Michigan’s top high school softball players: Meet the state’s best outfielders
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Over the next week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top players across the Michigan softball scene this season. This list will cover the state’s premiere outfielders.
There are hundreds of standout softball players in Michigan and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.
The following athletes will be included in "Who is the top outfielder in Michigan high school softball?" poll to be posted Friday.
Note: Some statistics have been updated more recently than others by nature of variance in games played.
Brooklyn Ringler, junior, Vicksburg
Ringler, a center fielder, is already up to 42 hits for Vicksburg (26-1-1). She’s batting .452 with 31 singles, seven doubles, two triple and two home runs to go along with 34 RBIs.
After beginning her freshman year on junior varsity, she was swiftly brought up to varsity and after impressive early showings, has been a starter ever since.
“Brooklynn is so fast that she’s able to cover a tremendous amount of the field defensively and takes away would be doubles or triples in the gaps between center and left or center and right…,” coach Paul Gephart said. “She’s such a deceiving player offensively with her hitting, her power, and her speed.”
Jasmine Mauk, senior, North Branch
A two-time captain, Mauk is a standout center fielder for coach Alyssa Welling at North Branch. She’s batting .600 with a .625 OBP, 28 RBIs, five home runs and a perfect fielding percentage.
Last year she put up comparable stats on both offense and defense and was named an all-state outfielder.
“Jasmine is not only a power hitter, but can also lay down a bunt and beat it out,” Welling said. “She motivates her teammates, helps mentor younger players, and gives her all everyday.”
Mauk will be continuing her career at Grand Valley State University next season.
Alexis Ashbay, senior, Allendale
Ashbay is a outfielder and catcher for Allendale. She’s batting .545 with a .623 OBP, 11 singles, seven doubles, two triples, four home runs and 25 RBIs.
“Lexi is the definition of a student athlete,” coach Halle Carpenter said. “She not only continually works hard on the softball field but she also realizes the importance of working hard in the classroom, as well.”
A three-sport captain, “she has an abundance of softball knowledge and continues to ask those hard questions to broaden it.”
Ella McDonald, senior, Rochester Adams
McDonald is putting up quite the season at the plate. The senior center fielder is batting .611 with a .708 OBP and .833 SLG. She;s got four doubles, three triples and 20 RBIs. She has zero errors in 26 fielding opportunities.
A returning all-state member who will attend Ferris State University to continue her career next fall, McDonald is her team’s captain this season.
“Ella‘s teammates respect her greatly because of her work habits and her dedication to the sport…,” coach Francis Scislowicz said. “She is constantly in a positive mindset and encouraging her teammates throughout each practice and game. She is a shining star for the Adams softball program.”
Ella Stephenson, senior, Algonac
Stephenson is committed to the University of Michigan, and she was named to the 2022 Division 3 First Team All-State.
Emily Brown, sophomore, Grass Lake
Brown made the 2022 Division 3 First-Team All-State as a freshman, and she's been a key part in getting Grass Lake into the Division 3 top-10 ranking this season.
Abby Potoff, senior, Skyline
Potoff, a center fielder, is batting .350 with a 1.031 OPS and .650 SLG. She was named a team captain in her second year on varsity for coach Dave Bondy’s Skyline squad.
He called her “a true inspirational leader for our team,” and said “she leads through example with her positive work ethic.”
Mira Wroten, sophomore, Skyline
Wroten starts at left field and also plays some first base for Bondy. She’s batting .389 with a .810 OPS.
Wroten has been on varsity since beginning her career and has, “earned the respect of her teammates through her athletic plays and consistent hitting,” Bondy said.
She enjoyed playing on the same field as her older sister last year who is now part of the club softball team and the University of South Florida.
Saylar Cuthrell, senior, Cass City
Cuthrell is signed to Northwood University, and she earned Division 3 First Team All-State honors.
Savina Olada, senior, Divine Child
A four-year varsity starter, Olada plays both outfield and at third. Coach Regina Dunn described her as a power hitter. Currently, Olada is batting .429 Avg with a .491 OBP and 1.001 OPS.
“She is a versatile defensive player,” Dunn said. “Her speed makes her a threat both offensively and defensively.”
An all-area, district and regional player in 2022, Olada is committed to continue her career next season at Schoolcraft College.
Alexis Hansen, sophomore, Divine Child
Another standout outfielder (also first base) and power hitter for Divine Child, Hansen is hitting .429 with a .433 OBP and a .989 OPS.
She’s got 14 RBIs through 14 games and is a team captain who recently joined a national tournament team.
“Every game, she gets better and better,” Dunn said. “Her speed and jumps on the base path make her a constant threat.”
Hansen has eight stolen bases this year.
Macey Fegan, senior, Standish-Sterling
Fegan is committed to play basketball at the University of Toledo, but she is also a star on the diamond.
She is a top outfielder, and she was named to the Division 3 First Team All-State.
Jenna Kuzara, junior, Huron
Kuzara is batting .589 with a .607 OBP, 18 singles, nine doubles, three triples and three homers to go along with 24 RBis and six stolen bases.
“Jenna is one of the most dynamic softball players I have coached and is on the list of top players I have seen play,” coach Tedi Belisle said. “She is equipped with a versatile arsenal, one that starts with tremendous power and ends with speed, range, and discipline.”
