LAFAYETTE — High school 1A and 2A softball teams in the Lafayette area left a rippling effect across the state of Indiana.
Rossville won its first IHSAA State Championship in 1A while Delphi won its second straight IHSAA 2A Regional Championship and North Newton captured the IHSAA Class 2A Sectional Championship in 2024.
After the season ended, coaches from around the area voted for the 16 best players from 1A and 2A.
After the votes were tabulated, a tie remained for the 16th final spot that will be shared along with 14 players being named as honorable mention.
Introducing the Journal & Courier Small Schools All-Area Softball Team.
Avery Layton, Rossville, pitcher
Layton led the Class 1A Hornets to their first state championship in history. Layton tossed 102.2 innings, had 0.82 ERA, threw 277 strikeouts and tossed an immaculate inning in the IHSAA Class 1A Sectional playoffs against Tri-County — a program that finished the season 17-3 and the No. 8 ranked in the state by its class. During the playoffs, Layton allowed just three earned runs in five pitching starts while tossing a 5-inning perfect game with 14 strikeouts in the IHSAA Class 1A Semistate Championship against Morgan Township. Layton was named to the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana Small Schools All-State Team. The junior's potency was felt at the plate. Layton, a Virginia Tech commit clobbered seven home runs and batted .456 with 10 doubles, two triples with 54 RBI, a .542 on base percentage and .900 slugging percentage. Layton tossed a complete game and allowed just two hits and one run to lead Rossville past Tec*mseh in the 1A state final.
Lexi Miller, Delphi, pitcher
Miller was named to the SCAI Small Schools All-State team and Indiana All-Star after leading the state in strikeouts. Miller finished with 310 strikeouts in 163 innings, tossed 26 complete games all while carrying a 2.36 ERA. Miller, as a hitter, batted .390 with five doubles, two triples, .510 on base percentage, 17 RBI, 24 runs scored, 17 stolen bases. She is signed to play softball at Frontier Community College in Fairfield, Illinois.
Sydney Rainsford, North Newton, pitcher
Rainsford highlighted an elite class of 2024 pitchers in the Lafayette area. She was named to the SCAI Small Schools All-State team after batting .471, with 16 doubles, two triples, one home run, 20 RBI, 30 runs scored. Rainsford pitched 104.2 innings, carried a splintering 0.20 ERA and finished fifth in the state with 236 strikeouts. Rainsford is committed to playing softball at East Carolina University.
Addi Gorbett, Rossville, shortstop
Gorbett competed at a high level in her sophom*ore season as both a defensive player and hitter. Gorbett batted .424 with 28 RBI, slugged three home runs with three triples and six doubles.
Kacey Kirkpatrick, Fountain Central, pitcher
Kirkpatrick maintained her effectiveness throughout as a pitcher and hitter for the Mustangs. Kirkpatrick tossed 46 innings, a 4.11 ERA and 80 strikeouts and finished with a 6-1 record. Kirkpatrick batted .600, clubbed eight home runs, with seven doubles, 31 RBI and 15 runs scored. Kirkpatrick will play college softball at Indiana Tech.
Kailee Bishop, West Central, shortstop and catcher
Bishop quietly became one of the top all-around defensive players in the Lafayette area with her abilities on the infield and behind the plate. Bishop carried a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 58 putouts, 32 assists and turned three double plays. The junior batted .494 with 11 doubles, two triples, socked six home runs with 31 RBI and 24 runs scored. Bishop is committed to Huntington University.
Zoe Foxworth DeJournett, Fountain Central, shortstop and outfield
DeJournett had another strong year for the Mustangs in 2024. DeJournett batted .519 with four home runs, four triples, four doubles, 30 RBI and 50 runs scored. DeJournett is signed to play college softball at Danville Area Community College in Illinois.
Karma Kingery, Covington, First baseman
The senior outfield was the top hitter for Covington in 2024. Kingery batted .556 with nine doubles, 11 RBI, 14 stolen bases and drew eight walks.
