Texas high school softball: Meet the Top 25 middle infielders in 2022-23

By Cody Thorn | Photo by Brian McLean

The Texas high school softball season is done, state champions have been crowned and SBLive is taking a look at the state's top players in each position group.

We started with right-handed pitchers and left-handed pitchers, then catchers, outfielders and corner infielders before releasing our all-state team. 

>> What happened in 2023 Texas (UIL) state softball championships?

Finally, we finish with the state's top middle infielders in the 2022-23 season. We looked at 25 — and then some — who rose above the pack.

Editor's note: There are hundreds of outstanding softball players in Texas. Would you like to make a case for an omission? Email andy@scorebooklive.com, tag us on Twitter or Instagram @SBLiveTX and let us know about other players worthy of additional consideration.

Top middle infielders in Texas high school softball in 2023

Bethany Aguilar, sr., San Benito

The Houston signee helped the Lady Hounds reach the Class 6A semifinals. The second baseman hit .400 this season and shared District 32-6A MVP honors with teammates Emily Delgado and Amira Rodriguez.

Paislie Allen, jr., Lewisville

The District 6-6A defensive player of the year had a .947 fielding percentage. At the plate, the Georgia pledge hit .557 with 21 extra-base hits and scored 40 runs.

Taylor Anderson, sr., Dripping Springs

The SBLive All-CenTex Offensive Player of the Year last year followed up that showing with a .541 average and stolen 59 stolen bases for the second year in a row. She signed to play for Oklahoma State.

Kate Bubela, sr., El Campo

This spring the North Carolina pledge hit .523 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI for the Ricebirds. She finished her career with an a.509 average and 51 home runs.

Olivia Buettner, so., Denton Billy Ryan

She was the Denton County Record-Chronicle Utility Player of the Year — a year after being the DCRC’s All-Area Newcomer of the Year. Buettner hit .652 with six home runs and 50 RBIs at the plate. She was the District 7-5A Offensive Player of the Year.

Tamia Cherry, soph., Aubrey

Helped guide the Lady Chaps to the postseason for the first time since 2007 behind a .427 average with 38 RBIs. She was the Dallas Morning News offensive player of the year.

Leah Cran, sr., Corpus Christ W.B. Ray

A four-team all-district pick, she hit .495 in each of her four seasons. She hit .507 with 34 hits and scored 35 runs this spring for the Texans. She’s signed to play at Baylor.

Madalyn Davis, fr., Montgomery Lake Creek

The ninth grader made an immediate impact for the 5A champions by hitting .500 with a 1.194 OPS 53 hits, 32 RBIs and 30 SB as the team’s cleanup hitter.

Kennedy Drafton, sr., Pearland

She was a .483 career hitter for the Oilers, who won the Class 6A title over Denton Guyer. She was named to the UIL State All-Tournament team. Drafton has signed to play at Eastern Kentucky.

Logan Halleman, sr., Flower Mound

She made the switch from outfield to shortstop this year. The Texas Tech pledge was the District 6-6A co-MVP and hit .605 with 56 stolen bases. Ranked No. 56 in the Extra Innings Extra Elite 100 list.

Raegan Jennings, sr., Atascocita

Landed on the Houston Chronicle’s postseason softball team after hitting .542 with 71 hits, 34 RBIs and 56 runs scored. The Texas Tech signee originally was committed to Texas A&M.

Kaylynn Jones, jr., Denton Guyer

She was the Dallas Morning News Softball Player of the. Year this spring. She won a state title in California as a sophomore before moving to Denton and helping Guyer reach the 6A title game this year. The Oregon commit hit .540 with 49 RBIs and 65 runs.

Reagan Jones, sr., Alvin

The Texas A&M pledge is ranked as the No. 14 player in the Extra Inning rankings. She was a District 23-6A first-team pick for the past three years. She hit 529 with a team-record 12 home runs and added 47 RBIs.

Jaelynn Lee, jr., Fort Bend Christian

She put up eye-popping stats and landed on the Houston Chronicle’s postseason team. She hit .789 with 2.177 OPS with 45 hits, 21 RBIs and was 21-for-21 in stolen bases.

Avery ‘Scout’ Lovell, sr., Lovelady

She’s a dual-sport athlete in the spring, being a regional qualifier in the pole vault, 300-meter hurdles and the 4x200-meter relay. She hit .354 on the softball diamond. She’s been a multiple-time all-state pick and District 21-2A MVP. She’s headed to play at Texas A&M next year after earlier being committed to Arizona State.

Ella McDowell, jr., Richmond Foster

The junior hit .678 with a 2.158 OPS for the Falcons with 32 extra-base hits — including 12 homers — and 59 RBIs. A first-team pick by the Houston Chronicle, she verbally committed to Arkansas over Arizona, Tennessee and Oklahoma State.

Maddie McKee, sr., Montgomery Lake Creek

The Houston Chronicle’s All-Greater Houston Hitter of the Year had a .536 average for the Class 5A champions. The LSU signee hit .536 with a 1.399 OPS for a team that was 44-1. Her 230 stolen bases in her career are the most all-time in UIL history.

