2031 Infielders Who Make Tough Plays Look Simple

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When thinking about how the game of softball is analyzed, much of the attention centers on offense and pitching.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The pitcher and catcher are, of course, the leaders of a team's defense, but defense as a whole can be considered a somewhat underappreciated element of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This way of thinking can particularly apply to the four infield positions—first base, second base, third base, and shortstop. After all, it is a team's infielders who can play a massive part in getting the squad out of jams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below, Prep Softball highlights five infielders from the high school graduating class of 2031 who make tough plays look simple.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sophia Farkas","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2031","_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":"24","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"New Jersey Gators Costello 12U","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6a0b93098b8bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At the beginning of the month, New Jersey Gators Costello 12U went 7-0 in the Welcome To Our Nightmare tournament. Sophia Farkas can be placed in her team's infield either on the right side at first base or on the left side at third. During that tournament, Farkas was especially proud of her defensive performance while playing the hot corner. The ground that she covers can prevent many ground balls from heading into the outfield. Farkas, as a right-hander, understands the mechanics of utilizing her glove hand to get to a ball if it is to her right. Farkas' defense has helped her team to a 17-2 record this spring season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["151439"],"_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":179762,"_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-6a0b93098b979"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brynlee Zahirniak has maintained a full athletic plate throughout her playing career, as she has also played volleyball in addition to her softball pursuits. She can operate as a utility player, but she primarily plays defensively on the left side of the infield either at third base or shortstop. Zahirniak understands how to respond appropriately to balls hit her way, depending on if she is fielding a routine ground ball or a chopper to her side of the field. Her quick release on her throws also ensures that even the quickest of runners will be denied bases. Zahirniak is part of an Impact Gold National 2031 12U squad that has compiled a record of 24-3 this spring season.</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":"Kenzi Miske","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2031","_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":"31","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Texas Bombers Gold 12U","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6a0b93098ba7b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of rising 2031 prospects from the Lone Star State, Kenzi Miske is another one of those names. While she is a utility player, Miske will also spend plenty of time playing in the infield. She places an emphasis on footwork and how that can translate into defensive playmaking capabilities. Miske will ensure that the ball is in front of her at all times and understands the importance of getting her glove hand to where the ball is and making quick and accurate throws to throw out runners. Her Texas Bombers 12U Gold team has compiled a 36-7 record this spring season. </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":"Dakota Bergert","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2031","_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":"24","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bloom-Carroll (OH)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Ohio Storm Premier 2013","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6a0b93098bb79"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dakota Bergert is rising up the 2031 softball ranks in Ohio and is poised to join a Bloom-Carroll team that has been among the winningest high school squads in the Buckeye State these past couple years. The Bulldogs finished their season with a 15-1 record. Bergert is unafraid of diving in the infield dirt as long as it means a play gets completed. She also places plenty of emphasis on catching fly balls and making accurate throws from the outfield. Bergert had a previous stint on the travel circuit with the Ohio Stingrays. </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":"Avery Hinkeldey","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2031","_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":"21","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"TN Mojo Evans 2031","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-6a0b93098bc7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avery Hinkeldey is another multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball alongside her softball commitments. While she plays defensively as a first baseman and right-handed pitcher, Hinkeldey bats from the left side of the plate. Her high softball IQ can especially display itself with how she reacts defensively to what runners do on the bases. If a runner makes a mistake, she knows how to put herself in position to ensure her fellow fielders get her the ball and convert an additional out for her team. Playing at first also means using one's height and wingspan to catch would-be wild throws and convert them into outs. Her TN Mojo Evans 12U team had a 20-4 record throughout this spring season.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->