Five 2028 Prospects Who Can Turn Singles Into Triples

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speed is measured in multiple ways in softball. A player can have the speed to handle a defensive position like center field, or they can use it on the basepaths. The ability to swipe bases and reach scoring position helps create more scoring opportunities for teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It takes a strong knowledge of the game and speed on the bases to take extra bags on a hit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, Prep Softball highlights five players from the class of 2028 with the speed to turn singles into triples.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["108815"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":123385,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68933e896534d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='108815' first='Kaelyn' last='Deckerd'] was a force on the basepaths in her freshman season for Oak Ridge High School. Playing on one of the top high school teams in Missouri, Deckerd stole 64 bases in 28 games. Her speed, coupled with her high on-base percentage (.752), made her unstoppable on the basepaths. Deckerd pitches and can handle the outfield and middle infield for Oak Ridge. Alongside her speed, Deckerd showed she can hit for power too. She connected for three triples, 18 doubles and nine home runs in 113 plate appearances.</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":123386,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kerin Gardner","_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":"31","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Michigan Lutheran Seminary","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Freedom Fastpitch 16U Thompson","_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-68933e8965454"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kerin Gardner showed her solid baserunning skills for Michigan Lutheran Seminary. She was a difficult out on the bases for opposing teams. Gardner went a perfect 43-for-43 in stolen-base opportunities. She also reached base at a high clip with an OBP of .545. Her ability to reach base and steal bases translated to scoring opportunities for her team. Gardner scored 76 runs in 43 games, which ranked among the top marks in the nation. She also showed her ability to stretch her hits for extra bases. Gardner, who plays shortstop, third base and is a pitcher, hit for a .490 batting average with nine doubles and eight triples.</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":123387,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Savannah Sevier","_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":"27","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Southern Force 18U National - Palmer ","_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-68933e8965522"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A strong center fielder often has the speed to handle the position. That skill set helped Savannah Sevier on the basepaths as well. Sevier, a center fielder, exemplified strong plate discipline for Central High School. Her good eye at the plate led to more walks (20) than strikeouts (seven). Sevier's OBP of .512 allowed her to utilize her speed on the basepaths. She stole 41 bases in 50 games for Central, which helped her score 54 runs. Sevier hit for a slash line of .448/.512/.628 with a 1.140 OPS. The center fielder connected for five doubles, six triples and three home runs in 169 plate appearances.&nbsp;<br></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":123389,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Maliyah Jarrett","_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":"Bethel Christian","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Firecrackers Olvera","_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-68933e89655e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maliyah Jarrett proved in her freshman campaign that her impact can be felt behind the backstop, at the plate and on the basepaths. The catcher for Bethel Christian displayed impressive impact on the basepaths. She stole 43 bags for the Kings in 43 opportunities and 24 games. Jarrett had four games this season in which she stole four or more bases. That included an early-March contest during which she stole six bags in six chances. Jarrett also got on base at a clip of .655, which helped her score 46 runs in 24 games. In addition to her high OBP, she demonstrated an ability to hit for power. Jarrett slugged 11 home runs, and also hit 14 doubles and three triples for an OPS of 1.958.&nbsp;<br></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":135813,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kinlea Cole","_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":"28","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Parma","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Boise Blast","_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-68933e89656a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kinlea Cole made a strong impact in her freshman campaign for Parma High School. The outfielder and pitcher showed excellent plate discipline. She had twice as many walks (18) as strikeouts (five) alongside a .602 OBP. Once Cole reached base, she proved to be a force on the basepaths. She had 39 stolen bases in 40 chances through 29 games played. Her ability to get on base and get into scoring position helped Cole score 58 runs. Her standout freshman season earned her recognition as a Second-Team All-State selection.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->