Line Drive Media

High School Honors: The 2026 Live Drive Softball 1st Team High School All-Americans – Catchers (July 7, 2026)

By Brentt Eads

July 7, 2026

MJ Fikes, though just a sophomore, led her Archbishop Mitty (San Joe, Calif.) team to a Central Coast Section championship and was top 5 in California with 18 home runs.

High School Honors: The 2026 Live Drive Softball 1st Team High School All-Americans – Catchers (July 7, 2026)

For the next week and a half, Line Drive Media is recognizing standout high school players across the nation for the 2025-26 school year in our annual High School All-American lists.

These include athletes in states who play in the fall like Georgia, Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma and those that compete in the spring into the summer.

Note: “Multi-Purpose” honorees are those that play multiple positions well or can pitch and hit at a high level.

Here is the schedule that includes 1st & 2nd Team All-Americans as well as the High School Player & Coach of the Year. Previously published articles are hyperlinked.

LINE DRIVE SOFTBALL 2026 HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN TIMELINE
  • Monday, July 6 Line Drive Media 1st Team All-Americans (Pitchers)
  • Tuesday, July 7 – Line Drive Media 1st Team All-Americans (Catchers)
  • Wednesday, July 8 – Line Drive Media 1st Team All-Americans (Infielders)
  • Thursday, July 9– Line Drive Media 1st Team All-Americans (Outfielders)
  • Friday, July 10 – Line Drive Media 1st Team All-Americans (Multi-Purpose)
  • Monday, July 13 – Line Drive Media 2nd Team All-Americans
  • Tuesday, July 14 – Line Drive Media High School Player of the Year
  • Wednesday, July 15 – Line Drive Media High School Coach of the Year

*****

Those chosen have been selected based on criteria such as:

  • accomplishments, stats and honors
  • importance to the success of the team
  • on-field abilities, skills and talent
  • off-the-field resume, i.e., academic success, community involvement, etc.

Our list is deep and extensive as we feel it necessary to honor all those who deserve to be recognized as a Line Drive Softball High School All-American!

Congrats to all those who made this year’s lists… today, we spotlight those who get it done behind the plate…

*****

1st TEAM LINE DRIVE SOFTBALL HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN—CATCHERS

Karleigh Baker had a .997 fielding percentage thanks to making just one error in 176.1 innings.

Karleigh Baker (Fr., Eagleton College and Career Academy, Maryville Tenn.)
Karleigh is a skilled two-way catcher whose defense was strong as she caught 176.1 innings and only had one error for a .997 fielding percentage while making 319 putouts and throwing out six would-be baserunners. Offensively, she batted .395 with a .474 on-base percentage with 53 runs scored and drove in 28 runs. The young player also went 21-for-21 in stolen bases and was named to the Tennessee District 2-AA All District Team and to the District 2-AA All-Tournament team. Head Coach Kevin Bean says: “As a catcher/utility player, Karleigh impacts the game in every phase with her leadership, defensive presence, offensive consistency, speed, and softball IQ. Behind the plate, she is a confident field general who communicates well, handles pitchers with maturity beyond her years, and consistently makes smart decisions in game situations. Offensively, Karleigh is a dynamic leadoff hitter who consistently finds ways to get on base while also producing extra-base power.” She was also ranked No. 50 overall in the Line Drive 2029 HOT 100 player rankings that was released in April of this year.

Kandace Burnett (Sr., Southmoore, Oklahoma City Okla.)
Kandace had a tremendous senior campaign (high school softball in Oklahoma is played in the fall) as she batted .510 with a .606 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.443. She scored 52 runs and stole 14 bases while only being struck out four times in 132 plate appearances. Kandace was strong defensively as well with a .961 fielding percentage and had 107 put outs with just one passed ball all season. The Iowa State commit was named as an Oklahoma 6A All-State catcher, a 6A COAC All-Conference catcher and was the Oklahoma 6A All-District Co-Player of the Year. Five years ago, Kandance played on Team Oklahoma which won the 2021 Little League Softball World Series, the first team ever from Oklahoma to win the event. Kandace also was ranked No. 21 overall in the Line Drive 2026 HOT 100 player rankings that were released last fall.

*** Scroll down to see who else made the 1st Team All-American Team as Catchers!

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