The 2024 Iowa high school softball state tournament begins on Monday, and some of the state’s most talented players will compete for the championship trophy in five different classes.
Some of those players separate themselves from the crowd, like Sigourney’s Carly Goodwin and St. Edmond’s Mariah Myers. Between college-level recruits and some exceptional young athletes, there is no shortage of softball talent in Iowa.
Here are 10 of the top softball players competing in the Iowa high school softball state tournament.
Names are listed in alphabetical order by last name. Stats are based on what was inputted to GoBound by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 17.
Ana Glawe, Jr., Benton
The Bobcats head to Fort Dodge as the No. 1 team in the Class 3A bracket, and Glawe is a major part of Benton’s success. She has started all 37 games and batted in 62 runs, fourth-most in the state. Her 13 home runs are the most on the team, and her .469 batting average is second-best among starters.
Carly Goodwin, Sr., Sigourney
The reigning Gatorade Iowa Softball Player of the Year is back in the state tournament. She leads the team with 39 RBIs and a .495 batting average, and that’s not even the strongest part of her game. Goodwin holds a 21-2 record with 148.1 innings pitched, collecting 331 strikeouts and a 0.33 ERA.
Marin Heller, Jr., Valley
The top-seeded Tigers are the team to beat in Class 5A, especially with Heller on the field. She helped Valley to a 36-4 overall record with 61 RBIs, 12 home runs and a .455 batting average. In the field, she recorded 75 putouts and a .962 fielding percentage.
Erica Houge, Sr., Collins-Maxell
Opposing batters must hate to see Houge in the circle. She has a 27-3 record through 180 innings pitched, compiling 364 strikeouts and an astounding 0.19 ERA. She’s pretty darn good on offense, too, with 42 RBIs and a .640 batting average.
Ava Husak, Jr., North Polk
Husak has the second-most wins (28), second-most strikeouts (342) and most innings pitched (217) among all pitchers statewide. She has a 0.94 ERA as a pitcher and, as a batter, 45 RBIs, 12 home runs and a .505 batting average.
Cassie Johnson, Sr., Ankeny
It has not been the senior season Johnson hoped for, with just 12 games played due to injury. Still, she racked up 10 RBIs and three home runs during that time. In the field, she has 39 putouts and zero errors.
Kasey Kane, Jr., Pleasant Valley
Like a few other teams on this list, there are several players on Pleasant Valley’s roster who could be considered among the best. Kane is top-tier for the Spartans, with 59 RBIs and 12 home runs. From behind the plate, she picked up 103 putouts and a .984 fielding percentage.
Mariah Myers, Jr., St. Edmond
Myers' list of accolades includes: the third-best batting average (.627), fourth-most home runs (14), best on-base percentage (.734), and the best slugging percentage statewide. Did we mention that she has struck out zero times? Even in Class 1A, the Iowa softball commit proved she’s among the best in the state.
Sophia Schlader, 8th, Waukee Northwest
It’s hard to say that an eighth-grader is one of the top 10 softball players this season, but her resume stands out. She has a 19-5 record in the circle, with 222 strikeouts and a 0.81 ERA. At the plate, she’s the statewide leader with 18 home runs and added 43 RBIs in 119 at bats.
Maddie Waldorf, Sr., Van Meter
How do you pick just one player from a team with a single loss this season? Waldorf certainly makes the decision easier. Her resume includes 56 RBIs, nine home runs and a .527 batting average on offense, and 269 strikeouts and a 0.73 ERA as a pitcher.
Other players to watch:
- Isabel Bernard, Jr., Sumner-Fredericksburg
- Jessie Clemons, Sr., Pleasant Valley
- Aubrey Johansen, Sr., Dallas Center-Grimes
- Izzie Moore, Jr., Wayne
- Abby Rusher, Sr., Ankeny
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
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