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 week 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, May 18, 2026, through Sunday, May 24, 2026…

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Line Drive Softball’s National High School PLAYER of the Week (May 27, 2026)

*** You can’t finish a season any better than 5-foot-11 freshman pitcher Bella Ortiz of Hagerty (Oviedo, Fla.) High did last week.

In the Florida Class 7A semi’s, Bella tossed a complete game shutout giving up just two hits with five strikeouts in a 7-0 win over Jupiter High (22-4) to lead the Huskies to the state championship game.

There, the tremendous pitcher tossed another masterful shutout in a tight 2-0 victory over Western High (24-6) to give Hagerty a final mark of 27-4 but most importantly a title-winning trophy.

Here’s a fun YouTube recap of the championship win: 

What, we asked Bella, will she remember about ending the season with the two shutout victories in the state semi and championship games?

“Ending the season that way was really special,” Bella answered, “but I honestly see it as a team accomplishment more than anything.”

“Our defense was incredible, our hitters came through in big moments, and everyone stayed locked in. I’m just really thankful I got to be part of such a special group and help bring home Hagerty’s first Florida 7A state championship (note: the school won 8A in 2018).”

The outstanding pitcher, who will be announced on Saturday as a Top 10 player in the Class of 2029, also credited her strong defense behind her as a reason for her being able to elevate her pitching.

“I think the biggest thing for me was trusting my preparation and staying present in every pitch,” Bella continues.

“Our defense gave me so much confidence to attack hitters because I knew the girls behind me were going to make plays. Coach always talks about competing one pitch at a time, and that mindset really helped me especially in the postseason.”

For the week (the two game shutouts), Bella threw 14 shutout innings with 14 K’s and allowed just four hits while doing damage herself with the bat as she went 3-for-5 (.600) with a home run, double and two RBIs.

The athlete added that she had a distinct game plan and approach when it came to attacking the opposing hitters.

“For me, it was more about changing speeds, hitting spots, and trusting my defense instead of trying to do too much. I focused on staying ahead in counts, competing every pitch, and trusting the work I put in.”

This season in the circle, the outstanding freshman had a 12-3 record against strong Florida Class 7A talent with a 1.37 ERA to go with three saves.

Offensively, Bella batted .279 with 15 RBIs in 30 games including seven doubles and three home runs.

Impressively, the Sunshine State talent—who is considered a Top 5 prospect in the Class of 2029—had 138 strikeouts in 102.1 innings and gave up just one home run against the 427 at-bats she faced all year.

In the field, Bella was perfect, compiling a 1.000 fielding percentage with 27 chances in the 30 games played which included 17 assists and one double play.

Interestingly, the one area of the freshman’s strong season that she says she struggled with—at least early on—was in her hitting.

“I’ve always been known as a power hitter and someone who puts up high averages,” Bella says, “so this season was honestly frustrating at times because my numbers weren’t reflecting that.”

“Expectations can get high, especially being a Bruce Bolt athlete, and when things aren’t clicking, it can get in your head.”

“But I kept working, trusted the process, and by the postseason I felt more relaxed and focused on helping my team however I could, whether that was in the circle, at the plate, or supporting my teammates.”

That approach—helping support her teammates and coaching staff—was a winning one and gave Bella memories of a state title she’ll always be able to treasure.

Join us next week when we’ll have more from Bella taken from our interview with her and her parents about the championship she just won…

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Runner-Up Line Drive Softball National Players of the Week

*** Logan Donaldson, a freshman shortstop at Jonathan Alder (Plain City, Ohio) High, had a great week helping her team in the Ohio playoffs as she went 7-for-8 (.875) with a triple, five steals and four runs while being perfect in the field with five assists and two putouts.

Those numbers were in the district semi’s and now her team gets to advance to the regional semis.

For the season, Logan has batted a strong .581 in 27 games with a .618 on-base percentage, a 1.343 OPS and an eye-opening 35 steals.

She was also named 2^nd Team All-State and is up for Central Ohio Player of the Year.

*** Super sophomore Taylor Cook, a right-handed pitcher for Petaluma (Calif.) High, helped her No. 9 seeded team knock out the No. 1 seed last Friday in the North Coast Section playoffs.

In two complete games, Taylor pitched 14 innings and gave up just one earned run and one walk while recording 10 strikeouts.

