Texas high school softball: Meet the Top 15 left-handed pitchers in the state in 2023

Position-by-position look at the top players in Texas during the 2023 high school softball season

Vote now: Who was the top left-handed pitcher in Texas high school softball in 2023?

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With the season in the rear view, SBLive is taking position-by-position look at the top high school softball players in the state of Texas in 2023.

After taking an in-depth look at the state's top right-handed pitchers and then the best outfielders, we've turned our focus to the top left-handed pitchers in during the spring 2023 season. 

Read the list of nominees below.

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Editor's note: There are hundreds of outstanding left-handed pitchers in Texas. Have a case to make for an addition? Email andy@scorbeooklive.com, reach us on Twitter or Instagram @SBLiveTX and let us know about other left-handed pitchers we missed.

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Top left-handed pitchers in Texas 2023

Ariel Arambula, fr., Cypress Ridge

How's this for a debut? The District 17-6A MVP proved herself as a pitcher, a standout hitter — right away as a ninth grader. She hit .559 with 14 home runs and 10 stolen bases and struck out 129 batters on the year.

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Madison Azua, sr., Round Rock

Texas State commit was 4-1 on the season with a 0.31 ERA in eight appearances — 44 2/3 innings pitched. She was also a standout at the plate, posting a .414 batting overage with six RBI.

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Reese Cottrell, jr., Franklin

The Texas Coaches Association All-State selection led Franklin to a district title and regional final appearance and was named district co-MVP after posting a 236-strikeout seasons with a 2.27 ERA and 30-8 record as a junior. She also made an impact at the plate to the tune of 14 home runs, 73 RBI and a .536 batting average.

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Madison Guidry, sr., La Porte

In an April win against Galveston Ball, she peppered five strikeouts across five innings and hit a grand slam, continuing Lamar signee is a devastating left-handed hurler and helped La Porte on its way to a bi-district postseason run. 

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Makayla Gresham, fr., Alvord

Alvord turne to her and the freshman phenom answered. She struck out 181 batters in her debut season in 126.1 innings. She had 10 strikeouts and just one run and three hits allowed in a district playoff game.

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Abigail Gutierrez, sr., Pearland

The Texas-Arlington pledge was pivotal in Pearland's run to win its first Class 6A state championship since 2010 in the circle and at the plate. Gutierrez struck out six in a complete game 3-2 win over Denton Guyer in the championship.

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Avery Holland, sr., Fredericksburg

The two-time Texas coaches association 4A all-state selection and East Texas Baptist commit surpassed 500 career strikeouts early in the season and delivered a master class in pitching in the district postseason round, delivering a 20-strikeout start in a 9-1 win over Wimberley.

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Shelby Schultz, jr., Lake Belton

The Tartleton State commit tossed Lake Belton's first-ever perfect game with eight strikeouts in four innings in March while going 4-for-4 at the plate. A couple weeks later, she logged her first grand slam. Lake Belton returns a dangerous arm in 2024.

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Anna Soles, sr., League City Clear Springs

Kansas signee posted a 3.62 ERA in with 79 strikeouts in 89 innings spread across 18 appearances and led Clear Springs to a bi-district appearance and was a first team all-district selection at first base after being a first team all-stater as a junior.

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Haylie Stum, sr., Cypress Bridgeland

As if her team-best batting average isn't enough, her well-above 4.0 GPA and prowess as a budding journalist back up her well-roundedness on the field. The East Texas Baptist commit helped Bridgeland qualify for state for the first time in school history.

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Alexa Taylor, sr., Mount Vernon

Taylor built an 8-3 record across 32 appearances as a senior, tossing 193 strikeouts in 134 1/3 innings with a 2.71 ERA as Mount Vernon made a run to the UIL Class 3A regional quarterfinals in a thrilling three-game series with Hooks.

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Cameron Timmons, sr., Southlake Carroll

The Harding commit posted a 1.40 ERA with a 25-6 record and 207 strikeouts and delivered in the batter's box too with a .511 ERA, helping Southlake Carroll reach the regional semifinals. Timmons was named District 4-6A MVP.

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Zaria Turner, jr., George Ranch

Accounted for 203 strikeouts in 122 1/3 innings with a 2.17 ERA and was named unanimous District 20-6A Pitcher of the Year, and showed it in the first round of the postseason. Across a 2-0 double-header, she struck out 19, gave up two earned runs and no walks. 

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Mallie West, soph., New Waverly

West helped New Waverly reach the bi-district round, posting a 1.51 ERA with 200 strikeouts in 97 2/3 innings. A standout basketball player, West joined the team after the start of the season and rattled off a 20-strikeout perfect game by season's end.

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Reagan Wick, sr., Weimar

Colorado State commit was the Texas coaches association's 1A-4A state softball player of the year after leading Weimar to a UIL Class 2A state championship. She went 33-3 with a 1.09 ERA and 361 strikeouts in 200 innings and had five home runs and 40 RBI hitting on the season. She was the winning pitcher in Weimar's state semifinal win and thrilling title game win.

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Lead photo by Andrew McCulloch