Five 2030 Rising Stars In The Circle

In every class, there's a group of pitchers who begin to separate themselves with presence, command, and the ability to compete when it matters most. Several pitchers from the class of 2030 are already showing that kind of promise in the circle. These rising stars are attacking hitters with confidence, mixing speeds effectively, and developing the poise that defines elite arms. As they continue to grow and refine their craft, this group is quickly becoming one to watch on the national stage.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five pitchers from the high school class of 2030 who are proving to be rising stars in the circle this season.    [player_tooltip player_id='152222' first='Chloe' last='Saldana'] makes a significant impact for the Beverly Bandits and still has plenty of time to grow and develop her skills. In March, Saldana helped the Beverly Bandits to a runner-up finish at the Bandits Power 80 event, giving up two earned runs in two games of work in the circle. The two-way player also chipped in at the plate and in the field for her team. Saldana was selected to USA Softball's High Performance Program. She is already getting attention from some top college programs and attended camp at Northwestern, Kentucky, Louisville, and Purdue in January.     Kaylee McDowell enjoyed a strong fall season, but her pitching has taken a major step forward during school ball. McDowell is playing on Belmont High School's varsity team as an 8th grader and is currently 9-3 in the circle, sporting a 1.00 ERA. In 77.1 innings of work, McDowell has struck out 139 batters against just 22 walks, allowing just one home run while hitting two with her bat. McDowell's ability to strike out high school competition sets her apart among other pitchers her age. She attended Auburn's camp in December and worked with Tigers ace SJ Guerin while there.     [player_tooltip player_id='158628' first='Rya' last='Hakes'] is a tough matchup for any hitter to face, excelling at the club level this season. Representing Texas Glory at the USSSA March into April Tournament, Hakes went 4-0 on the weekend and threw five scoreless innings in the event's championship game, allowing just two hits and striking out six batters to earn MVP honors in the game. Earlier in the spring season, Hakes was part of a 5-0 performance for Texas Glory at the St. Patrick's Shootout. The Normal, Illinois native also plays basketball and was an all-state selection in 2025.     Taylor Stankowitz is making a name for herself through her performance for the Empire State Huskies this season. Stankowitz shined at her first spring tournament, getting 12.3 innings of work in across the weekend. Individually, she finished with 26 strikeouts against just three walks and one earned run as her team won the event. The two-way standout also helped her team's efforts with four hits and four RBI of her own. Stankowitz worked with Montana Fouts at her camp in February, as she continues her progression in the sport.     Already a member of her school's varsity squad, Brooklyn Catalano is impressing in her 8th-grade season. She has earned three wins and two saves in eight pitching appearances so far for The Master's Academy, striking out 25 opponents against seven walks. Her best performance came in a win over DeLand, during which she tossed seven innings without allowing an earned run, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out eight batters in the win. Catalano missed the fall season with an injury but has returned in good form to help her school ball team playing both ways.

In every class, there's a group of pitchers who begin to separate themselves with presence, command, and the ability to compete when it matters most. Several pitchers from the class of 2030 are already showing that kind of promise in the circle. These rising stars are attacking hitters with confidence, mixing speeds effectively, and developing the poise that defines elite arms. As they continue to grow and refine their craft, this group is quickly becoming one to watch on the national stage.