brooke Wells, Jr., Vista Ridge

Houston commit is a true pitching and power-hitting dual-threat. After a standout sophomore season, she continued to back up her high-major attention as a junior. She finished top-three in max exit velocity at the Stars of Tomorrow combine.

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Hannah Wells, Soph., Coahoma

If a complete game one-hitter in a 3A state semifinal shutout didn't impress you enough, consider the sophomore's final statement in a blistering sophomore campaign: A complete game five-hitter with four strikeouts and the win-insuring center field wall two-run home run to seal the 3A state title.

• Read more: Coahoma rides late home run to Texas 3A state softball title

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Janelle Wilson, Sr., Friendswood

North Carolina signee led Friendswood to the 5A regional quarterfinals, where it lost in a best of three tie-breaker. The 18-5A District MVP posted a 0.60 ERA with 249 strikeouts in 151 innings pitched — and had 10 or more strikeouts in 15 appearances. She's also the No. 33 prospect in the nation, per Perfect Game. 

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Abi Young, Sr., Justin Northwest

Sam Houston St. signee has been electric in the circle, leading Justin Northwest to the regional all the way to the regional final. She had a complete game two-hit shutout to beat Monterey in the Region I-5A semifinal opener, two years after she pitched the series clincher against the same team in the same round. She had 16 strikeouts in eight-innings and a 12-strikeout seven-inning outing against Argyle.

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Lead photo by Paul Brick