We continue our Spring of 2026 series honoring outstanding performances by recognizing a National Player of the Week and others who are selected as a Runner-Up Player of the Week.

Each Tuesday through June we’ll recognize and highlight top accomplishments nationwide. If you’d like to have a player considered, scroll down to see how to send in a nomination.

Games are for Monday, March 23, 2026, through Sunday, March 29, 2026…

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Line Drive Softball’s National High School Player of the Week (March 24, 2026)

*** Morgan Maxwell, the junior lefty pitcher and first baseman from West Forsyth (N.C.) High is well known nationally already.

A Georgia Bulldog commit, member of the U18 Women’s National Team and the No. 3-ranked player in the 2027 Line Drive HOT 100, Morgan can impact the game like few others and she continues to prove why she’s one of the most dominant young student-athletes in high school softball. 

Morgan delivered a dominating week both at the plate and in the circle as a two-way force all week long.

At the plate, Morgan went 6-for-8 (.750) with a 3.028 OPS and 2.250 slugging percentage, consistently producing in big moments.

Most impressive, however, was her production with runners in scoring position. She hit 1.000 and that resulted in her hitting three home runs, driving in 10 runs with one of those blows being a grand slam.

One reason for the future SEC player’s success at the plate is her work with Bryan Jones, a former coach at Duke University who is seeing the progress his prized student is making.

“Morgan has made remarkable progress as a hitter,” Jones explains.

“Her focus on timing, bat speed, and maintaining connection is a small part of our training. Her exceptional bat-to-ball skills, combined with her strength, enable her to hit with power to all fields, demonstrating her versatility. 

Along with her dominating offense onslaught, Morgan’s impact on the mound was equally impressive.  

Morgan went 2–0 throwing 10 innings without allowing a single earned run, while the team went 3-0.

She finished the week with 17 strikeouts, a 0.00 ERA, a 0.30 WHIP and a .033 opponent batting average.

Her two-way production has helped her team to a 9-2 record so far this season and Morgan’s contribution to that early season mark includes 77 K’s in 51 innings pitched, a 0.17 ERA, a .506 WHIP, a 0.82 batting average against and a 5-2 record overall.

With the stick, she’s hitting .484 with a .556 on-base percentage, a 1.556 OPS, a 1.000 slugging percentage, three home runs, 13 RBIs and a .545 batting average with runners in scoring position.

What, Line Drive asked her, was working so well last week?

“Pitching-wise, I focused on driving my curveball under hitters’ hands, keeping it tight and late so it breaks inside with intent,” she answered.

“At the plate, I stayed back on my back leg and let the ball travel deeper into the zone, which helped me see it longer and drive it with more consistency.”

A follow-up question: “If you have to pick one area of your game you’ve been most proud of this season so far, would it be your pitching or hitting?”

“I’ve been really proud of the way my flip changeup and rise ball have come together this season,” the athlete explained.

“Both pitches have helped me become a more complete pitcher and given me the ability to change speeds and eye levels with real purpose.”

“Offensively, I’ve also taken a big step by driving the ball to right‑center more consistently, which has been a point of emphasis and something I’m proud to see paying off.”

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Runner-Up Line Drive Softball National Players of the Week

*** Emma Davies, a sophomore pitcher and utility player at Ursuline (Youngstown, Ohio) High, pitched six innings and had nine strikeouts versus just three walks allowed, two hits and no runs scored against her.

She also batted .500 (3-for-6) with a .571 OPB, a 1.000 slugging percentage, three doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored.

Emma pitched a shutout, while striking out nine batters to help her team clinch its third win of the season.

For the young season, she’s hitting .600 with a .636 OBP and has five doubles. Pitching-wise, she has 17 K’s in 13 innings with a 1.62 ERA.

Emma is known for her great speed on the basepaths and has been clocked home to first in 2.78 seconds.

*** Layla Odgen, a senior pitcher and first baseman has led South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.) High to an undefeated record and a Top 50 ranking in the latest Line Drive Super 70 High School Team Rankings.

Last week, she played four games—pitching two—and both of those games were no-hitters.

Layla, who is going to college at Western Kentucky, where she signed last December to play for the Hilltoppers, had 15 strikeouts in seven innings with just one walk allowed and the no hits given up.

