PIAA softball season preview 2024-25: Meet the top 9 players to watch in Butler County
The high school softball season has already gotten underway, giving some Butler County players a chance to showcase their talents on the diamond. While the scene features multiple Division I commits, there are younger players who are making a name for themselves, too.
Seneca Valley enters this season hoping to defend a district title, while fellow WPIAL Class 6A competitor Butler believes things are looking up for a program that has struggled in recent years.
Freeport boasts a team without a senior on its roster, and Mars, Karns City, Slippery Rock, Knoch, North Catholic and A-C Valley are also aiming for success
Here are the players to watch at local high school softball fields, listed alphabetically:
A two-year starter at backstop for the Rockets, Campbell bats second in the team’s order. She notched 19 hits and 18 RBIs a season ago and “is looking to pursue a future in softball at Geneva College,” Slippery Rock coach Dan Beebe said. Campbell also bashed three home runs as a sophomore.
Caruso, a third-year starter at the hot corner, hit .279 with four home runs last season. She captains the Yellowjackets, who moved up to Class 4A this season with no seniors on the roster.
Craska comes from a family full of Division I diamond commits, and she’s headed to Holy Cross to continue her career. Planets coach Mike Bell said she’s one of the best at her position in the WPIAL. She batted in the two-hole for Mars last season.
Hames, a Clemson recruit, was named the 2023-24 Gatorade Pennsylvania Softball Player of the Year after the Raiders won the WPIAL Class 6A title for the second time in three seasons last year.
The reigning Butler Eagle Female Athlete of the Year, she’s a threat both as a pitcher (0.60 ERA, 250 strikeouts last season) and a hitter (.380 batting average, 25 RBIs).
The Falcons look up to Hartzell, who bats lead-off and blasted a home run against Youngsville last week.
“She has a really good eye for the ball,” A-C Valley coach Lauren Forrest said. “She has a real high on-base percentage, whether she’s taking walks, taking pitches, hitting the ball.”
Throughout the Knights’ first three games, Hensch was on a tear, batting .500 for coach Chris Gardner’s crew. According to NCSA College Recruiting, she has a pop time of 2.0 seconds and was a second-team all-section honoree last year.
Miller is about as sure-handed as it gets, posting a .905 fielding percentage last year. A second-team Big 56 honoree as a sophomore, Raiders coach Marlesse Hames said the team will “look for her to continue to be a force on the corner and in the box.”
As a sophomore, Taylor was an All-KSAC selection last season. As of March 27, she was batting .462 this season with a 1.154 OPS and a .692 slugging percentage.
“A truly dynamic player on both sides of the ball,” Gremlins coach Michael Grazioli said.
Vicari, a Youngstown State pledge, plays high-level travel ball when not competing with the Golden Tornado. She spends extra time on her mechanics and leads off for Butler, which makes it hard for opponents to pitch around her.