For the week, she had a 0.50 ERA and a .714 WHIP while opposing hitters batted just .184 against her.

This season, despite missing a few weeks due to a knee injury and sepsis, Taylor has pitched 75 innings with 61 K’s, a 1.50 WHIP and a .250 BAA.

*** Lillian Berkowtiz, a 2029 right-handed pitcher, left fielder and middle infielder at Pascack Valley High in Hillsdale, N.J., had a strong week with the bat and her pitching arm.

In two games, she went 6-for-8 (.750 batting average) with four RBIs. In one game, she also pitched her team to a 16-0 mercy win as she had eight strikeouts in four innings and got the win.

*** Jordan Frye, the sophomore catcher at Lower Dauphin (Hugglestown, Pa.) High, came up huge in a key game last week to help her No. 8 seeded Falcons team upset the previously undefeated No. 1 team in the district.

Perhaps more importantly, it was the first time the Keystone State school has qualified for states in 11 years.

In the big upset win, Jordan went 3-for-3 with a walk. Her hits included a single in the first inning, a double in the third and a big 3-run homer in the fourth inning which came with Lower Dauphin trailing 3-2.

After that big blow, Jordan’s team never trailed again in large part to her defense which saw her turn an unassisted double play in the first inning and her not giving up a steal or passed ball in the game.

For the season, Jordan is batting a robust .535 with a .612 on-base percentage with 24 RBIs as the leadoff hitter. She has 31 runs scored, 22 steals and a .977 fielding percentage.

Also very key: the Class of 2028 standout has only struck out twice in 85 plate appearances this year.

Showing her versatility and athleticism, Jordan started every game as a freshman playing shortstop and this year started every contest behind the plate. Jordan was 1^st Team All-Conference and 2^nd Team All-State last year.

She was previously ranked No. 29 in thye 2028 HOT 100 and No. 6 overall in the Northeast.

In club ball, Megan competes for the Ohio Outlaws – Acord team.

*** Madi Doty, the senior pitcher/outfielder for Grandview (Texas) High and a Univ. of Texas signee, continues to show why she’s one of the elite pre-college pitchers in the nation.

In the Texas state semi’s, facing a team she has pitched against already three times this year, including a one-hit shutout with 15 K’s the last time they met, the numbers are impressive.

The big efforts will take Grandview back to the Texas UIL 3A State Title game for the fourth year in a row.

In the trio of wins, Madi pitched 20 innings with a 1.05 ERA, a 0.50 WHIP and had 30 strikeouts our 1.5 per inning.

With the bat, she batted .444 with a 1.444 slugging percentage and a 1.889 OPS. In her nine plate appearances, Madi had three home runs, seven RBIs and scored runs herself.

Madi is ranked No. 1 in the 2026 HOT 100 published last October (2025).

*** Kora Douglass, a 2029 lefty pitcher and first baseman for Portsmouth (N.H.) High, continues to make a major impact for her team both offensively and defensively.

Over a three-game stretch this week, Kora hit an .778 with a .846 OBP and 2.179 OPS, collecting 7 hits in 9 at-bats, including two doubles and a home run.

She drove in six runs, scored six more, stole three bases, and did not strike out once.

Also contributing in the circle, Kora logged eight innings over three appearances with 11 strikeouts while continuing to compete against some of the top Division I committed hitters in New Hampshire softball.

She also had a .1000 FPCT with seven put-outs at first base.

Her ability to impact the game on both sides as a middle-of-the-order power bat and left-handed pitcher and a very strong and consistent first base has been a huge part of her team’s success this spring.

During the summer, Kora plays for the Rhode Island Thunder National 14U – Lotti team and the 5-foot-8 right-handed hitter is also on the Great Britain 18U National team.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Media

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• May 19: Hinano Bautista—Mililan (Hawaii) High
• May 12: Anleigh Wood—Wicksburg (Newton, Ala.) High
• May 5: Addison DeRoche— Cheverus (Portland, Maine) High
• Apr. 28: McLaine Hudson—South Warren (Bowling Green, Ky.) High
• Apr. 22: Finlee Williams—Melissa (Texas)
• Apr. 14:  Addison Davis—Pearl River Central (Carriere, Miss.)
• Apr. 7:    Karmen Vazquez—Hanford (Calif.) West
• Mar. 31: Morgan Maxwell—West Forsyth (N.C.)
• 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 5 pm EST/2 pm 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