Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Central Florida Softball Player of the Year?

We’ve selected 15 candidates for your consideration

Melbourne pitcher Jasmine Francik /

Central Florida high school softball players showed winning form all season long in 2024 – at the plate, on the mound and in the field.

We looked at teams from Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard and Indian River counties and nominated 15 athletes for the SBLive Central Florida Softball Player of the Year. 

We ask you, the fan, to decide who should the top player selected. Voting will conclude Sunday, July 15, at 11:59 p.m. We will announce the winner in July.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. The poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player that may not be mentioned in our poll.

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Here are the nominees:

Hailey Hunt, CF, East Ridge: Senior was one of the top hitters in the state this season, batting .522 with nine doubles, two triples, three home runs, 53 runs scored, and 23 RBI. She also had 16 stolen bases and a 1.000 fielding percentage for the Knights, who advanced to the Class 7A state playoffs.

Lillian Killian, OF/SS/P, Atlantic: One of Volusia County’s best hitters, the senior batted .521 with two doubles, three triples, two home runs, 17 runs scored and 21 RBI. She also stole 12 bases and had a 3-1 pitching record, striking out 27 and walking only four for the Sharks.

Aiza Khan, CF/C/SS, Lake Buena Vista: Super sophomore batted .510 with seven doubles, two triples, one home run, 19 runs scored, and 11 RBI. She also stole 25 bases for the Vipers.

Madison Rider, P/OF, Viera: One of the best underclassmen in Florida, the fantastic freshman batted .482 with one double, six triples, one home run, 37 runs scored, and 16 RBI. The Brevard County star had a .670 slugging percentage and stole 20 bases, and on the mound, the right-hander compiled a 9-2 record and 1.91 ERA in 62.1 innings pitched, striking out 83 and walking 21. Her efforts led the Hawks to the Class 6A regional semifinals.

Lila Hernandez, CF/OF, Horizon: One of Orange County’s top hitters batted .484 with seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, 30 runs scored, and 24 RBI. She also stole a whopping 39 bases and compiled a .964 fielding percentage in leading the Hawks to the Class 5A Final 4.

Adelaide Rodriguez, 1B/OF, Kissimmee City of Life Christian: Eighth-grader had a stellar season, batting .474 with two doubles, one triple, one home run, 20 runs scored, and 13 RBI. The Osceola County star also stole seven bases and had a .657 slugging percentage.

Jensen Luke, INF, Eustis: The senior and Florida International University signee put together a fantastic season for the Class 4A state champs, batting .443 with 14 doubles, five home runs, 30 runs scored, and 34 RBI. She also stole 12 bases and compiled an impressive .772 slugging percentage for the Panthers.

Jasmine Francik, P/UTIL, Melbourne: The senior and FSU signee was simply superb in her final season for the Bulldogs, compiling a 26-1 record and 0.20 ERA in 175.2 innings pitched, while striking out an incredible 399 batters and walking only 19. She also batted .365 with seven runs scored and 17 RBI for the Bulldogs, who advanced to the Class 6A regional semifinals.

Julie Kelley, P/1B, Spruce Creek: Volusia County’s top pitcher and Kentucky signee compiled a 14-2 record and 0.48 ERA in 116.1 innings pitched, while striking out 193 batters and walking just 24. The senior also batted .431 with 12 doubles, three triples, three home runs, nine runs scored, and 17 RBI for the Hawks, who advanced to the Class 7A regional semifinals.

Lexi King, P, Windermere: The senior and Arkansas signee was one of Orange County’s top pitchers, compiling a 15-2 record and 0.68 ERA in 133 innings pitched. She recorded 147 strikeouts and just 10 walks in leading the Wolverines to the Class 7A Final 4.

La’Breah Sands, P/1B, Montverde Academy:Incredible eighth-grader is sure to be one of the country’s top recruits in the years to come after compiling a 10-0 record and 0.71 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched in leading the Eagles to the Class 3A state championship. She struck out 105 batters, walked only 36, and recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage. At the plate, she batted .302 with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 11 runs scored and 10 RBI.

Ella Verne, P, Hagerty: Junior right-hander was one of Seminole County’s top pitchers, compiling an 11-2 record and 0.92 ERA in 76 innings pitched, while striking out 91 and walking only 11. She also had a 1.000 fielding percentage in leading the Huskies to the Class 6A regional finals.

Anne Long, P, Sanford Seminole: Senior and University of South Florida signee had a stellar season, compiling a 12-5 record, 1.22 ERA and .988 fielding percentage in 109.1 innings pitched, while striking out 112 and walking just 33. She also batted .324 with three doubles, six home runs, 13 runs scored, and 18 RBI in leading the Seminoles to the Class 7A state championship game.

Gabrielle Espich, P, Vero Beach: Sophomore was one of Indian River County’s best two-way players, compiling a .431 batting average with 10 doubles, two triples, one home run, 22 runs scored and 23 RBI, and a 6-4 pitching record with 90 strikeouts and 31 walks in 86.2 innings pitched.

Riley Biggers, SS/3B/UTIL, Sebastian River:Sophomore batted .525 with 12 doubles, three triples, one home run, 26 runs scored, and 17 RBI. She also stole 12 bases and had a .787 slugging percentage for the Sharks.

-- Jeff Gardenour | jgardenour1962@gmail.com | @JMarkG1962