The Charlotte Observer high school softball season preview: Teams, players to watch
Charlotte-area girls’ high school softball teams have some catching up to do.
After several seasons of producing one or more state champions in the sport, the Charlotte area was blanked last spring.
Weddington made a surprise run to the 4A state finals but lost to Garner. Cannon School’s bid to repeat as N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division 1 champion came up short, as the Cougars lost to North Raleigh Christian. And Gaston Christian finished second in the NCISAA’s Division 2 playoffs.
There appears to be no shortage of state championship contenders this spring, with Weddington and Cannon School among the teams with the potential to win a title.
But there are a host of other teams with the ability to win it all, and they’re led by some outstanding players.
Here is a preview of the 2025 season — the potential contenders, top players, and newcomers.
Teams to watch
(listed alphabetically)
Cannon School: The Cougars lost five starters, including their pitcher-catcher combination. So returning to the finals won’t be easy. But junior CF Jolie Matthews and sophomore C Layla Wagner (.462 on-base percentage last season) are strong building blocks.
Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars reached the 4A playoff quarterfinals in 2024 and are led by three outstanding juniors — Danika Morris, Madison Glossner and Rachel Wildman. They’ll contend with Independence and possibly Providence for the Southwestern 4A championship.
Charlotte Christian: Before there was Cannon School as an NCISAA power, Charlotte Christian ruled Division 1. The Knights are capable of winning it this year, in the last time around for senior all-America C-SS Anna Hinde, a Florida State commit. Coach Kevin Hinde has plenty of other talent, including SS-C Sydney Francois, who smacked 11 homers in 16 games last spring.
Covenant Day: Every starter returns from a team that reached the NCISAA Division 1 semifinals last season, and that includes all-state junior C Avery Houseton. Add in freshmen Alison Vandiver and Charlotte Llaneza and junior Kaitlyn Allen, and you have a team capable of battling Cannon School, Charlotte Christian and Charlotte Latin in the loaded CISAA.
Hickory Ridge: The Ragin’ Bulls are a few years removed from their deep 4A playoff run, but they still have senior P Kristyn Embler and senior C Katie Rhyne to anchor the team. Rhyne hit .400 with 25 RBIs last spring.
Lake Norman: The Wildcats, along with Hickory Ridge, hope to wrest the Greater Metro 4A title away from Mooresville this season. Senior P Vivian Billiard and C Kyera Combs (.398 batting average last spring) lead the way.
Marvin Ridge: Several key players are gone from the Mavericks’ powerhouses of a few years ago, but Marvin Ridge is still loaded. Senior OF Ella Tracy, an East Carolina commit, has a .419 lifetime batting average. Anna Phifer has been the starting pitcher for four years, with a 1.99 earned run average. And senior C Lexi Kirby has a .413 career batting average. Coach Linda McGowan’s team will battle Weddington, Porter Ridge and Cuthbertson in an absolutely loaded Southern Carolina 4A.
Mooresville: The Blue Devils went 24-2 last season, winning the tough Greater Metro 4A championship. They lost several outstanding players, but among the returnees are OF Macy Crum (the conference player of the year) and C-3B Cadence Lane. Both were all-state selections, and they’re joined by several promising freshmen and sophomores.
Myers Park: Seven starters return, including all-conference CF Ryann Rempson (who led the team in hits in 2024), senior IF Sophie Earnhardt, and sophomore Regan Godman (the 2024 team RBI leader). The Mustangs will be a part of the picture in the crowded field of SoMeck 4A title contenders.
Piedmont: The Panthers reached the 3A state semifinals last season and have all-state standouts P Jailyn Thomas and OF Sarah Belk returning. P Lilli Leopold, who played at Piedmont as a freshman, moved to Lee Park Prep last year, and is back with the Panthers as a junior, adds pitching depth.
Providence: Start with senior 2B Emerson McAllister, a three-time all-conference player. Add in several returning sophomore and junior starters. Then add a loaded freshman class, with three ninth-graders likely to start. Coach Micah Kinnaird has a team capable of battling Charlotte Catholic and Independence in the Southwestern 4A.
Queen’s Grant Charter: Let’s not forget the area’s 1A teams. The Stallions are three-time Metro 1A champions and are led by junior P Addison Benton (14-3 in 2024) and senior 1B-SS Alyssa Steele (.603 batting average). Queen’s Grant was 18-3 last season.
Weddington: Why not return to the state finals? Coach Claire Lyerly has five starters back from the 2024 semifinalist, including P Joella Thomas, C Ciara Blakney, SS Ava McCauley and a strong outfield. Add in transfer Emersyn Presutty in CF, and you have a strong softball team.
Players to watch
(listed alphabetically)
Maliyah Alexander (Independence, senior, P-OF): Alexander, an N.C. A&T commit, struck out 151 in 117 innings. At the plate, she hit .400 with 25 RBI.
Kristen Armstrong (Pine Lake Prep, senior, 1B-P): Armstrong will be among the top three in nearly all school hitting categories by the time she graduates. She hit .492 with 31 RBI last season.
Sarah Belk (Piedmont, senior, OF): A two-time all-state pick, Belk batted .483 with 37 runs and is among the state’s top leadoff hitters.
