Five Elite 2028 Defenders You Need To Know

You often hear the phrase, "Defense wins championships." And while a little offense may be helpful too, that phrase nonetheless rings true.   Pitchers throw more confidently if they know their defense has their back. An offense can perform more comfortably if they know their lead won't be in jeopardy when they retake the field. And a crucial moment in the game, bases loaded with only one out in the bottom of the seventh inning perhaps, feels a lot less daunting if you know your team is capable of making an out anywhere on the field.   The freshmen on the list below have already shown that defense does indeed help a team shine.    Jolyn Jett was recently announced as a Scioto Valley All-League Honorable Mention selection, and for good reason. As a freshman, she led the entire conference in fielding percentage (.987), only making two errors in 157 total chances. At first base and as a utility player, she completed 151 putouts and turned nine double plays. She played in all 25 games for the Adena Warriors, making an immediate impact on the team's performance. When she's not playing softball, you can find her playing varsity basketball. Considering the intricate footwork needed to play both sports, it is no surprise that she can routinely handle difficult plays on the field. After falling in the district semifinals last year, the Warriors made it to the district finals this time around. It helps when you have a steady defense as a team, and Jett plays a big role in that.     Breelyn Kilpatrick completed her freshman season as the only freshman in the state of Alabama with a perfect fielding percentage. That's only part of the story, however. The veteran catcher has been playing varsity softball since the 7th grade, and in 114 games played, she only has one error in 776 total chances. She was recently named to the 3A All-Area Team, and has been an invitee to the USA High Performance Program for the past two years. Playing for the Madison Academy Mustangs, she caught a pitching staff that finished the season with a 2.28 ERA and a 35-7 record. She is also an excellent student with a 4.0 GPA, and clearly puts in the work in both the defensive and offensive departments. There's a lot to look forward to about her game.     Talan Ingle is able to do the little things well. In the age of obstruction calls, Ingle is a master at giving runners a lane to slide in, and is also able to drop down effective tags. She has an accurate arm, and is able to nab runners at any base. She completed her freshman season for the Diamond Wildcats with a perfect fielding percentage, 227 putouts, and a double play turned to boot. More importantly, she also takes the time to assist younger players in the community, running fielding drills with them and ensuring that her impact on the softball field lasts far longer than her playing days. She is an elite fielder and overall softball player in every sense.     Mackenzie Cotton plays an electric infield, so it's only fitting that she is a member of the Birmingham Bolts in her home state of Alabama. In her freshman season for the Corner Yellow Jackets, Cotton assisted in a whopping 22 double plays. She completed her first campaign with 207 putouts and a solid fielding percentage of .966. She finished second on the team in fielding percentage and helped guide the Yellow Jackets to a strong finish in regionals. In addition to her play at first base, she can also provide coverage at the hot corner. She is an alert fielder and always keeps her head on a swivel.     Lainie Keefer finished fifth among all freshmen in Illinois in fielding percentage with an impressive .985 mark. She only committed two errors in 137 total chances and racked up 99 putouts. However, perhaps the most impressive stat for the middle infielder is her 36 assists. It goes without saying that contributing to that many outs on the field for your team plays a large role in a winning culture. Indeed, the Charleston Trojans advanced all the way to the regional final this year. Keefer can play any position on the field, from infielder to catcher to outfielder. And no matter where she plays, she makes a difference.

You often hear the phrase, "Defense wins championships." And while a little offense may be helpful too, that phrase nonetheless rings true.