2028 Stock Risers From The Southeast

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the country, high school softball regular seasons have come and gone. Now, those regular seasons segue to the postseason, when many players, coaches and fans have state glory on their minds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Southeast is teeming with young talent that made positive impacts on their teams this season. Without further ado, here are five of those noteworthy names from the 2028 class. </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":106511,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Leah Gaskins","_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":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"20","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Timberland (SC)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-681aab276fcef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leah Gaskins became a well-known name in South Carolina softball circles when she was part of a team in Moncks Corner that roughshod through the competition. The Wolves of 2A Timberland are now the beneficiary of her softball skill set. Her work at the plate was integral in earning Timberland a berth in this year's 2A playoffs, and a first-round contest against Hampton County. She hits more for contact than for power, as evidenced by her .660 average, which includes 11 doubles. Gaskins has also scored 22 runs and boasts an on-base percentage of .698. It has been a season of firsts for Timberland—coach Eddie Sellars' first season at the helm and Gaskins' first season in Wolves' green and orange, and it has certainly been a memorable one.</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":106514,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Addyson Irving","_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":"5'6u0022","_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":"Glenn (NC)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-681aab276fe22"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We segue from one Carolina to the other here. Addyson Irving is completing her freshman campaign at 4A Kernersville Glenn in North Carolina and is a two-sport athlete who also competes in volleyball at the junior varsity level. The 186 strikeouts she had compiled at the time of this writing leads the state among freshmen pitchers. The dangerous arm of Irving is why her Bobcats have put together their first season with a double-digit win total since the 2018-19 campaign. It is also a reason why Glenn earned a playoff berth and a first-round matchup with Ardrey Kell.</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":106515,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jeovanna Carter","_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":"null","_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":"Gulf (FL)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Unity Schultheis/Johnson 14U","_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-681aab276ff29"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Buccaneers of 4A Gulf in New Port Richey, Florida have been somewhat of an afterthought in Florida high school softball circles these last few years. Jeovanna Carter changed that as her stellar play earned Gulf its first season with a double-digit win total since 2016-17. She completed the regular season with a robust 1.77 ERA in the more than 150 innings she pitched. Carter only allowed 22 walks and struck out over 300 hitters. She also got the job done on the basepaths, evidenced by her team-leading 10 stolen bases. Postseason play commenced for Gulf on April 28 when the Buccaneers defeated Central by a final of 2-0. In that game, Carter fanned 17 Bears batters. </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":106517,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Braleigh Crowe","_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":"20","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lafayette (MS)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Mississippi Glory Premier 16U","_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-681aab2770000"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The sight of Braleigh Crowe at the plate will make many pitchers sigh with woe. Not only was Crowe's bat a massive piece to 5A Lafayette's 24-6 (as of this writing) season, but she had the Commodores as a favorite to win the tournament. On the travel circuit, she plays up in class with Mississippi Glory Premier 16U. One of Crowe's signature games happened on March 10 at Biloxi. Lafayette routed Biloxi by a final score of 14-2 and Crowe spearheaded the Commodores' attack by hitting for the cycle. Crowe is among the team leaders in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits and RBIs this season. She also leads Lafayette in triples with three. </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":106519,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Katie Lyn Kyle","_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":"5'8u0022","_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":"West Limestone (AL)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Kraze 2026 MS","_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-681aab27700cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Katie Lyn Kyle brings more experience than the average freshman given that her first season at the varsity level was two years ago in the seventh grade. During the travel season with Kraze 2026 MS, Kyle tossed a perfect game while striking out 13 batters. On March 18, Kyle hurled a four-inning no-hitter while the bats of 4A West Limestone overwhelmed Randolph School en route to a 17-0 win over the Raiders. She also threw one-hit shutouts over Ardmore on March 8 and Lawrence County six days later on March 14. Kyle also fanned 13 batters in a 12-0 win over Austin at the end of March. She has an ERA of 1.44, a record of 15-1 and has struck out 219 batters in 112 innings this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->