Haley Downin
Chesapeake-AA, junior, pitcher-utility
Downin had an Anne Arundel County-leading 17-4 record with 83 strikeouts and 2.87 ERA for the Cougars last season. She led the team in batting average (.466), runs scored (37), hits (41) and stolen bases (10) as the leadoff hitter, and had an on-base percentage of .495 and a fielding percentage of 1.000 with 57 opportunities.
Katie Dustin
Glenelg, senior, catcher
Dustin, a standout defensive player and one of the area’s most consistent hitters, had the second-best batting average in Howard County last season at .671. She finished with 47 hits, 36 runs, 40 RBIs, 12 doubles, two triples, six home runs and struck out just once all year.
Jordan Johnson
Archbishop Spalding, junior, outfielder
Johnson, an All-Metro second-team selection last spring, batted .403 with 12 RBIs and 11 steals. Along with standout junior catcher Angela Sena, Johnson will look to help the Cavaliers power through a tough nonconference schedule and improve on last season’s 8-2 IAAM A Conference record.
Emily Kim
C. Milton Wright, senior, pitcher-shortstop
Kim led the defending Class 3A state champion Mustangs in batting average (.438) and runs scored (28), and had 16 RBIs last spring to earn All-Metro first-team honors. She was one of only three players to start all 25 games, and also led the team in hits (39) and doubles (six) and struck out just three times in 98 plate appearances while pitching 39 2/3 innings with two saves.
Campbell Kline
Severna Park, junior, shortstop-pitcher
Kline, a Maryland commit, batted .611 with 20 runs scored, 44 hits, three doubles, six triples, three inside-the-park home runs, 23 RBIs and 18 stolen bases last season to earn Capital Gazette Player of the Year honors. She also pitched, going 4-1 with three saves and a 2.33 ERA for the Falcons, allowing more than two runs just twice in her 11 appearances and finishing with 28 strikeouts in 30 innings.
Taylor Liguori
Hammond, junior, shortstop
Liguori finished last season with a .508 batting average, 30 hits, 34 runs, 34 RBIs, seven doubles, a Howard County-leading nine home runs and 13 stolen bases. Liguori, who has been committed orally to play softball at Maryland since her freshman year, also hit three home runs in a game and totaled 29 putouts and 58 assists.
Lauren Marcotte
Centennial, sophomore, shortstop
Marcotte set school records with .703 batting average, .732 OBP and 1.406 slugging percentage to lead the Eagles, striking out just once last season. One of the best defensive players in the region, she also had 32 RBIs, 35 runs scored, eight doubles, seven home runs and four stolen bases.
Emma Ritter
John Carroll, sophomore, center fielder
Ritter also impressed as a freshman, batting .643 with a .667 OBP, 1.446 slugging percentage, 36 RBIs and 29 runs scored for the IAAM A Conference champion Patriots. She also hit eight home runs, seven doubles and seven triples and stole 12 bases to earn All-IAAM A Conference honors.
Chloe Sharman
South Carroll, senior, pitcher
The Carroll County Times Player of the Year had 171 strikeouts in 141 innings last spring. She finished 18-6 with a 1.88 ERA to help the Cavaliers earn their first county title in 35 years and reach their first Class 2A state championship game.
Casey Turner
Eastern Tech, senior, shortstop
Turner batted .428 with 27 RBIs last spring to help the Mavericks win their seventh straight Baltimore County crown. The All-Metro second-team selection, who helped turn seven double plays at short, also led the team with three home runs and 31 runs and had a fielding percentage of .912.
Other notables
Karen Ackerman, Maryvale Prep, sophomore, pitcher-second baseman
Hunter Adams, Dundalk, senior, pitcher-shortstop
Gabby Archie, Francis Scott Key, sophomore, infielder
Taylor Baldwin, Mount Carmel, senior, catcher
Mikayla Barnard, Marriotts Ridge, senior, pitcher
Natalie Bates, Eastern Tech, senior, first baseman
Sydni Carroll, South Carroll, sophomore, infielder
Madison Chadwick, Broadneck, junior, outfielder
Kearstyn Chapman, McDonogh, sophomore, pitcher-shortstop
Michelle Cisco, C. Milton Wright, senior, third baseman
Julia Colton, Howard, junior, outfielder
Corinne Corsaro, Manchester Valley, senior, outfielder
Holly Daum, Reservoir, senior, outfielder
Paige Eakes, Howard, sophomore, catcher
Caitlin Ellwanger, Roland Park, senior, shortstop
Madison Gemmill, McDonogh, junior, catcher
Taylor Glover, Winters Mill, senior, infielder
Jordyn Goodman, Lansdowne, senior, pitcher
Shanya Gordon, Howard, senior, outfielder
Emma Kropkowski, John Carroll, junior, pitcher
Hunter Little, Reservoir, senior, shortstop
Jess Miller, Sparrows Point, senior, pitcher
Caroline Mills, Arundel, junior, third baseman
Jordan Nastos, Liberty, sophomore, catcher
Molly Nies, Marriotts Ridge, junior, infielder
Grace Palmieri, Arundel, senior, pitcher-shortstop
Akirra Pullen, Dulaney, senior, pitcher
Olivia Reese, Centennial, sophomore, catcher
Angela Sena, Archbishop Spalding, junior, catcher
Meghan Sheehan, John Carroll, senior, shortstop
Gillian Sinnott, Century, senior, catcher
Amy Stetser, Glenelg, junior, pitcher
Karlee Stocksdale, Mount de Sales, senior, shortstop
Kayla Szczybor, Mercy, senior, first baseman
Michaela Watts, Hereford, sophomore, shortstop