At the plate, she went 8-for-15 (.533) and drove in seven runs.

So far in 2026, Layla is hitting .560 with 14 hits in 25 at-bats and has two home runs and 14 RBIs. In the circle, she’s 3-0 with 18 K’s in 10 innings pitched with just two hits allowed and a 0.70 ERA.

*** Brooke Zuluaga, a senior from Tempe, Ariz. who plays for Seton Catholic Prep had a very interesting week—and it wasn’t just softball related.

On the softball fields, Brooke recorded her 500^th career strikeout as she pitched 14 innings across three games starts and had a 76.3 strikeout efficiency while recording 20 K’s, just one walks, a 1.00 ERA and a .180 BAA.

Offensively, she was solid as well with a .400 batting average, five runs scored and three steals.

And here’s where it gets interesting: Brooke is also a standout track athlete, particularly in the javelin, and at the prestigious 86^th Chandler Rotary event—a national prep track and field event, she had the third furthest throw in the history of the meet.

The senior, who is signed for track and softball at Miami (Ohio) Univ., won last year with a throw of 139’10” and this year she defended her title with a 145′ throw, which set a school record as well.

Another fun fact: current Oklahoma Sooner sophomore infielder Gabby Garcia from Chandler, Ariz. won the 82nd, 83rd, & 84th javelin competition at the Chandler Rotary Meet before Brooke’s strong two-year run.

*** Cenzie Collin, a Class of 2028 catcher at Grace Christian (Knoxville, Tenn.), was hot at the plate as she went 7-for-10 with a home run and six RBIs. She also had three walks.

In 16 games so far in 2026, Cenzie has compiled a .463 batting average and .600 OBP in 55 plate appearances with 19 hits—two being home runs and four doubles.

She also has 17 RBIs, 21 runs scored and six steals.

*** Malloree Harr, who was just recognized as being tied for No. 3 overall in the Line Drive 2030 HOT 100, showed why she’s one of the very best in her class with her performances last week.

The righty pitcher and eighth grader at Boyd Buchanan (Chattanooga, Tenn.) batted .750 with a home run and tossed 10 innings with 16 strikeouts of the 42 batters she faced with a 1.40 ERA and a .184 BAA.

So far this season, she’s batting an impressive .509 with 27 hits including six home runs. Malloree has driven in 25 runs and her pitching line includes 66 strikeouts in 53.1 innings with a 1.58 ERA and a .203 BAA

Not even a high schooler yet, Malloree has nonetheless put together a stellar softball resume that includes being a member of the U15 Women’s National Team, a USA All-American (twice) and an All-Tournament honoree at the Science Hill Invitational.

And, oh by the way, did we tell you she’s ranked No. 3 in her class? Definitely one to watch for the future!

*** Kyla Bain, a 2027 uncommitted lefty pitcher from Fruitvale (Texas), continues to have an All-American-type season.

Last week, she pitched 14 innings over two games and went 2-0 with 29 strikeouts, a .173 BAA and just three earned runs allowed.

With the bat, Kyla hit .625 (5-for-8) with a triple, two doubles and three RBIs. She was also perfect in the field.

For the season, Kyla has 207 K’s in 118.2 innings with a 2.48 ERA, a 1.323 WHIP and a .214 batting average against.

In district play, she has a .522 batting average and no errors.

In three seasons, Kyla has 669 strikeouts and as a freshman was a unanimous District Pitcher of the Year, and a sophomore was a 1^st Team All-District selection.

Additionally, Kyla has been the Offensive and Defensive MVP at Fruitvale High and is currently ranked #7 in the nation in strikeouts this year on MaxPreps.

*** Another young player to watch is eighth grader Rory Bragg who is not only playing high school varsity softball, she’s excelling at it.

Last week, for Metcalfe Co. High in Kentucky, she threw a no-hitter with 20 strikeouts in 99 pitches against Red Boiling Springs of Tennessee.

That set a school record and of note—she’s not even in high school yet!

Last week she pitched three games and had 30 strikeouts in 16 innings, giving up nine hits total and just two walks.

*** Brooklyn Wesley, a 2028 pitcher and first baseman at Central Heights (Nacogdoches, Texas) High, is a dual-threat sophomore who’s impressing in the Lone Star State.

