Michigan’s top high school softball players: Meet the state’s best infielders (Pt. 1)

Who are the top infielders across the Michigan high school softball scene?

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 infielders.

Part two will be posted on Wednesday. The following athletes will be included in our "Who is the top infielder in Michigan?" poll to be posted on Thursday.

There are hundreds of standout softball players in Michigan and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

Note: Some statistics have been updated more recently than others by nature of variance in games played.

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 Terin Maynard, senior, Jenison

A third baseman, Maynard led Jenison in batting average last season (.412) after a strong .396 as a sophomore. She had just six errors in 44 attempts last season, as well. 

This year she is second on the team in batting with a .439 average and is leading the team with 15 RBIs and has 11 stolen bases.

Kamryn Kasak, junior, Lutheran Northwest

Kasak is a former all-conference first team and all-district shortstop as well as coach Jeff Ludwig’s leadoff hitter. 

Last season she hit .534 with nine doubles, a triple, a home run, 28 RBIs and 20 stolen bases to go along with a .959 fielding percentage. 

“Kam is the glue to the defense,” Ludwig said. “She has been the team’s starting shortstop since the day she first walked on the field. She is the spark plug that fires up our lineup.”

Sydney Bell, junior, Lake Orion

Bell, who starts at second base, is a three-year starter and Lake Orion’s leadoff hitter. Thus far in 2023, she’s batting .633 with nine RBIs through 10 games. 

She’s a former all-league and district player and was her team’s MVP last season. 

“Syd is a hard worker and team leader,” coach Joe Woityra said. “Always working to get better. Team is always first mentality.”

Anna Gardner, junior, Lake Orion

Gardner is also a three-year starter for Woityra’s squad, playing both catcher and third base. 

This season she’s batting .440 with a .920 SLG, 18 RBIs and three home runs through 10 games. 

“Anna has put in the work in the weight room to get stronger,” Woityra said. “She's a student of the game, always one step ahead of the competition. Great arm strength.”

Lyla Reynolds, sophomore, Hopkins

Reynolds, a catcher, was an all-state honorable mention last season as a freshman. 

Her trajectory has continued to trend up this season and team’s rarely attempt to steal on her watch according to coach Amy Bishop-Funk. This season she’s batting .591 (team-leading) and has three home runs. 

“She is one of the top players in the OK Silver Conference,” Bishop-Funk said.

Ava Jolin, junior, Williamston

Jolin is batting .410 with a .574 OBP and .769 SLG. She’s got seven singles, six doubles, a triple and two homers to go with 18 RBIs. 

Coach Adelle Gurk called her a player she can trust in any position or situation, and uses her as a true utility player who has shown an aptitude for shortstop as of late. 

“Ava Jolin is a leader on and off the field,” she said. “Salt of the earth, good people, the ultimate teammate. Always one to share an encouraging word. She puts in the work not only pushing herself and striving to improve she pushes her teammates and is a driving force in our program. … She is a player that I can count on not to be rattled.”

Lindee Rosekrans, senior, Williamston

Rosekrans operates at third base for Williamston. She’s batting .295 with seven sing;es, six doubles, 14 RBIs and four stolen bases. She batted . 372 last season. She’s a three — would have been four if not for COVID-19 — year starter who was an all-conference and all-district player last season. 

“She is a phenomenal defensive player that can read the field in a way that is hard to coach,” Gurk said. “She makes plays I wouldn't expect her to make. She is fearless and will jump, dive, and block the ball any way possible to get an out.” 

She is committed to play softball at Ave Maria University next season.

Megan Bondy, senior, Skyline

Bondy is a first baseman for Skyline, batting .400 with a 1.279 OPS and 1.000 fielding percentage. 

She’s a two-year captain that has been one of Skyline’s best batters every year of her career and has also played stints in the outfield and in the circle, when needed. 

“Megan is a true leader for this team on and off the field,” coach Dave Bondy said. 

She will play collegiately at Spring Arbor next season.

Lauren Sundquist, sophomore, Gladstone

An all-state utility player as a freshman, Sundquist has put on a clinic at the plate thus far in 2023. She’s batting .600 with a .625 OBP and a home run. She’s both a catcher and second baseman for Gladstone this year. 

“One thing that makes her special is her speed and intelligent baserunning,” coach Rick Pepin said. “She has been our lead-off hitter since last year as a freshman. Her ability to do damage and overwhelm our opponent as a baserunner is one of her biggest strengths. 

"Defensively, her speed allows her to be rangy and get to balls that most can't. In addition, she has outstanding footwork which allows her to be fundamentally sound when fielding. Lauren also has great arm talent and can throw off platform and from different arm slots.”

Tia Schone, sophomore, Gladstone

Schone was an all-regional shortstop as a freshman last season. This year she’s batting .533, .562 OBP with two doubles and a triple. She’s got a 1.000 fielding percentage with zero errors and is also 8-1 as a pitcher. 

