Five 2029s Who Could Anchor A College Lineup One Day

Members of the class of 2029 are just starting high school this fall, and have two full years before their formal recruiting process begins. But many players have already made names for themselves with their travel teams and by playing at the high school level before ninth grade. It's clear that this class is chock-full of sluggers, speedsters and other great offensive players who are sure to translate their skills to the college level when the time comes.   Below, Prep Softball highlights five 2029 recruits who could become the anchors of their college lineups one day.    Like many younger prospects, Mackenzie Bradford is a two-way player. Her primary weapons in the pitcher's circle are her rise ball, which regularly generates whiffs, and a high-spin curveball. She tops out at 58 mph, which is impressive for someone who has not yet played high school softball, and she is also working on a changeup and a backdoor curve. When not pitching, Bradford typically plays the middle infield, though she can also fill in at third base. She has a long, uppercut swing and likes to use the middle of the field, with good power to both gaps. At the Scenic City tournament in Tennessee in June, Bradford was 4-for-7 with an inside-the-park home run. She had a busy summer with tournaments in five different states, so Bradford should be on college coaches' radars soon, if she is not already.     Allahna Muhammad enjoyed a breakout summer with her club team, including hitting a grand slam at a major tournament in Colorado just before July 4th. She hit two home runs and a double in a game later that same week, and it is easy to see where all that power comes from. Muhammad is tall and strong and can hit the ball over the fence to all fields. She can time up an off-speed rise and line it back up the middle, and when pitchers don't get rise balls elevated enough above the zone, Muhammad is all over them. Her defense at shortstop is equally smooth, as she does an excellent job anticipating where the ball will be hit, has outstanding range to both sides, and can make the long, off-balance throw to first. She also takes charge on pop flies even to the opposite side of second base and communicates well with her teammates.     Bella Ortiz plays for Puerto Rico's U15 national team, playing in the U15 World Cup in Italy this year, and she had a spectacular two-way season as an eighth grader at the high school varsity level. She put up a .583/.697/1.125 triple slash in 17 games with seven home runs, five doubles, 29 RBI and 25 runs scored, while walking 15 times against just three strikeouts. Ortiz also had a perfect fielding percentage and went 10-0 in the circle with a 2.14 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings pitched. Walks were a bit of an issue for her, but she was extremely difficult to hit, holding opponents to a .144 average with her curveball, screwball and rise ball. Ortiz can catch up to velocity and muscle inside pitches through the infield the opposite way, and when she gets a pitch on the outer half of the plate, she can extend her arms and drive it far beyond the wall.     From the talent-rich San Francisco Bay Area, Elle Osborne is among the top catchers in her class and one of the savviest baserunners out there. She has stolen home on a throw back to the pitcher and moved from first to third on a bunt. She also has a lightning-quick bat and can scorch line drives from one power alley to the other with the speed to stretch them into triples. A third baseman when she's not catching, Osborne is just as smooth at the hot corner as behind the dish. She has a strong, accurate arm that serves her well at both positions, and her intelligent approach to softball extends to the classroom, where she carries a 4.0 GPA.     Lindy Ledden has impressive bat speed from the left side and already has all the tools offensively, with power to the opposite field and game-changing speed on the basepaths. If an outfielder bobbles one of Ledden's hits even slightly, she will almost always take an extra base. She showcased her raw power in the thin Colorado air earlier this summer with multiple homers. Ledden is most comfortable at second base and third base, but she can play any infield or outfield spot. The daughter of a former Georgia softball player and a former Minor League Baseball player, Ledden is carrying on her family's diamond sports legacy and can do a little of everything on the field.

Members of the class of 2029 are just starting high school this fall, and have two full years before their formal recruiting process begins. But many players have already made names for themselves with their travel teams and by playing at the high school level before ninth grade. It's clear that this class is chock-full of sluggers, speedsters and other great offensive players who are sure to translate their skills to the college level when the time comes.