Top 2028 Prospects To Watch In Missouri

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps the most exciting aspect of high school and club softball is watching pitchers who, besides delivering in the circle, can also seriously rake. This past fall, Missouri was home to talented high school freshmen who did pretty much everything for their teams, while also becoming young leaders and taking programs to new heights. There is a lot to be excited about in the Show Me State for softball fans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, Prep Softball highlights some of the top players from Missouri in the high school graduating class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":102252,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='143557' first='Makenna' last='Johnson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"30","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fox","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"St. Louis Chaos 16U National Perone/Beatty","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6792cc35a1cc9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hailing from just south of downtown St. Louis, [player_tooltip player_id='143557' first='Makenna' last='Johnson'] found plenty of success during her freshman season with the Fox Warriors. She finished fourth among all freshman in Missouri with a .444 batting average—including racking up 20 hits in only 45 at-bats. She also got on base quite often, boasting an on-base percentage of .500. On defense, she plays like a veteran with a strong arm, but more importantly with a healthy mindset. She doesn't panic on tough plays. Instead, she stays calm, charges the ball, and makes accurate throws. Case in point, she only had two errors all season. With nearly half of her hits being of the extra-base variety, Makenna is the full package.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jordyn Northup","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"28","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lee's Summit","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Select Fastpitch 2K10-Reliford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6792cc35a1d97"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jordyn Northup made her name known in the state this past fall, finishing tied for first among all freshman in Missouri with a .519 batting average. She also placed in the top five in slugging percentage (.692) and on-base percentage (.561). If there were any nerves to start her high school career, they certainly didn't show for Jordyn. She also led her team, the Lee's Summit Tigers, in batting average, hits, runs, and doubles. She has the innate ability to guide the ball wherever she wants to on the field, from seeing-eye singles to doubles in the gap. Jordyn also excels in the classroom with a GPA above 4.0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":102261,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Rory Fitzgerald","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"18","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"South Harrison","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Louisville Lady Sluggers 16U Burt","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6793b67497f24"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rory Fitzgerald not only ranked among the top freshmen in the state with 10 wins in the circle, but she also finished fifth overall among all Missouri pitchers. The southpaw was stingy in her debut season, holding opponents to a .199 batting average and a .278 on-base percentage. Her success led to her being named a First-Team All-District and Second-Team All-Conference selection. She can also swing the bat, as she drove in 33 runs with seven doubles, two home runs and a .356 batting average. After winning a district championship this past season, Fitzgerald will look to guide the South Harrison Bulldogs to new heights next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":102268,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Taylor Carver","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hermann","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Missouri Gators ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6793b67498005"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On September 26, 2024, Taylor Carver had a game that most freshmen only dream of. In a complete-game performance against the Pacific Indians, Carver struck out 19 batters and allowed only one hit in a 5-0 victory for the Hermann Bearcats. It was a sign of things to come for the right-handed hurler, as she finished the season with 128 strikeouts and helped lead the Bearcats to their best overall record in over 10 years. She also led her team offensively with a .448 batting average and 29 RBIs. After her memorable debut season, she was named a First-Team All-Conference selection. She is an immensely talented athlete who will only continue to get better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":102270,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Charlie Berkmeyer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"19","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westminster Christian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"St. Louis Chaos Gill 2010","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6793b674980d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keeping with the pattern of explosive debuts for freshmen pitchers, Charlie Berkmeyer thrived in the circle for the Wildcats. The righthander compiled a 13-5 record with a 2.09 ERA, 112 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .226. However, the most momentous moment of the season for Berkmeyer may have come in the batter's box. In their quarterfinal matchup against Incarnate Word, the Wildcats entered the 7th inning down 2-1. After tying the game with two outs, Berkmeyer gave Westminster the lead for good with an RBI single for a 3-2 victory. The Wildcats eventually finished the season in third place. Berkmeyer's contributions both in the circle and at the plate earned her First-Team All-District and First-Team All-Region honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->