The final edition of the 2026 Line Drive HOT 100 player rankings starts two weeks from today (Monday, Oct. 6, 2025) and for coaches, trainers and others who work with the athletes the deadline to submit nominations is a week from today:… next Monday (Sept. 29).

We at Line Drive Softball want to honor and recognize deserving players one last time pre-college.

How to do this? Through our player rankings!

Note that the primary way to submit player info is through our online nomination form (LINK).

Certainly, the more info you provide the better but the basics we need are the following (all fields in the nomination form):

1. player name
2. position(s)
3. suggested ranking range (21-30, 71-80, etc.)
4. scouting report, i.e. the strengths of the player
5. top honors/stats for bio write-up
6. head shot & action shot (as available)

Here’s an example of an actual 2026 nomination form that does a great job of highlighting a player’s accomplishments and strengths (granted, very few are going to be as accomplished as Ella Kate (“EK”) below, but you get the idea!):

*****

First Name: Ella Kate
Last Name: Smith
City/ST: Katy/TX
Grad Year: 2026
Position(s): Pitcher
School: Katy HS
High School Head Coach: Meghan Burrell
Club Team: Impact Gold Jackson 18U
Club Head Coach: KC Jackson
Your name & relationship to the player (such as head or assistant coach, personal coach, etc.): head coach
Your contact info (cell and/or email): [private, withheld]
Division (for club ball): 18U

Suggested player ranking, if applicable (i.e. 1-10, 21-30, 51-60, 101-150, 201-300, etc.): [private, withheld]

Top player stats: Summer 2025 Stats: .470 BA, .533 OBP, 1.337 OPS, 47 H, 10 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 32 RBI, 17 SB, 85 IP, 12-4, 101 K, 2.34 ERA, .215 BAA

Top players honors & accomplishments:

• USA 18 Women’s National Team
• 19-6a District MVP
• TGCA and TSWA All-State
• All-Greater Houston 1st team
• Team 1 Invite All-Tournament Team
• THSCA Super Elite Team
• Hotshots Exposure All-Tournament
  
  

GPA: 4.0

Scouting report (what makes the player a Line Drive Softball Hot 100 candidate?

An Oklahoma commit, “EK” is one of the top two-way players in the country. She excels in the circle, at the plate, and on the field.

Offensively, she consistently hits for high average and has big power.

In the circle, she clocks at 67-68 with a devastating change up. EK can get hitters out with everything she throws and in every quadrant of the zone.

She also is an exceptional baserunner and understands how to bait defenses and take extra bases.

EK is one of the best all-around players in the class.