Kuzara remains uncommitted, but has offers from a slew of SEC, Big 10 and ACC schools.
“Defensively as an outfielder she can play all three spots,” Belisle said. “Her arm strength is unmatched and she has the ability to throw dimes home from great distances.”
Marissa Jackson, junior, Huron
Jackson, a Valparaiso commit, is “another unique talent,” for coach Belisle’s team.
“She is not big in stature, but her work ethic and discipline set her apart from the rest.” She’s batting .491, with a .534 OBP, 19 singles, six doubles and a triple in addition to 18 RBIs and four stolen bases.
She broke the overhand velocity record for College Bound Jocks throwing 71 miles per hour.
“She has an absolute cannon and has spent countless hours working to get stronger and build up to that elite level of throwing,” Belisle said. “Her speed and range are incredible as she gets great reads from the rip. But what she truly is remarkable in, is her ability to make diving plays. She is not just a phenom in regards to the routine and tough plays.
"She makes impossible plays consistently, laying out and diving. She has taken away an abundance of hits with her never quit attitude, and even has flipped over some fences robbing home runs.”
Saige Flaugher, senior, Hillman
Flaugher was one of three outfielders to earn 2022 Division 4 First Team All-State honors.
Rylee Scheurer, junior, Portland St. Patrick’s
Scheurer has one of the best bats in the state, and she’s averaging .704 at the plate. She was also named to the 2022 Division 4 First Team All-State last season.
Izzy Chaput, senior, Mercy
Chaput is committed to Sacred Heart University for ice hockey, but she is also a top athlete on the diamond. She was named to the Division 1 All-State First Team. She is a team captain in her senior year, and she plays center field.
Kennedi Ryan, sophomore, Ithaca
Ryan is a do-it-all player for Ithaca. She pitches, plays shortstop and also roams the outfield for coach Shelby Shankel. Ryan is batting .400 with 16 singles, a double, a triple and two home runs so far this season.
She also has a .931 fielding percentage after a .926 percentage a year ago. In 2022, Ryan earned all-league and all-district honors.
“Kennedi is a player I can put in any position and I know she will excel,” coach Shankel said. “She doesn’t complain at practice, she just simply does what is asked of her. Kennedi has incredible skills on the field and is a fantastically aggressive base runner. She is also a good teammate and focuses on what she needs to do to help the team be better.”
Dee Hyde, senior, Anchor Bay
Hyde was named to the Division 1 First Team All-State last season, and she is committed to the University of Daytona.
Emmalee Shankel, sophomore, Ithaca
This season, Shankel, both a catcher and outfielder, is batting .373 with 13 singles, six doubles and has caught 82 innings so far.
“Emmalee is a coach’s dream athlete,” coach Shelby Shankel said. “Last season she was coming back from a torn patellar tendon, but that did not slow her down. She worked incredibly hard all winter with physical therapy and was able to bounce back.”
She was lauded for her leadership and “ability to control the game” at a young age in addition to excellent base running skills.
Rajalyaj Esquivel, senior, Ionia
Esquivel was named to the 2022 Division 2 All-State First Team, and she led the Bulldogs to their first district title in 16 years,
Megan Beemer, junior, Hudsonville
Beemer is both a center fielder and Hudsonville’s leadoff hitter. Through 20 games, she’s batting .661 with 21 RBIs, 15 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 28 stolen bases.
“Megan is an awesome lead off hitter,” coach Tom Vruggink said. “She can hit, bunt, slap and when she gets on base she is always a threat to steal. She is also a great outfielder. She runs everything down from right center to left center.”
Beemer is committed to continue her career at University of Michigan next season. She was named to the Division 1 All-State First Team as a sophomore.
Emma Myers, freshman, Vestaburg
Just a freshman, Myers has already played shortstop, second and third base for Vestaburg. She is even the team’s No. 3 pitcher and has seen significant stints as a center fielder, too.
Despite all the movement, she is leading the team offensively, hitting .486 with four doubles and nine RBIs, out of the No. 2 spot.
“She is the consummate teammate doing whatever is needed to help the team win,” coach Matt Koutz said. “For a freshman, coming in and being asked to do so many different things at the varsity level is a lot of pressure. Emma has met each and every challenge. Even when things don't go right, she is able to put it behind her and keeps moving forward, again, without complaining.”
Maddie Wieneke, senior, Riverview
Wieneke is committed to Concordia University. She was named to the Division 2 All-State First Team.
Rachel Cairo, senior, Southfield Christian
Cairo is a shortstop most of the time, yet a player coach Christina Peters feels she can truly put anywhere, and therefore operates in the outfield at times. She’s even caught and pitched throughout her career.
Last season she earned all-conference, district, region and state honors and was the conference's MVP. She boasted the third best batting average (.737) in the history of the state last season to go along with 10 homeruns.
This year, she’s batting .567 with 12 RBIs, six doubles, five triples and four homeruns.
“Rachel is one of the most talented players I have ever known,” Peters said. “I truly believe she is the best softball player (and possibly best female athlete) to have come out of Southfield Christian… Outfielders consistently play at the fence when Rachel is up to bat… Rachel covers so much ground at shortstop that she often makes plays in left field, center field, second base, and third base territory.
"She has made so many “ESPN” worthy diving catches, stops, and double plays, I can barely keep track of them.”
She will continue her career at Central Michigan next fall.
