First - It's awesome for high school softball and baseball to be back!
A lot of changes since softball was last played in 2019. Two years later, with a full season cancelled, there should be a lot of new faces on the teams this year. It will also be a little harder to judge talent with most teams allowing each athlete two spectators, so there won't be much, if any, opportunity to just go check out some games this season. Regardless, I'm just happy games are back!
So for the softball fans out there, I'm sure there will be other opinions, but I'm taking a crack at a pre-season top 20. First lets take a look at who IS returning...
Pitching is key. Even with a good offense, it is hard to out hit a team with a good pitcher if your school doesn't have one. Some of the top returners from two years ago are: Gracyn Frost (DMA), Payton Dixon (Smyrna), Alexis Dowdy (Dover), Jess Walter (Caravel - transferred from Appo), Lydia Drake (Middletown), Madelyn Pritchard (William Penn), Teagan Bradley (Mt. Pleasant), Jada Evans (Seaford), and Ryleigh Thomas (St. Mark's). Some of these pitchers are dual threats with big bats as well.
The stellar position players also returning: Madison Bauerle (Appo), Mikayla Walsh (Caravel), Katelyn Evick (Sussex Central), Madeline Olivas (Appo), and Mya Jones (Sussex Central), Olivia Marinucci (Appo), Shannon Edelman (Concord), and Peyton Pusey (Red Lion).
Just about all of those players either got all-state mention in 2019 or were in the News Journal Top 33 that was posted when last season was cancelled. Look for all of them to make some noise this year.
Again, there will be a lot of new players this year. I think my top 5 to 10 are pretty solid with where they are, but a team or two (or three) surprises each season either jumping up, or falling off the list altogether.
Delaware High School Softball - Preseason Top 20 (by 89FanGuy)
1. DMA
2. Smyrna
3. Dover
4. Caravel
5. Appoquinimink
6. Red Lion
7. Sussex Central
8. Middletown
9. William Penn
10. Newark Charter
11. Mount Pleasant
12. Padua
13. Seaford
14. Lake Forest
15. Concord
16. St. Mark's
17. Delmar
18. Indian RIver
19. Sussex Tech
20. Wilm Charter
A lot of changes since softball was last played in 2019. Two years later, with a full season cancelled, there should be a lot of new faces on the teams this year. It will also be a little harder to judge talent with most teams allowing each athlete two spectators, so there won't be much, if any, opportunity to just go check out some games this season. Regardless, I'm just happy games are back!
So for the softball fans out there, I'm sure there will be other opinions, but I'm taking a crack at a pre-season top 20. First lets take a look at who IS returning...
Pitching is key. Even with a good offense, it is hard to out hit a team with a good pitcher if your school doesn't have one. Some of the top returners from two years ago are: Gracyn Frost (DMA), Payton Dixon (Smyrna), Alexis Dowdy (Dover), Jess Walter (Caravel - transferred from Appo), Lydia Drake (Middletown), Madelyn Pritchard (William Penn), Teagan Bradley (Mt. Pleasant), Jada Evans (Seaford), and Ryleigh Thomas (St. Mark's). Some of these pitchers are dual threats with big bats as well.
The stellar position players also returning: Madison Bauerle (Appo), Mikayla Walsh (Caravel), Katelyn Evick (Sussex Central), Madeline Olivas (Appo), and Mya Jones (Sussex Central), Olivia Marinucci (Appo), Shannon Edelman (Concord), and Peyton Pusey (Red Lion).
Just about all of those players either got all-state mention in 2019 or were in the News Journal Top 33 that was posted when last season was cancelled. Look for all of them to make some noise this year.
Again, there will be a lot of new players this year. I think my top 5 to 10 are pretty solid with where they are, but a team or two (or three) surprises each season either jumping up, or falling off the list altogether.
Delaware High School Softball - Preseason Top 20 (by 89FanGuy)
1. DMA
2. Smyrna
3. Dover
4. Caravel
5. Appoquinimink
6. Red Lion
7. Sussex Central
8. Middletown
9. William Penn
10. Newark Charter
11. Mount Pleasant
12. Padua
13. Seaford
14. Lake Forest
15. Concord
16. St. Mark's
17. Delmar
18. Indian RIver
19. Sussex Tech
20. Wilm Charter