Who are the top 10 softball teams in Southwest Ohio this season?
The Ohio high school softball season is just around the corner!
Now that there are seven divisions, look for more teams to try and replicate Fairfield's run to the 2024 state tournament. Many of those teams will be at the top of their conferences, while others may get hot at just the right time and win four or five games in the postseason.
Take a look at 10 of the top teams in Cincinnati ahead of this weekend's opening day.
1. Mason
The Comets will be playing for their second straight Greater Miami Conference title and absolutely have the tools to win it.
They return six players who hit .300 or better in 2024, including All-Ohio first team member and Marist commit Annabelle Geiser. In fact, Mason returns its leaders in doubles (Alisha Fox), stolen bases (Geiser) and runs scored (Geiser). The Comets won't necessarily hit for power, with just seven home runs last year, but can produce runs at every spot in the lineup.
They are also a defensive-minded team. During an 11-game winning streak in the second half of 2024, Mason gave up more then two runs just three times. The Comets had a .936 fielding percentage last year. Fox and Anna Polca combined for a 3.42 ERA and 164 strikeouts.
Mason opens the 2025 campaign with a multi-team event in Tennessee and will also face Anthony Wayne, Lebanon and Centerville in the non-league schedule.
2. Fairfield
What will the Indians do for an encore after winning the 2024 DI regional title?
Ava Hensley, Adelyn Huey and Megan Spence are the top names to know. Hensley, an Akron commit and DI All-Ohio honorable mention, hit .455 with 14 doubles and 26 RBIs in 2024. She also had a a .970 fielding percentage. Huey hit .437 as a sophomore. Spence ended the year with a 1.65 ERA and 142 strikeouts, pitching the Indians to the state tournament.
Two of the biggest talents the Indians lose are catcher Leanna Lawson and shortstop Jillian Huey. Junior Aurora Wallace will be Spence's battery mate while senior Janelle Needham will help fill the infield gaps.
Fairfield and Mason will face off on April 4 and May 25; those contests will surely shape the GMC title race.
3. Milford
The Eagles were one of three teams with a hand on the 2024 Eastern Cincinnati Conference title. The league race could be just as close this year.
They only graduated two seniors but do not have any seniors on the 2025 roster. Junior pitcher Meghan McClellan returns as an All-Ohio selection. Sophomore Kristine Ruehl also threw a no-hitter for her only pitching decision last year.
Catcher Kaitlyn Flynn was the power bat last year with eight doubles and two home runs. Lanie McCoy and Jesslyn Roberts will primarily fill that hole, but keep an eye on Lilly Heywood, Holly Lamphier, Izzy Merten and Ella Stein.
4. Lakota East
The Thunderhawks' strength this season will be their pitching. Kaleigh Crawford and Karli Damen split the load as freshmen, combining for a 3.71 ERA and 146 strikeouts. Another year of development will surely benefit them.
In the field, Abrie Schulte is the only returning full-time player to not commit an error last year. She and her twin sister Yorie are part of a sophomore class that will help raise the Thunderhawks' ceiling. Lilly Banks and Haley Thompson are the only returners to hit over .400 but senior Amber Munoz led Lakota East with 11 doubles and eight homers in 2024.
Thanks to a furious rally to beat Fairmont in the district championship, Lakota East became the third GMC team in the 2024 DI regional tournament. The Thunderhawks face Mount Notre Dame in a rematch of last year's classic district semifinal. Their only other nonconference opponent is Harrison.
5. Lebanon
The Warriors aren't just Ella Teubner, then everyone else.
Sure, the senior Iowa commit has been one of the best players in Southwest Ohio each of the last two years, but there's also Sophie Abrams (.409 average, two doubles, two triples, two homers), Kennedy Jauch (.392 average, seven doubles, 22 RBIs), Jane Leuzinger (.500 average, 13 stolen bases) and Sophia Scheidler (.368 average, 11 doubles; 11-5 pitching record, 2.26 ERA, 134 strikeouts). Emily Oatman can also put on a show in the circle; she had a 10-0 record with five shutouts in 12 appearances.
Lebanon has never won an outright ECC title. Is this the year that changes? Two of the Warriors' nonconference matchups include Kenton Ridge and Portsmouth Notre Dame, and they face Kings on April 28 in a game that could decide the league race.
6. Kings
Speaking of the Knights, they return starters at every position except pitcher and center field. Juniors Neely McElhaney and Samantha Zilliox figure to split time in the circle.
At the top of the lineup, Kings rolls out Natalia Brignoni-Marcano, Elaina Casanta, Grace Parkhurst and Madi Titler. Brignoni-Marcano was second in the ECC with a .551 average, while Parkhurst was third in runs batted in (36) and tied for second in home runs (five).
The Knights lost four games in 2024, three by one run. In all four losses, they scored two runs or less. Hopefully they won't lose as many low-scoring close games this year, but it goes to show that even if their offense isn't working, pitching and defense can keep them competitive.
7. Hamilton
The Big Blue started 7-0 last year, beating Badin and Fairfield in the process. They stumbled to a 14-10 record but it was a sign of things to come.
Emili Schappacher was named the GMC pitcher of the year and fellow sophomore Sierra Hoyt led the team with a .459 average, six doubles, three home runs and 26 RBIs. Part of Hamilton's 7-10 finish to the season was its .284 team batting average. The Big Blue scored three runs or fewer in eight of their losses. Look for Heather Krause, Chloe Brock, Brennan Davis, Peyton Eversole and Chloe Jones to step up at the plate.
8. Taylor
The Yellowjackets are on the verge of something unheard of in Southwest Ohio softball: win 100 consecutive league games. They haven't lost to a Cincinnati Hills opponent since May 13, 2016.
Taylor will have a bit of a new look this season. Two-time league player of the year Camrynn Linneman graduated, as did reliable hitter Maggie Graham. Sophomore Ellie Stafford will take over in the circle. Willow Montag, who is a handful on the basketball court, joined the team in 2024 and hit .366 with 11 stolen bases. Junior Morgan Raugh and sophomore Ady Frankie will also provide pop at the plate.
The CHL belongs to Taylor until someone can prove otherwise.
9. Harrison
The Wildcats failed to win the Southwest Ohio Conference title for the first time since 2019. It'll be another close race with Talawanda but Harrison gets the edge after a 10-4 triumph over the Brave in the 2024 postseason.
The Wildcats also return all their starters, headlined by Sophie Barrier (.433 batting average, 9-2 pitching record with a 3.19 ERA), Khloe Legner (.430 average, 21 stolen bases, 40 runs scored) and Miley McKernan (.500 average, 13 doubles, four home runs, 34 RBIs).
The Wildcats and Brave will do battle on April 7, April 16 and April 28.
10. Waynesville
The Spartans have the luxury of having two all-league athletes on the team. Amanda Tudela was the Southwestern Buckeye League-East Pitcher of the Year as a freshman and Kylie Bailey was the Player of the Year as a freshman and sophomore.
Last year, Tudela had a 2.30 ERA with 85 strikeouts while Bailey, an Akron commit, hit .556 with 10 homers, 33 RBIs and 35 runs scored. Ava Hallows and Lauren Reiger also hit over .400 in 2024.
The Spartans lost just two seniors and head coach Todd Jett said there is a noticeable upbeat in their energy and motivation this year. They open this season with games against Miamisburg, Bellbrook, and two straight against Brookville.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati high school softball: Top teams in 2025
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