Five 2028s Poised For A Breakout Spring Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When one thinks of a freshman season for a softball player, it may be commonplace to envision limited playing time, mistakes at the plate or in the circle and a plethora of defensive miscues.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then, there are those who prove themselves to be exceptions to that conventional wisdom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, Prep Softball spotlights 2028 softball players who have set themselves up for even bigger things when they arrive at their 2026 sophomore campaigns.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ellison Locke ","_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":"Corona del Sol (AZ)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Impact Caymol National 16U","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6919f505a0145"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ellison Locke played in all 29 games last season for 6A Corona del Sol. Her Aztecs encountered late-season struggles, but Locke's bat was always a winner. She posted a .289 batting average in those 29 games she played, which included over 100 plate appearances. A product of Impact Caymol 16U National, three home runs were part of Locke's 2025 resume in addition to 22 RBIs. Her performances also included scoring 13 runs, hitting three doubles and blasting one triple. Locke also was dangerously close to a .400 on-base percentage for last season. As Locke displayed throughout last spring, she is just getting started.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Regan Yatsko","_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":"28","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bohemia Manor (MD)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Delaware Fury Watkins 16U","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6919f505a026b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prior to last season, the last time a season with a double-digit win total occurred at Bohemia Manor was in 2019, when the Eagles won their third of three consecutive 1A state championships. Regan Yatsko's work at the plate ensured an eight-win improvement for Bohemia Manor over its 2024 showing. Yatsko, a Delaware Fury product, played in all 23 games in 2025 for her Eagles. Yatsko finished the season with a .286 average. She drove in 16 runs and also scored 18. Her 2025 campaign also included six doubles in addition to an on-base percentage of .333. Bohemia Manor appears to be headed in the right direction again in large part thanks to Yatsko.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alexis Sempsrott","_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":"Tates Creek (KY)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"KY Unity Jordan 2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6919f505a037a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tates Creek may have experienced a drop off in its overall win total from 14 in 2024 to eight last season. Among those who played in at least 16 games in 2025, Alexis Sempsrott was in the top five in batting average at .271. Sempsrott played in 18 contests last season for the Commodores. Her freshman season was her second at the high school level since she also wore Tates Creek colors as an eighth grader. Sempsrott's 2025 campaign also included four doubles and nine runs driven in. It is both in the circle and at the plate where Sempsrott is looking to establish herself. During the travel schedule, she first played for Louisville Lady Sluggers Brewer 16U, and then with KY Unity Jordan.&nbsp;</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Katie DeMarco","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"18","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Moon Area (PA)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Pitt Lady Roadrunners 2010","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6919f505a047b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moon Area had a very forgettable 2024 season, and it was followed up with what was a decent 2025 campaign in large part because of Katie DeMarco's arm. The Tigers concluded last season with a record of 9-10-1 and earned a berth in the 5A WPIAL playoffs. DeMarco had a 3.83 ERA last season and was credited with three of Moon Area's victories. She tossed 82.1 innings and struck out 91 batters, while also allowing 31 walks. The Pitt Lady Roadrunners product already had a breakout season at the plate as evidenced by her .373 batting average. Her development in the circle and at the plate can continue to turn the Tigers into contenders.</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":102033,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lexi Brester","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Glencoe (OR)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"NW Vandals Premier - Terry","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6919f505a058d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As of late, Glencoe has had one of the winningest programs throughout Oregon. And Lexi Brester ensured that the Crimson Tide continued their winning ways, as 6A Glencoe concluded its 2025 season with a record of 19-8. Brester, who plays club ball for NW Vandals Premier – Terry, concluded her freshman campaign with an ERA of 2.71. Brester pitched 106 innings and struck out 63 hitters, while only allowing 30 walks. She played in 23 games last season for the Crimson Tide. Similar, or even better, numbers from Brester in 2026 should keep Glencoe in the win column more often than not. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->