Prep softball: Here are our picks for the top 40 freshmen last season

Playing varsity softball as a freshman is not uncommon, but many of these players were top performers on their varsity squads.

Check out this Nifty Nine and the rest of the All-Metro softball players. College coaches and opponents take note: These are the up-and-comers in the talent-rich Sacramento area softball ranks.

Consideration criteria: Some combination of monster numbers, top performers on their team and strength of league.

The Nifty Nine Ninth Graders:

Alyssa Flindt, Whitney. All Metro, led all Sacramento-area freshmen with five home runs. Led her team in average (.420), slugging and OPS, while playing great shortstop.

Chloe Gomes, Oakmont. Batted .426 average for the FVL runners up.

Teagan Hayes, Woodland Christian. A catcher who led the section champs with 49 RBIs, second-most in the section overall. Hit .495 with four home runs and 22 doubles.

Savanna Newman, Pleasant Grove. All-Metro, third in the Delta League in batting average (.528), and stole 15 bases.

Katie Wetteland, Rocklin. Third baseman who led her SFL team in batting (.394) and always seemed to get the clutch hit for the Thunder.

Maryn Macneil, Woodcreek. Pitcher, 2.31 ERA against CVC competition, also hit .403.

Madeline Lawson, Pleasant Grove. Pitcher, 8-3 won-loss record against the very best competition.

Carly Short, Oak Ridge. Shortstop hit .488 and led her SFL team in every offensive category.

Talya Stonebraker, Vacaville Christian. Batted .588 with a slugging average of 1.000.

All-Metro Freshmen: Madison Brown, Union Mine; Niya Brown, Cordova; Dakota Bumbaca, Monterey Trail; Nicole Camacho-Vazquez, Franklin; Riley Dossey, Vista del Lago; Stella Gaverick, Rio Americano; Zaria Gee, Casa Roble; Gracyn Graviette, Liberty Ranch; Kira Griffin, Kennedy; Ashley Gruben, Pioneer; Lucy Heston, Armijo; Addy Huiskens, Woodland Christian; Jayle Jimenez, Winters; Stevie Knight, East Nicolaus; Hayden Kyne, Vacaville; Lilly Leslie, Casa Roble; Lexi Martinez, Vacaville Christian; Molly McFarland, Ponderosa; Loie Moore, Elk Grove; Sydney Nitta, Placer; Kaylena Ogle, Sacramento; Sophia Quiroz, West Campus; Chasidy Sills, Wheatland; Gabby Sotelo, Elk Grove; Paityn Snow, Liberty Ranch; Charlotte Spears, Armijo; Addison Tetreault, Woodland; Jillian Todd, Antelope; Kaitlyn Verga, Oakmont; Nakayla Williams, Rio Linda; Miriya Yeung, West Campus.

This story was originally published June 28, 2022 at 10:23 AM.