Ciara Blakney (Weddington, senior, C): Blakney is an excellent defensive catcher who also hits for power. She is a Berry College commit.
Cherie Carter (Butler, junior, SS): Carter, an Iona commit, earned all-state honors last season after batting .407 and compiling a .907 fielding average.
Kristyn Embler (Hickory Ridge, senior, P): A Furman commit, she was 13-4 with a 2.57 earned run average and 167 strikeouts in 127 innings last spring.
Janey Galek (Ardrey Kell, senior, CF): Galek is an excellent defensive player with good speed.
Kaylee Harris (Lake Norman, junior, IF): Harris batted .342 and drove in 22 runs in 2024.
Olivia Hensley (Forestview, senior, P): Hensley fanned 121 in 104 innings last season and issued only 26 walks.
Anna Hinde (Charlotte Christian, senior, C-SS): A Florida State commit and all-America selection, Hinde has earned all-state honors four times and has been a standout since eighth grade. She hit .571 last spring and had one error in 172 fielding chances.
Avery Houseton (Covenant Day, junior, C): Houseton slammed 16 doubles and batted .541 last season. She is a Charlotte commit.
Natalie Johnson (Independence, senior, C-3B): Johnson, a Louisiana commit, hit .450 last year with 12 doubles.
Rachel Lyons (Providence Day, junior, P): Lyons had a 2.25 earned run average and 154 strikeouts on a team that reached the state semifinals in 2024.
Jolie Matthews (Cannon School, junior, CF): Matthews had a .458 on-base percentage while earning all-state honors last year.
Hayden Stamey (Porter Ridge, junior, SS): Stamey batted .391 last year and earned all-state honors.
Ainsley Sullivan (Charlotte Latin, senior, P-1B): The Hawks are capable of winning the CISAA this season, and a big reason is Sullivan, a two-time all-stater who hit .400-plus last season.
Jailyn Thomas (Piedmont, senior, P): Thomas was named 3A West Pitcher of the Year in 2024, with an 18-4 record and 171 strikeouts in 144 innings. She also drove in 27 runs.
Joella Thomas (Weddington, junior, P): Thomas was 16-5 last season with 234 strikeouts and a 0.83 ERA. She is a Lenoir-Rhyne commit.
Taniyah Thomas (East Lincoln, junior, 1B): Thomas, one of the last starters left from East Lincoln’s 3A state championship team in 2023, is coming off a season when she batted .493. She’ll get a late start in softball, as she’s part of a basketball team that could go deep into the playoffs.
Ella Tracy (Marvin Ridge, senior, OF): Tracy, an East Carolina commit, has a .419 career batting average at Marvin Ridge with 60 RBI.
Barrett Williams (North Iredell, senior, 1B): She was an all-state pick last spring, batting .410 with 25 hits and a .967 fielding percentage.
Hadley Womack (Stuart Cramer, senior, P-SS): When she isn’t starring on the Storm’s basketball team, Womack is an excellent contact hitter and solid defensive player.
Newcomers to watch
(listed alphabetically)
Hailey Faulkenberry (Hickory Ridge, freshman, SS-C)
Olivia Hartsell (Providence Day, freshman, C)
Addie Hartz (Cannon School, freshman, P)
Parker Lamb (Butler, sophomore, P)
Lilli Leopold (Piedmont, junior transfer from Lee Park Prep, P)
Reagan Martin (Ardrey Kell, freshman, P)
Lila McConnell (Charlotte Latin, freshman, C-3B)
Camryn O’Connor (Providence, freshman, C-SS)
Kayden Purdy (Porter Ridge, sophomore, INF-OF)
Phoenix Scott (Providence, freshman, CF)
Jia Soe (Ardrey Kell, sophomore transfer from Apex, C)
Sophie Strugal (Providence, freshman, P)
Emmersyn Wiley (Hickory Ridge, sophomore, CF)
Zoey Williams (Palisades, freshman, OF)
Just noting
▪ The SoMeck 4A is loaded in softball this season. Myers Park was mentioned in “Teams to Watch” above, but Ardrey Kell and South Mecklenburg could just as easily be in that group too. Both the Knights and Sabres have several outstanding returning starters. Palisades’ program also is growing, so this season’s champion will probably have a few conference losses in its record.
▪ Emersyn Presutty was a outstanding hitter and base-stealer at Ardrey Kell. She has transferred to Weddington and will be a part of the Warriors team that reached the 4A finals in 2024.
▪ Corvian Community made a giant splash in boys’ basketball and football in recent seasons. Watch out for the Cardinals’ softball team. New head coach Dee Watson Robinson has only one senior but said that sophomore Cassidy Masten and junior Emily Johnson (.500 batting average in 2024) are the foundation of a strong team.
▪ Community School of Davidson will not field a softball team this spring. Chelsea Mullally, who heads the middle school softball program, said the school was two players short of having a roster for high school softball. Mullally said she expects the Spartans to field a team in 2026.
▪ Kings Mountain lost in the 3A state finals last year and is a big favorite in the Big South 3A again in 2025. But South Point has the potential to battle the Mountaineers, as the Raideres return all nine starters, including junior IF Madison Bridges, who hit .444 last season.
This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