Tatem Pendergraft, sr., Amarillo

The Amarillo Globe-News Softball Player of the Year hit .508 this spring with 19 home runs, 72 RBIs and scored 55 runs. She played only two full seasons of high school softball due to a transfer and surgery in her freshman and junior years, respectively. She signed with West Texas A&M.

Erin Peterson, jr., Denton Guyer

Honored on the Dallas Morning News postseason team, she hit .403 with 44 RBIs and 18 extra-base hits for the Class 6A runners-up. She’s signed with Texas State.

Faith Piper, jr., Katy Cinco Ranch

The junior posted 41 hits with 34 runs scored with a .429 average for the Cougars. The Baylor commit is ranked No. 26 in the Class of 2024 by Extra Innings.

Savanna Pogue, jr., Crawford

She made the SB Live All-CenTex first team last year at shortstop when she hit .500. This year, she hit .650 and helped the Pirates reach the UIL 2A semifinals. She’s a Baylor pledge.

Emilee Prochaska, jr., Frisco Lone Star

She helped the Rangers reach the 5A Region II finals after hitting .492 with 23 RBIs and only one strikeout all season. The Houston pledge had a .967 fielding percentage at shortstop.

Kayley Prudhomme, sr., Beaumont Hardin-Jefferson

She was a nominee on the SB Live best shortstop in the country earlier this year. The No. 44 recruit in the country according to Perfect Game, she’s headed to play at the University of Houston.

Christalynne Sepulveda, sr., El Paso Americas

A transfer from Eastlake, she helped her new school reach the 6A UIL Tournament for the first time last year with a .511 average in the postseason. The UTEP signee hit .496 with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs and scored 52 runs this season.

Isa Torres, sr., Georgetown

She was named the Austin American-Statesman’s Central Texas Softball Player of the Year after a .577 clip and struck out only twice in 156 at-bats. A two-time all-state pick, she’s headed to play for Florida State after previously being committed to Texas A&M. She was the SBLive All-CenTex Defensive Player of the Year.

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OTHERS WORTH NOTING

Gabrielle Briones, sr., North Mesquite —The New Mexico signee posted a .667 average and hit 11 home runs in 22 games for the Stallions.

Aubrey Brown, sr., Wylie — The Lamar signee had nearly a .500 career batting average.

Kassidy Chance, jr., Mansfield Lake Ridge —She helped her team start the year 34-0 before falling in the area playoffs. The McNeese State commit had 56 RBIs and hit .644.

Cameron Cooper, sr., Boerne — Signed to play at the University of Texas-Arlington.

Caigan Crabtree, so., Melissa —The District 13-5A Offensive Player of the Year hit. 516 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs.

Bri Duffey, fr., Royce City — The District 10-6A newcomer of the year hit .443 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Landry Fonseca, sr., Weatherford — North Central Texas College signee was the District 3-6A defensive MVP.

Kinsey Hobbs, sr., Lexington — Sam Houston State signee hit .563 this year for the Eagles.

Ciara ‘Cici’ Jefferson, sr., Clute Brazoswood — UTEP signee had only eight errors in her high school career.

Jenna Joyce, sr., Royse City — The Texas A&M-Commerce signee hit .588 the year with 49 RBIs.

Madison Levsey, sr., The Colony — The Nicholls State signee was the District 9-5A co-defensive player of the year. Jasmyn Lloyd, sr., South Grand Prairie — The New Mexico signee was the District 8-6A offensive player of the year.

Rylee Mathis, jr., Jacksboro — A three-year all-district first team selection, Mathis is a catalyst in a high-powered Jacksboro offense at the plate an on the bases. One of the most impactful players in the greater Wichita Falls area, she had 54 RBI and 22 extra base hits (seven triples, five home runs) with 24 stolen bases.

Adriana ‘Adi’ Mireles, jr., Kingsville Santa Gertrude’s Academy – The Class 3A all-state pick has pledged to play at McNeese State.

Makenna Mitchell, sr., Santa Fe — The Texas Tech pledge hit .414 with 48 runs and 46 hits.

Landri Pick, soph., Riesel — Up-and-coming short stop's phenomenal sophomore campaign ended in Super CenTex team and coaches association all-state selections. She finished with .509 batting average with 60 RBI, 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases and a .987 fielding percentage.

Taylor Reyes, jr., Kingsville Santa Gertrudis Academy — The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi pledge helped the Lions reach the 3A finals.

Kaitlyn Sailor, sr., Celina — Another University of Texas-Arlington signee.

Jackie Schmidt, jr., El Paso El Dorado — The Class 6A all-state pick hit .605 with 13 home runs.

Casey Schultz, jr., Lake Belton — The Tarleton State pledge posted a .478 average with 52 runs scored and 68 RBIs.

Ahna VanMeter, jr., Frisco Heritage — Helped the Coyote reach the Class 5A semifinals with 50 hits — 23 for extra bases — and a .407 average.

Emma Zaboronek, sr., Frisco Lone Star — The District 9-5A co-offensive player of the year is headed to play at Division II Harding.