We continue our extensive look at the 2030 Line Drive HOT 100 player rankings by featuring those talented athletes rated #’s 50-41.

This class will also be updated several more times so know that there will be a lot of change over the next several years!

Each weekday for two weeks we are honoring players via our countdown with 10 spots each day per the following schedule:

• #’s 100-91 (Mon., Jan. 27, 2025)
• #’s 90-81 (Tue., Jan. 28, 2025)
• #’s 80-71 (Wed., Jan. 29, 2025)
• #’s 70-61 (Thu., Jan. 30, 2025)
• #’s 60-51 (Fri. Jan. 31, 2025)
• #’s 50-41 (Mon., Feb. 3, 2025)
• #’s 40-31 (Tue., Feb. 4, 2025)
• #’s 30-21 (Wed., Feb. 5, 2025)
• #’s 20-11 (Thu., Feb. 6, 2025)
• #’s 10-1 (Fri. Feb. 7, 2025)

Line Drive Softball will also list those prospects ranked #’s 101+ as well as the 2030 Class Position Rankings, Regional Rankings and a spotlight on the top-rated player.

To send in information including player updates and other news, e-mail:

Brentt.Eads@LineDriveMedia.com

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50—Jaycee Carter, IF/C, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2030 – Wilkerson
Jaycee has impressive size for her age group and can be an intimidating player on the field. Last year she hit .483 with a .543 on-base percentage, a .875 slugging percentage and drove in 48 runs and had 29 multi-base hits. On the defensive side, the first baseman’s fielding percentage was .950. Jaycee is an offensive force because she has a lot of power at the plate and has a strong arm defensively. Says Head Coach Jeff Wilkerson: “She really understands the importance of strength and agility training and why she trains almost daily at D1 Training. Her workouts have been so impressive she has been moved up to the 15-and-older classes due to her work ethic and athleticism. Jaycee can play first base and behind the plate equally well thanks to a strong that which compliments her abilities at both positions.

49—Ali Bryan, C/UT, Athletics Gold – Tamborra/Spencer
Ali shines on both sides of the ball and, with the stick, she hit .397 and was consistently making contact and getting on base. Her on-base percentage was .504 and at catcher she shined with a .979 fielding percentage.  Carrying. A 4.0 GPA and being home schooled a few days per week, Ali has proven to be reliable, recording 45 putouts with her ability to contribute to multiple positions making her a valuable asset to her team. Coach Hannah Spencer explains: “Beyond her game-day performance, Ali is always in the cages and at lessons, constantly working to improve and refine her skills.”

48—Hannah Hudson, IF/OF, Atlanta Vipers – Murphy 2011
Hannah joined the Atlanta Vipers – Murphy team in the Spring of 2023 and immediately proved to be a defensive commodity who can play multiple positions with success. Head Coach Mike Murphy comments: “At the plate, she is one of the biggest hitting threats on the field and Hannah’s swing is compact, balanced, quick, and extremely powerful. She hits the softball to all parts of the field with elite power and has the knack for putting the ball into play in clutch situations.” In 2024, Hannah hit .388 with five home runs, seven doubles, 10 triples, and drove in 56 RBIs with an impressive .624 slugging percentage. She is skilled, athletic and agile and works extremely hard off the field. Coach Murphy adds: “Her arm strength is in the top percentile as well as her speed on the base paths. She is a great teammate and extremely coachable.”

47—Cheyenne Sterling, IF, Power Surge – Walling/Sterling 2030
Cheyenne is a versatile player with a high softball IQ. She has a high batting average and excellent base running. Surge Assistant Coach Jacqueline Melgar says: “Cheyenne can recognize offensive opportunities and takes advantages of them as they arise. As a utility player she helps our team succeed both on the mound and in the field.” For the last two years, she has been named as an Alliance Player of the Month and off the field carries a 3.8 GPA and actively participates in her Joan Macqueen Middle School (Alpine, Calif.) intramural sports teams.