Bella Dominguez, Tri-County, catcher
The leadership of Dominguez was tantamount in raising the bar for Tri-County in 2024. The Cavaliers finished the regular season as the No. 8 ranked Class 1A program after the junior batted .500, with six doubles, six triples, one home run, 15 RBI, 31 runs scored and stole 16 stolen bases. Dominguez is committed to playing softball at Danville Area Community College.
Annika Smith, West Central, West Central
Smith was a force at the dish in 2024. The senior mashed 12 home runs — tied for the sixth most in the state — while carrying a .529 batting average with five doubles, three triples, 37 RBI and 41 runs scored.
Kortney Surber, Clinton Central, infielder and outfielder
Surber lined gaps and became a difficult out for any team the Bulldogs faced in 2024. Surber batted .541 with three home runs, four triples, 11 doubles, 37 RBI and 33 runs scored. Surber is signed to play softball at University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne.
Mara Sharpe, West Central, outfielder
Sharpe carried an outstanding season for the Trojans who reached the IHSAA Class 1A Sectional Championship and finished 16-7. Sharpe batted .466 with seven doubles, six triples, two home runs, 19 RBI, 32 runs scored and was perfect in the outfield. Sharpe with her 1.000 fielding percentage caught 39 popups, had five assists and turned a double play.
Grace Luck, Tri-County, pitcher
Luck had a breakout 2024 for a Tri-County program that will be in contention for a sectional championship next season with its senior depth led by Dominguez and talented underclassmen. Luck tossed 49.1 innings with 92 strikeouts, 2.41 ERA for a 9-0 record. As a hitter, Luck batted .534 with five doubles, five triples, one home run, 19 RBI, 27 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
Summer Wynn, North Newton, catcher
The senior catcher gave North Newton a competitive edge with her shiftiness defensively and power at the plate. Wynn hit four home runs with a .409 batting average, eight doubles, six triples, four home runs, 28 RBI and 30 runs scored. Wynn is signed to Millikan University in Decatur, Illinois.
Bella Hall, Faith Christian, utility
Hall became a respected hitter for Faith Christian. The sophom*ore batted .572 with a .590 on base percentage, .732 slugging percentage, scored eight runs with 22 RBI and slashed nine doubles.
Rylee Lanum, Carroll, second and third baseman
The senior infielder was the most consistent hitter for Carroll in 2024. Lanum batted .437 with a.506 on base percentage, 17 RBI and managed to strike out just four times in her 81 plate appearances.
Landree Whiteman, Clinton Central, pitcher
Whiteman was a source of consistency for Clinton Central in the circle. The senior tossed 117.1 innings wtih 145 strikeouts and carried a 2.15 ERA throughout the season. Whiteman batted .493 with one home run, seven doubles and seven RBI.
Quick hits
- Eight of the 16 All-Area Small School players have either signed letters of intent or carry verbal commitments.
- Three local teams (Rossville, Delphi, North Newton) won sectional titles while West Central made a sectional title appearance.
- Rossville combined among 13 hitters to bat .313 with a .403 on base percentage.
Honorable mention
Carly Davison, catcher, sophom*ore (Clinton Central) Kaylyn Applegate, pitcher and utility, junior (North White), KaylinRandle, shortstop, junior (Carroll), Izzy Scott, pitcher, senior (Faith Christian) Lacey Pickering, shortstop, senior (Delphi) Jaden Erb, pitcher, senior (West Central), Emma Holycross, utility, senior (Covington) Emma Titus, third baseman, senior (Delphi) June Busboom, third baseman, junior (North Newton), Keisha Inman, second baseman and pitcher, senior (Seeger), Mariyah Rich, shortstop, junior (Benton Central), Sami Krout, outfielder, senior (Fountain Central) Maddi Nevitt, pitcher and utility (Tri-County), Allie Elliott, pitcher and first baseman, freshman (Rossville), Autumn Paschal, second baseman, sophom*ore (Rossville)
