Top 2027 Prospects To Watch In Missouri

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most exciting aspects of softball is that talent can come from anywhere—from the biggest cities to the smallest towns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take Missouri, for instance—Blue Springs, a suburb of Kansas City, is home to over 58,000 residents and the Blue Springs South Rangers, for whom sophomore Ella Carmack punishes softballs. Head a bit further west, and you'll find Kingsville, home to 245 residents and perhaps the most blazing bat in the state. There is nowhere too small or too big for softball talent to emerge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, Prep Softball highlights five of the top softball players from Missouri in the high school graduating class of 2027.</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":101434,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kya Yoakum","_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":"5'4u0022","_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":"Iberia","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Select Fastpitch","_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-678060b488449"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kya Yoakum was among the state's leaders in batting average for her sophomore season, hitting a whopping .610 at the plate, with 50 hits in 82 at-bats, along with an OPS of 1.747. She also drove in 42 runs, smashed 16 doubles, and hit six home runs for good measure, notching two school records. This all comes after a sensational freshman season in which she set two more school records with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs. She also shines defensively, turning six double plays this past season. Following the season's end, she was named a First-Team All-State selection for the second time in her high school career. Yoakum focuses on all facets of her game and is an elite talent to watch.</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":101436,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ella Carmack","_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":"5'10u0022","_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":"Blue Springs South","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Aces Fastpitch","_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-678060b4884fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hailing from Blue Springs, Missouri, just about 20 miles east of Kansas City, Ella Carmack has put on a show in her first two seasons wearing the Jaguar uniform for Blue Springs South. After finishing in the top five in batting average on the team her freshman year, she had an explosive sophomore campaign, finishing first in RBIs (38), first in hits (41), first in slugging percentage (0.677), second in batting average (.427), second in runs scored (34) and second in doubles (9). Her 38 runs driven in were also good for third overall statewide. The owner of a violent swing, when she makes contact, it tends to be loud. She is also sharp defensively, finishing this past season with a .951 fielding percentage and only four errors. Look for her to be a force to be reckoned with her next two high school seasons and beyond.</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":101446,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Erin Meriwether","_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":"5'0u0022","_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":"Incarnate Word Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"18U STL Illusions","_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-678143a5afeea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Erin Meriwether ran all over her opponents this past season. The St. Louis native set two program records for the Red Knights from Incarnate Word Academy with seven triples and 30 stolen bases. Her 48 hits led the team, earning her First-Team All-District and All-Region honors. Along with her teammate Lauryn Walker, the two finished second and third, respectively, statewide in stolen bases. The sophomore is also difficult to strike out—she whiffed only eight times for the season and had an overall on-base percentage of .611. She is an integral part of a successful program that has captured three district titles in four years. Her experience and leadership will prove pivotal for the rest of her career.</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":101448,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Taelyn Reeder","_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":"5'9u0022","_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":"Diamond","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Unity TJ 2027-2028","_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-678143a5aff84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A member of the reigning state champion Diamond Wildcats, the sophomore had a freshman season to remember. Starting in the circle for the Wildcats in the title game against Kennett, Reeder tied the game at five in the bottom of the seventh with a single. Diamond would go on to win 8-5 in extra innings for their second championship in three years, finishing the season with an astounding 38-1 record. Throughout the title run, Reeder contributed both in the circle and at the plate. She struck out 113 batters, held hitters to a .174 batting average and had an overall ERA of 1.95. At the plate, she racked up 14 doubles, 49 hits, 29 RBIs and a .467 batting average. To be able to accomplish all of that as a freshman, Reeder proves she is as locked in as young players come.</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":"Kylie Stout","_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":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"23","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Kingsville","_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-678143a5b0019"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kylie Stout burst onto the scene her freshman season for the Kingsville Tigers with a scorching bat. She finished the campaign ranked first in the state in on-base percentage (.712), first in slugging percentage (1.429), second in batting average (.667) and second in home runs (9). She had 42 hits in only 73 plate appearances, along with nine doubles and six triples to boot. Most impressively, her slugging percentage puts her among the top 100 players in the nation. A multi-sport athlete in softball and volleyball, college coaches all over the country are certainly going to want to see Stout in action this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->