T-46—Emmy Kate Grosvenor, P/IF, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2030 – Wilkerson
Emma Kate has good strength and brings impressive velocity in the circle, throwing around 60 mph. She locates the ball well and has great spin on the ball along with a change-up that keeps hitters off-balance. Add in a curve, screwball and rise ball which, combined, makes “EK” one of the top pitchers in her class. Last year, she had 100 strikeouts, a 1.24 ERA, a .145 batting average against and completed four no -hitters. With the stick, she’s also a formidable competitor who produced a .352 batting average, a .455 on-base percentage with 50 RBIs and helped lead her Bolts team to a PGF National Championship. Head Coach Jeff Wilkerson adds: “Emmy Kate is a very coachable player and has a great attitude. She is an extremely hard worker and focuses on her craft almost daily.” EK is also active in cross country, track and is the only girl on her Nashville Christian School (Tenn.) wrestling team.

T-46—Sophia Russell, C, Beverly Bandits Premier – Ault
Sophia is from Wooster, Ohio, and is a key component on Ty Ault’s team which has won four PGF National Championships and against 12U teams going back to last year has compiled a sizzling 88-1 record. The backstop is stellar on both sides of the ball, hitting .441 with a .980 fielding percentage. Coach Ault says: “Soph has played up with her travel ball career and has come to the team in her first year and has joined the catchers’ staff and blended right into a dominant group.” The 2030 grad is also a straight A student who plays volleyball and basketball for her middle school team.

T-45—Avery Morrow, IF/P, Wisconsin Lightning 12U
Avery batted .375 last year with a .474 on-base percentage while playing defense with a .934 fielding percentage. The Racine, Wisc. Player has a 3.96 GPA in the classroom and runs track. Head Coach David Sunden explains: “Avery is the perfect example of a well-rounded, high IQ softball player who plays the game at a high level and can play almost anywhere on the field. Her sound mechanics and attention to detail have made Avery a versatile infielder defensively and she also has great instincts running the bases and is a threat offensively with her high batting average and on-base percentage. She has also been a reliable, strike-throwing pitcher who has come in to get us out of some jams defensively.”

T-45—Madison Padovano, MIF/OF, Corona Angels 12U – Tyson
Madison is a versatile middle infielder and outfielder who can hit for power and also soft slap. She attended an On-Deck event where she was recorded with a 47.5 mph bat speed, a 52 mph exit speed and an overall Allister Index of 59.21. From Chino, Calif., she has the tools and athleticism to play anywhere in the infield but primarily is a shortstop due to her ability to reach balls in the 6-hole that most middle infielders can’t. One top source in the prestigious Angels organization commented: “Madison brings so much to the table when it comes to softball abilities: strength, smarts and the ability to place the ball in the field where the defense can’t reach it.  She has great potential for us.

T-44—Austyn Borer, P/SS, Rhode Island Thunder – Lieto/Lotti
Austyn is a dominant force both in the circle and at the plate for her Rhode Island Thunder 12U club.  According to her coach, Frank Lieto: “Austyn is a pure athlete and future 5-tool star.”  She commanded dominance in the circle last Fall in her first year with the Thunder, hurling 52 innings with 99 strikeouts.  At the plate, she is a rare switch-hitting leadoff batter with a knack for getting on base.  Austyn batted .460 last year, scoring 40 runs and showcasing her speed with 21 stolen bases. When not in the circle, Austyn plays shortstop, where she excels defensively. Beyond softball, Austyn is a standout on the basketball court, demonstrating her versatility and athleticism across multiple sports. She also maintains a strong academic record, consistently achieving Honor Roll recognition.