“Tia was an instant impact player for us as a freshman last year…,” Pepin said. “What makes Tia special is her genuine energy she brings everyday, regardless if it's practice or a game. Her encouragement of others and how she celebrates her teammates achievements is both amazing and contagious. Tia also has great arm talent and has the ability to throw off platform with accuracy."

Ava Costales, senior, Lakeview

Costales plays both catcher and second base for coach Patrick Threet’s squad. A University of Michigan commit, Costales is also a state title winner in women’s powerlifting. 

“Her work ethic is second to none,” Threet said. “In coaching multiple sports over the past 29 years — I have had over 29 football teams, coached 15 years of wrestling, 15 years of baseball, four years of softball — Ava is the most dedicated athlete I have come across. No one has compared to her academic and athletic success.”

Emma Herremans, sophomore, Ravenna

Herremans mans third for Ravenna. After batting .622 last season, she’s upped it to .633 this year and has earned respect early in career for her “amazing glove” at third. 

As a freshman last season she was a first team all-conference, an all-district, all-region and all-state third baseman. 

“Emma Herremans has an amazing work ethic and is not afraid to put in the extra time and work to improve her game,” coach Dave Sherman said.

Rachel Resio, senior, Swan Valley

A four-year varsity player, Resio is a key defensive player for coach Tara DeLine at second. 

She’s hitting .574 this season with 27 hits and 11 RBIs while boasting a .996 fielding percentage. 

She bats number two in Swan Valley’s lineup and is a “quick and heads up baserunner on the bases,” DeLine said.

Grace Gilbert, junior, Swan Valley

Brought up as a freshman, Gilbert “lives at the ball field,” according to coach Tara DeLine. 

The shortstop has been a leader this year for Swan Valley, assisting teammates who haven’t had the same amount of varsity experience as she has. She’s batting .341 with 14 hits, two doubles, two triples. 

“She has great range as our shortstop,” DeLine said.

Hailey Koch, sophomore, Swan Valley

Koch was another player from Swan Valley who was brought up and earned varsity experience during her freshman season. Described as a great leader and teammate, she’s batting .452 with 19 hits, two homers and 21 RBIs. She also boasts a .931 fielding percentage. 

“(She) works hard on her craft, putting in extra reps whenever she can,” DeLine said. “She has been a key player at the plate for us.”

Paige Ratliff, senior, Battle Creek Lakeview

Ratliff, a catcher and utility player, has been a co-captain in two different varsity sports for two years running and has competed in both since she was a freshman. She’s batting .568 with 42 hits, 32 RBI and five home runs. 

“She is extremely versatile and can play all positions on the field with a high level of knowledge and skill,” coach Brian Ratliff said. “She has led the team offensively since her sophomore year.” 

A former all-conference, district and region player, she will continue her career at Lake Forest College next season.

Marin McCullough, sophomore, Battle Creek Lakeview

McCullough is Ratliff’s shortstop. She’s batting .500 with 34 hits and 27 RBIs. Last season she was an all-district player and here, in her second year on varsity, she hits in the four spot. She also has turned five double players this season. 

“She has a keen sense for the game and is an extremely heads-up player and communicator on the field,” Ratliff said.

Reyna Hyliard, junior, Skyline

Hyliard plays shortstop, second and also pitches for Dave Bondy’s Skyline squad. She’s in her first year as a team captain and has also shown great ability at the plate where she’s batting .438 with a 1.188 OPS and .688 SLG. 

“She has the capabilities to play anywhere on the field and is willing to do whatever the team needs,” Bondy said. 

As a freshman, she started out in right field and pitched. As a sophomore, she moved to middle infield positions and this year has had to take over the No. 1 pitching duties. 

“She is a true competitor in every way,” Bondy said.

Peyton Smith, junior, Vicksburg

Smith is a standout second baseman for coach Paul Gephart’s 26-1-1 Vicksburg program, one of the state’s top teams this season. Smith bats .541 and has collected 46 hits, 23 singles, 12 doubles, six triples and five homers with 38 RBIs. 

“She has an exceptional understanding of the various situations and is always at the correct base,” Gephart said. “She is a clutch hitter and always seems to come through if there are two outs and runners are in scoring position.”

Delaney Monroe, junior, Vicksburg

Monroe has been starting at third base since she was a freshman. At the plate this season, she’s .494 with 43 hits, 23 singles, nine doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 48 RBIs. 

“Delaney has lightning quick reflexes on defense at third base…,” Gephart said. “Delaney is so strong and has hit some of the longest balls I’ve seen in my entire coaching career.”

Kami Morse, senior, Wayland

Previously an all-conference, district, region, county and honorable mention all-state nominee, Morse is Wayland’s captain. She’s hitting .488 with a .579 OBP, seven doubles, three triples and three home runs. A second baseman, her fielding percentage is .948. 

“She is the type of kid you would want on your team,” coach Cheri Ritz said. 

Next season, Morse will be playing both softball and volleyball for Aquinas College.