Last week, she batted .545 with seven RBIs and pitched four innings with six strikeouts.

For the 2026 campaign, Brooklyn is hitting .534.

*** Aubrie Newton, a junior second baseman for Ballard High in Louisville, Ky., was another two-way player who impressed.

For the week, she batted .625 with six RBIs, a home run, triple and double and had three steals. She helped her team go 3-0 and was 1.000 I the field.

For the season, the Bluegrass State 2027 grad is hitting .500 with an OPS of 1.314 and a slugging percentage of .905. She has two home runs and is flawless in the field in 12 attempts.

*** Jillian (Jilly) Gonzalez plays for Steele (Cibolo, Texas) and had two home runs this week to add to her total of 10 dingers on the year

The 2029 catcher also batted .667 with no strikeouts and compiled a 1667 slugging percentage, a 2.417 OPS and a .750 on-base percentage.

Behind the plate, she had 10 putouts, too.

So far in 2026, Jilly is hitting .518 with 44 hits, the 10 round-trippers, 23 singles, 11 doubles and 19 walks. The Texas also has knocked in 38 runs.

In District play, she’s doing even better with a .654 batting average, a 2.103 OPS, a 1.385 slugging percentage and just one strikeout.

*** Finishing in Texas, here are four others who shined, several who were honored just this month alone:

— Abby Atkinson, a righty 2027 pitcher for Boyd High is going to Stanford and had another tremendous combo week of pitching and hitting.

She went 14 innings with only one earned run while striking out 32 with an ERA of 0.50, a WHIP of .710 and 2.3 K’s per inning.

Offensively, Abby batted .667 with a .714 on-base percentage, a 1.333 slugging percentage and a 2.048 OPS.

— MacKenna Jackson, a 2026 hitter going to Kansas, had a great week at the plate as well as she set her school’s double record.

In three games, she went 8-for-10 with two walks, a home run and two doubles. Her on-base percentage was .833 and her OPS hit 2.133.

— Hope Gaudio, who was honored just last week, had the misfortune of only playing one game during the week but she made it count. The 2027 outfielder signed with LSU and is a standout infielder at Mansfield Legacy High.

In three at-bats, Hope had two home runs and drive in 5 RBIs. Her batting average was .800, her OBP was .833, her slugging was 1.300 and her OPS was 2.133.

— Finally, senior Madi Doty from Grandview, Texas, — who will play for the Texas Longhorns — continues to have a huge year and it’s starting to be noticed.

The two-way standout went 5-for-9 for a .556 batting average and smacked three home runs for a 1.556 slugging percentage and a 2.111 OPS.

In the circle, she pitched seven innings without giving a run and had 17 strikeouts for a .086 WHIP and a 2.43 KPI.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Media

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Previous 2026 Line Drive Softball National High School Player of the Week

• Mar. 24: Siena Greenlinger—Chaminade College Preparatory (West Hills, Calif.)
• Mar. 17: Presley Kilgore— Rains (Emory, Texas)
• Mar. 10: Emma Pynes—Cornerstone Charter Academy (Belle Isle, Fla.)
• Mar. 3: Avery Howerton—Whitesboro (Texas) High 
• Feb. 24: Krimson Calhoun—Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) High
• Feb. 17: Lolo Gamble—Dripping Springs (Texas) High

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Nomination Process

Each week during the spring and summer high school seasons, Line Drive Softball is honoring a National High School Player of the Week.

The posts are published every Tuesday and the cutoff for submitting the nominations is each Monday at noon EST/9 am PST.

We’re looking for standouts who excelled in the circle, at the plate or in the field so be sure to nominate your favorite performance(s) by submitting the following:

• Player Name
• Grad Year (example: Class of 2026 or Senior)
• Position(s)
• High School Team Name (with city/state)
• Stats for the Week (be as detailed as possible!)
• Up-to-date Season Stats (where possible)
• Recruiting Information (if applicable)
• Any interesting Background Info on the player
• Photos: action and/or head shots (as available)
• If possible, Contact Info (player, parent, coach… if we’d like more info or quotes)

Email info and photos (1-4 as available) by the cutoff of Monday at 5 pm EST/2 pm PST to: Brentt.Eads@LineDriveMedia.com