2028s Taking Big Strides In Fall Competition

The fall ball season is a great time for players to work through everything they need to improve upon from the spring and summer campaigns. Pitchers can try out new pitches, and batters can make tweaks to their approaches at the plate. But players still have to take it seriously, and when they do, it can set them up for incredible success the following year.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five players from the high school graduating class of 2028 who are taking big strides in fall competition this year.    Janiya Fields has already been widely recognized as a standout in the class of 2028 by Prep Softball and other publications. She's continued to spread the word about her incredible skill set this fall thanks to her tremendous showings in games with South Cobb and at camps like the one she attended at Clark Atlanta. Janiya has a career batting average over .500 at the high school level and possesses tremendous power. Many of her doubles, 16 of which she hit this fall so far, are soon going to turn into home runs as she continues to progress as a standout player.     Riley Gallagher is making her impact with The Lovett School well known. Despite only seeing sparing playing time with the varsity squad during her freshman year, she's carved out a sizable role for herself this year not only as a catcher, but also as a consistent outfielder and frequent pitcher. In 16 games, she batted .610 with 29 RBIs, four doubles, two triples and nine home runs. The three-sport athlete attended showcase after showcase this summer and fall, further showing off her tremendous abilities on the field. She is primed for a breakout year in 2026.     Hadley Ivy has consistently gotten better in every aspect of her game. She's shown the type of progress that makes coaches glean over what her ceiling could be, and she has a couple more years to reach it before college, which is a scary thought for opposing teams around Colorado. Hadley batted .603 this fall with 12 doubles, five homers and seven triples, while also driving in 33 runs and striking out just nine times in 78 plate appearances. She harnesses a powerful bat that's quick to the ball, coupled with a swing path that rarely leaves the strike zone.     Kylei Buffington is a dynamic player who has found her way onto the field by being a consistent player in all aspects of her game. She's a sound fielder who coaches can trust all around the softball field and possesses a talented bat that gets her on base with ease. She batted .571 this fall through 20 games, striking out just three times, while also collecting 10 extra-base hits. As she grows more as a player, she'll continue to find the holes in the outfield and take her hits as they come. With a fluid swing and strong speed, Kylei can blossom into a top-of-the-order hitter over the next couple seasons at McDonough.     Peighton Harper's profile looks like someone who has the makings of a future ace. Much like her counterparts on this list, she's seen her stats get better and better throughout her two years at the varsity level and shows dominating stuff in the circle all year. This fall with Citizens Christian Academy in Georgia, Peighton posted a 14-2 record with a 3.05 ERA in 23 appearances, striking out 71 batters in 98.2 innings. Her arsenal continues to grow and will only serve her better when she trusts her stuff even more. Peighton has all the potential in the world to grow from a reliable bullpen option into a top-of-the-line starter in the next couple years.

The fall ball season is a great time for players to work through everything they need to improve upon from the spring and summer campaigns. Pitchers can try out new pitches, and batters can make tweaks to their approaches at the plate. But players still have to take it seriously, and when they do, it can set them up for incredible success the following year.