Meet the Gainesville Sun's All-Area Big School Softball Teams, Player of the Year

The rumors started on NW 13th Street before the 2024 high school softball season about a certain pitcher stepping foot onto GHS campus.

Head coach Chris Chronister heard about the potential of an incoming freshman, but he knows at this point in his career to hold until he sees himself.

Immediately, he knew of the talent Leanna Bourdage possessed.

Few could guess what the freshman would accomplish in her first season.

First in Class 5A in strikeouts, wins and ERA. Top 12 in home runs and runs. A trip to the state semifinals and within one run of a state championship, the school's first since 2016.

Now, she's the Sun's All-Gainesville Area Big School Softball Player of the Year.

She has interest from multiple colleges, including Tim Walton and UF, and that only expects to increase as Bourdage's play improves over the next three years.

Below is the full Big School Softball team, consisting of 22 athletes from eight local schools.

Congrats to all, and be on the lookout in the coming days and weeks for the rest of the spring 2024 All-Area teams !

Gainesville Sun All-Area Big School Softball First Team

Infield : Emma Mansfield, PK Yonge, Junior: 0.613 BA (41 ^st in FL, 9 ^th in 3A), 0.724 OBP (27 ^th in FL, 6 ^th in 3A), 46 Rs (14 ^th in FL, 4 ^th in 3A), 1.145 SLG (29 ^th in FL, 6 ^th in 3A), 4 HRs (39 ^th in 3A)

Infield : Julianna Abraham, Buchholz, Junior: 4 HRs (34 ^th in 6A), 34 RBIs (76 ^th in FL, 13 ^th in 6A), 0.481 BA (43 ^rd in 6A), 0.580 OBP (39 ^th in 6A), 0.753 SLG (49 ^th in 6A)

Infield : Maren Hornsby, Santa Fe, Freshman: 0.558 BA (22 ^nd in 3A), 34 Rs (29 ^th in 3A), 0.591 OBP (40 ^th in 3A), 19 SBs (35 ^th in 3A)

Infield : McKenna O’Sullivan, Gainesville High, Junior: 35 RBIs (59 ^th in FL, 14 ^th in 5A), 2 HRs, 26 Rs (53 ^rd in 5A), 4 wins (49 ^th in 5A)

Outfield : Amy Crosby, Santa Fe, Senior: 0.521 BA (34 ^th in 3A), 4 HRs (31 ^st in 3A), 46 Rs (12 ^th in FL, 3 ^rd in 3A), 30 SBs (54 ^th in FL, 5 ^th in 3A), 0.755 SLG (48 ^th in 3A)

Outfield : Elise Knopf, GHS, Senior: 39 Rs (52 ^nd in FL, 13 ^th in 5A), 20 SBs (34 ^th in 5A)

Outfield : J’Lyn Guyden, Santa Fe, Junior: 49 RBIs (6 ^th in FL, 2 ^nd in 3A), 0.552 BA (26 ^th in 3A), 0.602 OBP (35 ^th in 3A), .793 SLG (39 ^th in 3A)

Catcher : Braylin Cook, GHS, Junior: 12 HRs (8 ^th in FL, 2 ^nd in 5A), 43 RBIs (15 ^th in FL, 6 ^th in 5A), 1.062 SLG (46 ^th in FL, 7 ^th in 5A)

Utility : Leanna Bourdage, GHS, Freshman: 251 Ks (13 ^th in FL, 1 ^st in 5A), 0.57 ERA (9 ^th in FL, 1 ^st in 5A), 3 no-hitters (9 ^th in FL, 1 ^st in 5A), 19 wins (11 ^th in FL, 1 ^st in 5A), 7 HRs (9 ^th in 5A), 40 Rs (47 ^th in FL, 12 ^th in 5A)

Pitcher : Harleigh Price, Columbia, Freshman: 119 Ks (20 ^th in 5A), 2.33 ERA (23 ^rd in 5A), 0.460 BA, 4 HRs (31 ^st in 5A)

Pitcher : Sarah Burns, Santa Fe, Sophomore: 114 Ks (27 ^th in 3A), 1.44 ERA (67 ^th in FL, 15 ^th in 3A), 8 wins (28 ^th in 3A)

Gainesville Sun All-Area Big School Softball Second Team

Infield : Alison Sanetz, PK Yonge, Junior: 0.600 BA (50 ^th in FL, 11 ^th in 3A), 0.671 OBP (12 ^th in 3A), 34 Rs (31 ^st in 3A), 0.862 SLG (26 ^th in 3A), 26 RBIs (44 ^th in 3A)

Infield : Ashley Nugent, Keystone Heights: 4 HRs (38 ^th in 3A), 23 RBIs (70 ^th in 3A), 0.667 SLG (78 ^th in 3A)

Infield : Gracie Mattson, Santa Fe, Junior: 36 Rs (19 ^th in 3A), 37 RBIs (36 ^th in FL, 8 ^th in 3A), 0.494 BA (49 ^th in 3A)

Infield : Madison Blackford, Buchholz, Senior: 37 SBs (17 ^th in FL, 2 ^nd in 6A), 0.438 BA (87 ^th in 6A), 25 RBIs (46 ^th in 6A), 28 Rs (54 ^th in 6A)

Outfield : Amelia Collins, Buchholz, Senior: 32 Rs (26 ^th in 6A), 27 RBIs (35 ^th in 6A), 0.412 BA

Outfield : Breleigh Ford, Santa Fe, Junior: 2 HRs, 0.389 BA

Outfield : Sakiya Merriex, Columbia, Junior: 27 Rs (47 ^th in 5A), 0.411 BA, 0.543 OBP

Catcher : Addyson Hinds, Bradford, Sophomore: 6 HRs (17 ^th in 3A), 25 RBIs (53 ^rd in 3A), 0.806 SLG (38 ^th in 3A)

Utility : Rylie Blakenship, Bradford, Senior: 28 SBs (8 ^th in 3A), 27 Ks, 0.494 BA (52 ^nd in 3A), 0.565 OBP (58 ^th in 3A)

Pitcher : Gracie Watley, Suwannee, Sophomore: 223 Ks (22 ^nd in FL, 8 ^th in 3A), 2.53 ERA (29 ^th in 3A), 6 wins (39 ^th in 3A)

Pitcher : Kadence Massey, Keystone Heights, Sophomore: 74 Ks (47 ^th in 3A), 3.39 ERA (48 ^th in 3A), 7 wins (32 ^nd in 3A)

Coach of the Year: Chris Chronister, GHS

Chronister was an easy choice for this honor. Not only did he take the 'Canes to the state championship game, but he led GHS on a remarkable turnaround. The Hurricanes went from a seven-win team to 20-plus wins, and with Braylin Cook and Leanna Bourdage back for next season, watch out for more hurricane warnings.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Meet the Gainesville Sun's All-Area Big School Softball Teams, Player of the Year