Ohio's top high school softball players 2023: Meet the state’s best first basemen
We are taking a look at some of the top softball players in Ohio. We have revealed the pitchers, the catchers, the outfielders, the third basemen, the shortstops and the second basemen. Now we take a look at the state's best first basemen.
There are hundreds of outstanding players in Ohio, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive! Tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @SBLiveOH or email ryan@scorebooklive.com and let us know about other athletes worthy of fans’ attention.
Note: Some players may excel at multiple positions. Do not be alarmed to see a pitcher on this list, as we try to get as many players as possible..
(Photo of Wheelersburg's Macee Eaton by Jeff Harwell)
Isabelle Beidelschies, Hopewell-Loudon, junior
This corner infielder and pitcher was first-team all-state in Division IV as the Chieftains reached a Division IV regional final. In addition to having a 1.36 ERA in the circle, Beidelschies batted .461.
Jenna Bloomfield, Gibsonburg, senior
A Toledo signee, Bloomfield pitches, plays first base and third base and was first-team all-state in Division IV last season as the Golden Bears reached a district semifinal. She hit 16 home runs in 2021.
Bri Bowles, Mansfield Madison, senior
Bowles, who is the Rams’ all-time leader in career home runs, hit .411 with four home runs, 17 RBI, 28 runs scored and 30 hits last season when she earned first-team all-league and second-team all-Northwest District honors.
Addison Burdick, Springboro, junior
While earning first-team all-Great Western Ohio Conference honors, Burdick batted .438 with nine home runs, 31 RBI and 26 runs scored and had a 1.431 OPS.
Kylie Cobb, Talawanda, sophomore
Cobb was a first-team all-Southwest Ohio Conference honoree last season when she batted .433 with 33 RBI, 20 runs scored and 29 hits. She also went 9-3 with 66 strikeouts at pitcher and had a .955 fielding percentage.
Alayna Crouch, Hamilton Ross, senior
Crouch was first-team all-state in Division II last season when she batted .634 with four home runs, 36 RBI and 45 hits and helped the Rams reach a district semifinal. She also starts at pitcher and has committed to Thomas More.
Belle Dalton, Jeromesville Hillsdale, junior
Dalton batted .662 with eight home runs and 42 RBI and also scored 35 runs while earning second-team all-state honors in Division IV. She helped the Falcons go 23-4 and reach a state semifinal.
Macee Eaton, Wheelersburg, senior
One of the state’s elite talents is Eaton, a Virginia commit who has helped Wheelersburg make back-to-back state tournament appearances including winning the Division III title last year. Eaton, who has made first-team all-state the last two seasons, hit 20 home runs a year ago.
Ally Ernsberger, Granville, junior
An honorable mention all-district honoree last season, Ernsberger serves as pitcher and first baseman for the Blue Aces. In her team’s opening 11-4 win over Cardington on March 28, she went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI and struck out 13.
Brenna Farmer, Mount Blanchard Riverdale, senior
An Ohio University signee, Farmer was first-team all-state last season when she hit .692 with nine home runs, 41 RBI and 11 doubles. She helped the Falcons set a program record for wins in a season last spring.
Maeve Fink, Oak Hills, senior
Fink was first-team all-Greater Miami Conference last season when she led the league in doubles with 17 and batted .556 with 50 hits and 38 RBI. She helped the Highlanders earn a Division I regional runner-up finish.
Kylie Galownia, Lexington, junior
Galownia helped the Minutemen earn a second consecutive Division II district title, batting .340 with 14 RBI and 22 runs scored. She also went 8-0 with 62 strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA in the circle.
Ella Jansen, Cincinnati Seton, junior
While earning first-team all-GCCL honors as the Saints reached a Division I district semifinal, Jansen batted .475 including .530 in league play and contributed 19 RBI, 10 doubles and 28 hits.
Haley Johnson, Bethel-Tate, junior
Johnson batted .606 with nine home runs and 32 RBI and also produced a .682 OPS while earning second-team all-state honors in Division III. She also went 6-3 with a 1.44 ERA in 68 innings pitched and is a Wilmington College commit.
Gabriella Melillo, Medina Buckeye, senior
Melillo is a Mount Union commit who helped the Bucks reach a Division II district semifinal last season when she batted .491 with 22 RBI and 17 runs scored. Also a third baseman, Melillo committed just one error a year ago.
Paige Parker, Upper Arlington, senior
The Golden Bears reached a Division I district semifinal and went 21-7 last season with Parker, a Slippery Rock commit, among the key offensive players. She finished with two home runs and led UA with 29 RBI.
Ella Pfaffl, Harrison, senior
A second-team all-Southwest Ohio Conference honoree, Pfaffl batted .464 with 44 RBI, eight doubles and a .562 on-base percentage last season. Pfaffl is a first baseman and utility player who has committed to play for Otterbein.
Caitlyn Quickle, Leesburg Fairfield, junior
Quickle helped the Lions go 20-5 and earn a Division III district runner-up finish. In addition to having a 0.85 ERA and 141 strikeouts as a left-handed pitcher, she plays first base and outfield and batted .575 with 17 doubles and a .609 on-base percentage last spring.
Skylar Smith, Lancaster, junior
Smith is a Findlay commit who was first-team all-OCC-Buckeye Division and second-team all-district last season as the Golden Gales went 25-2 and reached a Division I regional final for the first time.
Madison Wendel, Coldwater, junior
The MAC Player of the Year and a Marshall commit, Wendel went 23-2 with a 1.29 ERA and 278 strikeouts in the circle and batted .452 with 29 RBI and a program-record 11 home runs. She helped the Cavaliers set a program mark for wins in a season as well.