Vote now: Who was the North Carolina Pitcher of the Year in softball during the 2023 season?

Here are 12 of the standout pitchers during the spring.

With the spring sports seasons wrapped up, SBLive is rolling out our year-end honors and asking for your help to determine the best of the best.

Here are 12 softball pitchers who excelled during the 2023 season, many of whom led their teams to state championships.

Be sure to cast your vote in our poll. Voting will close on July 15.

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. This 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.

Mallory Reed, Eastern Wayne: Reed set the standard for freshmen pitchers this season, striking out 306 batters (second in the state) while winning 10 games and posting an ERA of 0.35. She also led the Warriors in several offensive categories, including batting average (.639) home runs (6) and RBIs (34). Did we mention Reed is a freshman?

Taylor Apple, Western Alamance: The Warriors rode Apple's arm all the way to the NCHSAA 3-A state championship series before coming up just short. Apple led the state in strikeouts with 352 and finished with a 23-4 record with a 1.19 ERA to wrap up her stellar career.

Peyton Eckert, Swansboro: Eckert finished the season with a 17-3 record with an ERA of 0.71 in 148 innings pitched and was third in the state with 289 strikeouts for the Pirates, who advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A state tournament.

Gracie Hollingsworth, Union Academy: Hollingsworth did it all in leading the Cardinals to the NCHSAA 1-A state championship. She compiled a 21-3 record with a 1.18 ERA with 267 strikeouts. She also led the team with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Lily Huneycutt, West Stanly: Huneycutt was dominant all season in helping lead the Colts to the NCHSAA 2-A state championship, finishing 27-1 with a 0.64 ERA with 259 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .127 batting average.

Anna Dew, Hickory Ridge: Dew finished with 250 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.50 in leading the Ragin' Bulls to the NCHSAA 4-A state championship series. She also led the team with 32 RBIs and tied for the team lead with five home runs.

Dakota Redmon, McMichael: Redmon finished 22-1 with 231 strikeouts and 0.84 ERA and an appearance in the fourth round of the 2-A state tournament before losing to eventual state champion West Stanly. She also led the Phoenix with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs.

Taylor Barlow, South Mecklenburg: Barlow posted an ERA of 0.60 with 203 strikeouts in the circle, and also amassed impressive offensive numbers for the Sabres as well. She led the team with a .578 batting average, .642 OBP, hits (37) home runs (nine) and RBIs (35).

Leah Correll, East Lincoln: Correll finished 22-3 with a 1.97 ERA, two no-hitters and 188 strikeouts for the Mustangs, who won the 3-A state championship.

Mackenzie Goin, Richlands: Goin, a sophomore, finished 10-3 with a 0.66 ERA and racked up 186 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .144 batting average in helping Richlands to a second round appearance in the 3-A state tournament. 

Bel Varadi, Northwest Guilford: Varadi tossed three no-hitters and finished 16-3 with a 0.68 record and 223 strikeouts for the Vikings, who advanced to the fourth round of the 4-A state tournament.

Lex Glemaker, Cape Fear: Glemaker capped her senior year with a 22-2 record, a 1.56 ERA and 183 strikeouts and a trip to the third round of the 3-A state tournament.