Vote: Who was the Top South Carolina High School Softball Player in 2024?

Here are 11 candidates for your voting consideration

Chris Crook/Times Recorder

The spring season for high school sports is coming to a close and that means summer for students is coming out. Softball is one of the top sports when it comes to the spring season and there are plenty of good players down in the Palmetto State.

Some of the best high school softball talent around the country comes from the Carolinas region and we went ahead and compiled a list of who we think are the top players in the state. We ask you the fan to take a look at our list and give us your vote on who you think the top high school softball player in South Carolina is.

Voting concludes July 15th, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

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 athlete that may not be mentioned in our poll.

Here are the nominations:

Aspen Boulware, Gray Collegiate Academy: No hitter in the state belted more home runs than the 5-foot-7 sophomore. Boulware finished with impressive numbers, batting .651 at the plate with 19 home runs, 10 triples, six doubles and 40 RBIs. 

Zoe Sullivan, Blue Ridge: Another sophomore that had herself a big 2024 campaign was Sullivan. Sullivan came onto the scene and looked impressive, batting .481 at the plate, six home runs, eight doubles and drove in a state-leading 47 RBIs. 

Caitie Black, Loris: When it came to stealing bases around the base pads, no one was better than Black. The junior stole 36 bases this past spring to go along with her .446 batting average, three home runs, four doubles, 16 RBIs and 41 runs scored. 

Annie Ruth Eliason, West Florence: The junior pitcher had herself a strong 2024 campaign on the mound. Ruth Eliason pitched 135 innings, went 15-2 with a 0.73 earned run average and struck out 256 batters. 

Brandy Smith, Conway: Smith, who played in the outfield and infield for Conway, was one of the state’s top power hitters. The senior blasted 11 home runs, four doubles, 38 RBIs with a .435 batting average. 

Jaidyn Devore, Barnwell: The 5-foot-8 senior pitcher was dominant all season long on the mound for Barnwell. Devore finished with a 16-3 record with a 0.99 earned run average along with 212 strikeouts. Barnwell ace pitched 113 innings, had five no hitters and gave up just 16 earned runs. 

Kensley Vicars, Powdersville: Vicars was amongst the group of talented sophomores that really had a strong spring. Vicars batted .444 at the plate with 11 homers, three triples, three doubles and 27 runs driven in. 

Leann Gilbert, North Augusta: Winning games was Gilbert’s specialty all season long for North Augusta. The senior hurler led the way and finished 15-3 on the mound with a 2.62 ERA and struck out 142 batters in 123 innings pitched. 

Stella Eichhorn, Ware Shoals: There was a handful of sophomores that had themselves a strong 2024 season and Eichhorn was one of them. The 2027 prospect batted .500 with four homers, six doubles, six triples and 39 RBIs. 

Grace Beacham, Hammond: Beacham had one of the best seasons of any pitchers in the Palmetto State. The senior hurler was sensational and went 15-3 with a 2.29 earned run average through 113 innings and fanned 158 strikeouts. 

Laney Jennings, Pendleton: There’s little doubt that one of the state’s best all around players was Jennings. She did it at the plate and on the mound, batting .594 with nine home runs, 15 doubles, three triples and 35 RBIs. On the mound, Jennings went 15-6 with a 2.08 ERA and 136 strikeouts.