Five Versatile Athletes Dominating The Softball Diamond

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being able to handle multiple positions on the softball field is no small task. The ability to be a solid defender at just one position takes a lot of time and effort. That said, a player who is able to play multiple positions at a high level can be key for a successful team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, Prep Softball highlights five players who are proving their defensive versatility on the softball diamond this year.</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":109407,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jenna Whitmire","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"31","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Artesia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas Blaze Gold 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-686ebac80c2da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jenna Whitmire displayed her defensive versatility for Artesia High School in her junior season this year. Whitmire vastly improved her glove from her sophomore campaign to her junior year. Whitmire, a utility player, can handle the outfield, shortstop and catcher position. She played in 26 games this season and recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage. That compared to last season during which she had an .882 fielding percentage in 28 games. Along with her 1.000 fielding percentage, she made 149 putouts and 11 assists without committing an error. She carried a .443/.500/.949 slash line. Whitmire earned District 4 AAAA First-Team All-District honors for her junior season.</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":114610,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gianni Torres","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"31","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fort Myers","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Top Gun 18U National","_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-686ebac80c3d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Since her freshman season, Gianni Torres has shown her defensive skill set. In her three varsity seasons, she's committed only three errors, and two of those were made during her sophomore campaign. A catcher and infielder for Fort Myers High School, she holds a .994 fielding percentage in three seasons with 436 putouts and 56 assists to date. This year, Torres maintained a 1.000 fielding percentage, recorded 28 assists and helped convert one double play. She led her team in batting average (.512), OBP (.577), hits (44), RBIs (40) and fielding percentage. Torres was recognized for her defense as an AAG Gold Glove First-Team All-American.</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":114611,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kayleigh Ventura","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"30","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"LaSalle Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"RI Thunder 16U National-Leclair/Lotti","_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-686ebac80c4b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kayleigh Ventura, a middle infielder, exhibited a strong glove in the infield for LaSalle Academy this season. She played mostly second base, but also displayed her ability to cover ground all over the infield and made over-the-shoulder catches on the dirt. She improved defensively from her freshman campaign to her sophomore season. During the 2023-24 campaign, she registered an .833 fielding percentage. This season, she improved that mark to a .921 clip. Ventura also made 21 putouts in 38 total chances with 14 assists. At the plate, she compiled a .344/.440/.750 slash line with a 1.190 OPS. Ventura's sophomore season earned her All-State Honorable Mention honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["101002"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":114613,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-686ebac80c52a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jordynn Carter works primarily as a third baseman and outfielder, but has also shown the versatility to handle second base as well. Her strong defensive skills allow her to move around the diamond with ease. In a recent game in June, Carter showed her range and ability to cover a lot of ground at second base. This season as a sophomore, she split time between the varsity and junior varsity levels for Jack Britt High School. In 10 games at the varsity level, she made four putouts in five total chances and only committed one error. Carter had an .857 fielding percentage with the JV team and an .800 clip with the varsity squad.</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":114618,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cypress Aliotta","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_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":"31","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Evansville Memorial","_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-686ebac80c5f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cypress Aliotta can handle multiple positions across the diamond. Listed as a catcher, second baseman and infielder, she was a lock defensively for her high school team this year. As a freshman, she had a .970 fielding percentage. Aliotta improved on that mark this season to post a team-best .995 clip, despite competing in seven more games. She made 196 putouts in 211 total chances with 14 assists this year. In 28 games played, Aliotta committed just one error. Aliotta can also deliver at the plate. This season, she delivered a key two-run home run in a playoff game to continue Evansville Memorial's season. She finished the campaign with a .439/.526/.610 slash line and a 1.136 OPS.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->