Meet the 2025 All-Observer softball team, the region’s top athletes
The Charlotte Observer’s girls’ softball top award-winners have something in common this year — they’re all state champions.
Anna Hinde, who wrapped up a stellar career at Charlotte Christian and is among the nation’s top-ranked softball players, has been named The Observer’s Softball Player of the Year.
Avery Wilson, who lost only once in 30 outings this season for Union Academy, is 2025’s Observer Softball Pitcher of the Year.
And Wilson’s coach, Darbi Chestnut, edged out Hinde’s coach (and father), Kevin Hinde, as Observer Softball Coach of the Year.
Union Academy compiled a 29-1 record and won the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 1A state title. It was the second 1A championship in three years for the Cardinals, with Chestnut winning Coach of the Year honors each time.
Charlotte Christian finished second in the CISAA but caught fire in the playoffs and captured the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Division 1 championship. It was the school’s third state title, all with Kevin and Anna Hinde on the roster.
Anna Hinde, who played several positions in high school but was mostly a catcher this season, is ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2025 nationally by Perfect Game and by Legacy & Legends Softball. She’s the No. 2-ranked player nationally by MaxPreps and is the reigning N.C. Gatorade player of the year.
She will play her softball next season at Florida State.
Wilson, a junior, compiled a 26-1 record at Union Academy and plans to play at Coastal Carolina after seeing if she can lead the Cardinals to another state title next year.
Chestnut (whose last name was Holmes before she was married in May 2024) is a North Greenville College graduate who recently finished her fourth season at Union Academy. She has a combined coaching record of 90-19 with the Cardinals.
Competition for spots on the team was extremely tight at several positions, and some standout players — North Iredell first baseman Barrett Williams, Cannon School catcher Layla Wagner, and Hickory Grove Christian eighth-grade standout Gabby Lazzarino, to name a few — were left off the list.
A reminder — players must be nominated by their coach or an opposing coach to be considered for the All-Observer team.
Here is the 2025 All-Observer Girls’ Softball squad:
All-Observer First Team
PITCHERS
Anna Phifer, Marvin Ridge, senior: This was a stellar year for pitching in Union County, with three Union pitchers on the first team and another on the second. Phifer won 62 games and had 52 complete games in her four-year Marvin Ridge career, leading the Mavericks to a pair of final-four appearances. She had 17 victories this season.
Jailyn Thomas, Piedmont, junior: Thomas had a 16-6 record and 2.18 earned run average, while striking out 192 in 118 innings. She drove in 29 runs at the plate.
Sydney Thune, Charlotte Latin, senior: An Emory commit, Thune compiled a 0.83 ERA in her senior season and finished her career with 600-plus strikeouts.
Avery Wilson, Union Academy, junior: Wilson was nearly unbeatable, with a 26-1 record and 279 strikeouts and only 40 walks in 155.2 innings. Opposing hitters had a combined .117 batting average against Wilson, who also did some damage from the plate with a .507 batting average.
CATCHER
Anna Hinde, Charlotte Christian, senior: In her senior season, Hinde batted. 679 with seven home runs, 12 doubles, 38 runs and 28 RBI. She also stole 12 bases. For her career, she batted .594 with 44 homers and 154 RBI. She holds the school career record for home runs and hits (161) and single-season marks for batting average, home runs, walks and runs — all set this season.
FIRST BASE
Kaylee Thomas, Lake Norman, senior: Thomas hit .424 with 36 hits and 21 RBI and had only two errors all season. She had more than 100 career RBI.
INFIELD
Kristyn Embler, Hickory Ridge, senior: A Furman commit, Embler pitched this season but is normally a middle infielder. She hit .511 this season with 14 home runs and 36 RBI.
Maddie Glossner, Charlotte Catholic, junior: Glossner batted .545 with a 1.097 slugging average. She was picked to play this summer in the Boombah All-American Game.
Regan Godman, Myers Park, sophomore: Godman is a standout defensive player who also hit .556, had 40 hits, scored 31 runs and had 13 doubles, four triples and three home runs.
Alaina Griffin, Metrolina Christian, junior: Griffin, a Liberty commit, is a five-time all-state selection who batted .517 this season, with 31 hits, 28 runs and 15 stolen bases.
OUTFIELD
Jolie Matthews, Cannon School, junior: Matthews, a leadoff hitter, batted .425, with 32 runs, seven doubles and 15 stolen bases. She earned all-state honors.
Tia Montgomery, South Mecklenburg, senior: Montgomery, an N.C. A&T commit, batted .486 with a 1.268 OPS. She scored 41 runs and had 36 hits and 23 stolen bases. She drove in 20 runs as a leadoff hitter.
Emersyn Presuty, Weddington, senior: Presuty, an Appalachian State commit, batted .500 and totaled 39 hits and 38 RBI in her senior season.
Ella Tracy, Marvin Ridge, senior: An East Carolina commit, Tracy battled back from injuries that required surgeries as a junior and senior. Yet she batted .486 with 34 hits and 27 runs as a senior and had 21 home runs in her career.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Avery Houseton, Covenant Day, junior: Houseton batted .533, with eight doubles, eight home runs, 34 runs and 42 RBI. Houseton was the CISAA Player of the Year and earned all-state honors.
All-Observer Second Team
PITCHERS
Morgan Banks, Charlotte Chritian, junior
Anna Eason, Myers Park, sophomore
Rachel Lyons, Providence Day, junior
Joella Thomas, Weddington, junior
CATCHERS
Lexi Kirby, Marvin Ridge, senior (set school records with 15 home runs and 49 RBI)
Natalie Johnson, Independence, senior
FIRST BASE
Emily Murphy, Mooresville, senior
INFIELD
Carly Benz, Cannon School, freshman
Cadence Lane, Mooresville, senior
Reese Lavey, Hough, senior
Taniyah Thomas, East Lincoln, senior
Hannah Ziecik, Marvin Ridge, senior
OUTFIELD
Avery Evans, Lake Norman, junior
Addie Hartz, Cannon School, freshman
Emma Proctor, Cherryville, senior
Ryann Rempson, Myers Park, senior
DESIGNATED HITTER
Maliyah Alexander, Independence, senior