T-44—Emerson Rohrschneider, IF/C, Impact 14U – Caymol
Emerson, from Buford, Ga., put up high marks last Fall for Teo Caymol’s Impact team as she hit .552 with a .594 on-base percentage, a 1.241 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.835 to be the team leader in most statical categories. One of the top players in the Southeast, Emerson is a “high-level athlete who excels at all parts of the game,” Coach Caymol says. While mainly playing third base and catcher, Emerson can easily transition to middle infield or outfield as needed. She’s a new player on Caymol’s 14U national team and the coach adds: “Emerson should quickly establish herself on the national scene this summer with her all around skill-set and elite level athleticism.” The Peach State standout comes from a large family of athletes and is one of seven siblings, most who play sports. One sister competed in collegiate soccer and a brother is a much sought-after high school football player.

T-43—Madison Meaux, IF, LA Slam
Madison is a lefty hitter who throws right and the scouting report on her is she has good speed, is solid offensively and defensively and—according to her coaches—“she has a great work ethic, is a team player and leader. Balancing school with a 4.0 GPA and athleticism that also allows her to play basketball and volleyball in addition to softball, where her mom was a D1 fastpitch player.  Madison has a great eye at the plate and batted .409 last year to make her one of the top 2030 prospect from Louisiana (she attends Cathedral-Carmel School in Lafayette, La.)

T-43—Maggie Whitaker, IF, Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier 2029 – Whitaker
Maggie is from Hoover, Ala., and has the skills to play anywhere in the infield but is primarily set at first base. Last year she batted .328 and parlayed that into a .521 batting average. Head Coach Russell Whitaker says: “Maggie is a long and athletic first baseman with a lot of potential. She has proven she can hit for a high average and for power.” On defense, the 2030 grad compiled a stellar .979 fielding percentage. In the classroom Maggie has a 4.0 GPA and has been on her school’s Honor Role while also being recognized with the Finley Character Award.

T-42—Eleanor Stewart, C, Wisconsin Lightning 12U
Eleanor is one of the top catchers in the Midwest and was impressively strong behind the plate as she caught 117 innings last season with a 27.8 caught stealing percentage and had three pickoffs while compiling a strong .985 fielding percentage. She’s not a one-dimensional player, however, as she batted .323 with a .436 on-base percentage. From Crystal Lake, Ill, Eleanor “has one of the strongest arms we’ve ever seen on a player her age,” says Head Coach David Sunden. “She has an absolute cannon of an arm that discourages baserunners from stealing and offensively carries a strong bat in the middle of the lineup and a high contact rate over 90 percent along with the lowest number of strikeouts on the team. When not playing softball, the 2030 grad can be found playing volleyball or swimming. She has a tremendous 4.17 GPA at Hannah Beardley Middle School in Crystal Lake, Ill.

T-42—Jayda White, P/UT, Atlanta Vipers – Murphy 2011
Jayda is an advanced athlete who excels on the mound and at the plate. She is a true utility, being able to play—and excel—in all nine fielding positions in addition to being a dominating force in the circle. Ranked a USA All American, Jayda represented the Southeast Region on the USA All American Team in Oklahoma City at Devon Field. She closed the 2024 season with 339 strikeouts, a 1.37 ERA, a WHIP of 0.91, and an opposing average of just .154 against her. Coach Mike Murphy explains: Due to Jayda’s quick reaction and reflexes on the mound and a 63-mph overhand throw, she shuts down an opponent’s bunting strategy and allowed only two bunts to reach first during the 2024 season. “Jayda finished the last year with a .974 fielding average,” Coach Murphy adds, “and as a lefty batter, she hit .434 in 230 at-bats, 67 RBI’s, three home runs, and only 16 strikeouts, Jayda is a reliable lead-off with a high OBP.”

41—Zoey Hager, IF, Power Surge 2K12- Hammond
Zoey is elite in her defensive and accomplished in her hitting, putting up big numbers last year for Head Coach Jason Hammond’s team out of California including a .470 batting average and 25 RBIs. She also pitched as needed and compiled a strong 0.76 ERA. From the San Diego County area in the Golden State, Zoey attends Lakeside Middle School in Lakeside, Calif. and is also talented in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA. Coach Hammond adds: “Zoey is exceptional in every sport that she plays.”

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball