Unranked 2027s Who Made Big Statements This Summer

Some 2027s entered the summer without rankings next to their names, but they didn't let that stop them from turning heads on the field. These unranked standouts proved they belong in the spotlight, making big plays and even bigger statements against top competition.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five unranked 2027 prospects who made a difference with their play on the field this summer.    Located about 30 minutes west of Atlanta is Douglasville, Georgia, home of the Alexander Cougars and the hot-hitting Kenzie Townsend. Batting this summer for Georgia Impact 08, she showed recruiters why her name needs to be on their call lists come September 1. At the Diamond Classic Showcase in South Carolina in June, she went 7-for-12 at the plate, had a .538 batting average, an OPS of 1.523, and a three-run home run to help her squad clinch a victory. Earlier this year at the PGF Georgia Oaks Tournament, she hit .333 at the plate with an OPS of .777. She began her junior season for the Cougars coming off a career-best sophomore year in which she hit .392 with 31 hits, 24 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples, and three home runs. She has solid bat-to-ball skills and impressive pull power. The best is yet to come for Townsend.     In the Centennial State, Tia Homedew is known not only for her presence in the circle, but also for her excellence at the plate. This summer, that reputation kept on growing. At the Annual Montrose Tournament in May, she threw a no-hitter and racked up nine strikeouts in two games. Later that month at the Memorial Day Classic in Utah, she hurled another no-hitter, this time collecting 14 strikeouts. In the month of July alone, she added another 20 strikeouts to her summer total. At the plate, she batted over .500 in two separate tournaments, with a perfect fielding percentage. She began her junior year for the Cedaredge Bruins having hit 15 doubles the previous year, as well as seven home runs. As of this writing, she has a perfect 3-0 record to start the season, to go along with 21 strikeouts.     Leyla Rigby is another player who raised eyebrows around the club softball community this summer, both with her arm and bat. The Mississippi product represented her home state in the Diamond Youth Softball World Series in Louisiana in late July, and more than rose to the occasion. The Laurel-Jones County 18U squad ended up winning the championship, beating previously undefeated South Carolina and Texas twice in order to clinch the title. Over the first two days of the event, Rigby threw seven innings and allowed zero runs, only one hit, and struck out 16. At the plate, she went 8-for-10 with four doubles, eight RBIs, one triple, and one home run. She has kept that hot streak going into her junior season with the Laurel Christian Lions. As of this writing, she has a 0.90 ERA in seven appearances with 51 strikeouts, and has held her opponents to a .154 batting average.     It was a busy spring and summer for Zailey Freeman. The Dallas Christian Chargers were crowned state champs for the first time in program history, and Freeman had a lot to do with it. The shortstop had a .625 batting average for the season with 35 hits in only 56 at-bats, along with seven doubles, six triples, and three home runs. She also had a crucial three-run long ball in the state-semi matchup that propelled the Chargers to the title game. That power surge did not stop once the season ended. Freeman hit multiple bombs over the summer for the Hotshots, and also has shown off her speed on the base paths. She has a fluid swing, and when she gets her arms extended, the ball flies. With 52 combined stolen bases in just her first two seasons with the Chargers, she's a player you don't want to see up at the plate.     After having a career-best season in the circle for the Le Grand Bulldogs, in which she went 18-1, Ava Avila continued her dominance in the circle for the California Grapettes over the summer. The righthander has nasty movement on her pitches and keeps hitters guessing on the speed and location of them. Her control may be her greatest strength, as she can rack up strikeouts in a hurry, but rarely walks anyone. She can also more than handle herself at the plate. She hit 13 bombs for the Bulldogs last season alone. She also keeps improving from one season to the next, making her a player to continue to watch going forward.

Some 2027s entered the summer without rankings next to their names, but they didn't let that stop them from turning heads on the field. These unranked standouts proved they belong in the spotlight, making big plays and even bigger statements against top competition.