Washington State's Under-The-Radar Names To Know This Season

<p>As the high school softball season begins in Washington State, new and experienced players alike highlight some standout athletes who may not yet be on everyone's radar. Fans may be aware of the top-ranked teams and well-known players, but there are many talented athletes across the state who are poised to make a significant impact this year.</p>   <p>From impressive pitchers to talented hitters, these emerging players are worth keeping an eye on this high school season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mount Rainier </h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Kadence Avila-Petitt is an exceptional player from Mount Rainier High School, graduating in 2026. She maintains a 4.0 GPA and scored a 1470 on the SAT. A versatile athlete, Kadence excels as a right-handed pitcher and a first and third baseman. Through the Running Start program, she has also earned a place on the President's List at Highline Community College. Kadence demonstrates her ability to hit for power and effectively command the strike zone when she is in the circle. Furthermore, she is recognized as a vocal leader with a positive attitude and a strong competitive spirit.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Creek</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Reagan Fleming is a right-handed pitcher from North Creek High School in the class of 2026. She is a dedicated student with a 3.92 GPA and excels as a multi-sport athlete. Fleming has been a key North Creek varsity softball player for three years now, and received First-Team All-League honors as a pitcher from KingCo 4A in 2024. Over her career, she has thrown 167 innings to date, struck out 190 batters, and made significant offensive contributions with eight home runs and 42 RBIs. She also competes as a dominant two-way player for the Washington Ladyhawks 18U Seeley/Haney team.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Grace Pinder is an outstanding shortstop from North Creek High School and is set to graduate in 2026. She is also a multi-sport athlete, excelling in softball and basketball for three years. Academically, Pinder demonstrates her commitment to excellence with a GPA of 3.6. She actively participates as a student representative and mentor in the Black Student Union. She combines a strong arm and gap-to-gap hitting with a high softball IQ on the field. During the 2024 WIAA State playoffs, she achieved a remarkable .571 batting average and a .727 on-base percentage. Additionally, in 2024, she earned KingCo Honorable Mention and was awarded Team Defensive Player of the Year.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shorewood</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Lillian Perreault is a catcher, shortstop, and second baseman from Shorewood High School. She maintains a 3.8 GPA and has earned a spot on the Dean's List. She also earned First-Team All-Wesco 3A/2A honors based on her performance in high school ball. Known for her natural leadership and dry humor, she keeps her teammates calm when they are under pressure. She demonstrates versatility on the field, playing various positions well, while also showcasing her high softball IQ. She combines power and speed at the plate, putting pressure on opposing defenses. Whether she is driving the ball in the outfield gaps or bunting to move a runner, Perreault is a game-changer on the softball field.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Redmond</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Livy Ruess is a talented middle infielder from Redmond High School, who is taking part in her first high school softball season. Ruess is a focused student in the classroom, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She has already gained recognition for her elite skills while playing with the Ai Bandits 16U team. Known for her ability to hit for power, she can also get a bunt down and use her speed to reach base. As a middle infielder, Ruess showcases excellent defensive skills, covering a lot of ground and demonstrating impressive glove work. Ruess recently played in the Last Blast tournament in Arizona, batting .455 with five hits, including one home run and two doubles for her Bandits team.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Ainsley Barcalow is a right-handed pitcher and infielder from Redmond High School. She is also a member of the KB Fastpitch 18U team. During her first high school softball season in 2024, she pitched most of the innings for Redmond and showcased her impressive ability to command the strike zone. In addition to her exceptional pitching skills, Barcalow also excelled offensively for the Mustangs, achieving an outstanding batting average of .480. As a result of her performance, she was a 2024 All-KingCo Honorable Mention selection. Off the field, Barcalow maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a proud member of the ASL Honor Society, demonstrating her dedication to community, academics, and athletics.</p>

As the high school softball season begins in Washington State, new and experienced players alike highlight some standout athletes who may not yet be on everyone's radar. Fans may be aware of the top-ranked teams and well-known players, but there are many talented athletes across the state who are poised to make a significant impact this year.