Newsday's top 100 Long Island high school softball players for 2026
St Anthony's Makayla Martinez runs to first base after hitting an RBI single in St Anthony's win for the CHSAA championship in May of 2025. Credit: Neil Miller
Newsday's annual list of the top 100 Long Island high school softball players for the 2026 season, listed in alphabetical order. All stats listed are from last season unless otherwise noted.
Crisalyn Abruscato, Hauppauge, SS/UTIL, Sr.
The Rhode Island commit batted .526 with 27 runs, 17 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Sierra Albano, Northport, C, Jr.
Albano hit .410 with 30 runs scored and 25 RBIs. She posted a .994 fielding percentage with 155 putouts.
Jamie Anders, Northport, 3B, Sr.
Anders batted .483 with eight extra-base hits, 30 RBIs and 26 runs scored. She will play at Alvernia University.
Andrea Arias, Carey, P/3B, Sr.
Arias hit .425 and is a valuable piece to Carey’s offense, while also providing strong pitching.
Jaeda Bartfield, Holy Trinity, 3B, Jr.
She hit .463 with three home runs, 19 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
Sarah Benedict, Bayport-Blue Point, C, Jr.
Benedict hit .525 with a .613 OBP, .918 slugging percentage, 37 RBIs and 33 runs scored.
Clockwise, from top left: Rylie Betz, Avery Betancourt, Jaeda Bartfield, Jamie Anders, Sierra Albano.
Avery Betancourt, Mepham, CF, Sr.
The Towson commit hit .490 with a 1.174 OPS and 22 stolen bases to earn Newsday All-Long Island second team honors.
Rylie Betz, Seaford P/1B, Soph.
Betz hit .414 with a .500 OBP and eight home runs. She had a 1.83 ERA and struck out 63 over 55 ⅔ innings.
Brianna Bothell, Long Beach, CF, Jr.
Bothell hit .561 with 21 runs scored, 17 RBIs, four doubles and a triple.
Emily Bouros, West Islip, P/1B, Sr.
The Adelphi commit had a 2.10 ERA and struck out 127. She hit .372 with a 1.142 OPS.
Riley Brasch, Oceanside, 3B, Sr.
The Western Connecticut St. commit hit .319 with 17 RBIs and 15 runs scored.
From left: Emily Bouros, Riley Brasch, Brianna Bothell.
Danielle Brennan, Sachem North, P/OF, Sr.
The St. Joseph’s (LI) commit had a 1.52 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 14 wins. She hit .441 with 23 RBIs.
Isabel Briand, East Hampton, P/CF, Sr.
The Dominican University commit hit .565 with a 1.539 OPS and 21 RBIs and struck out 103 batters in 71 innings.
Katie Burke, Westhampton, 3B, Sr.
The Adelphi commit batted .609 with five home runs, 37 RBIs and 35 runs and was a Newsday All-Long Island second team selection.
Joanna Byrne, Oceanside, C/OF, Jr.
Byrne hit .402 with 21 RBIs and 20 runs scored to help the Sailors to the Nassau Class AAA final. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Clockwise, from left: Danielle Brennan, Katie Burke, Sarah Caltabiano, Addison Celi.
Sarah Caltabiano, West Babylon, CF, Sr.
The Susquehanna University commit is an outstanding defensive player with great range. She posted a .423 OBP with 19 RBIs.
Addison Celi, Westhampton, P, Sr.
Celi suffered an injury in last year’s opener and missed the rest of the season. She has amassed 728 career strikeouts and was named Newsday’s All-Long Island second team in 2024.
Kayleigh Collins, Hauppauge, 1B/P. Sr.
The Binghamton commit hit .818 in the regular season with 40 RBIs and was named Suffolk Class AA Field Player of the Year. She was selected to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Delilah Cummings, Sayville, SS, Sr.
The six-year varsity player hit .425 with 10 extra-base hits, including one home run. The College of Charleston commit totaled 36 RBIs, 25 runs scored and nine stolen bases.
Samantha Dolan, Massapequa, 1B/3B, Sr.
The Western Connecticut State University commit hit .414 with a .488 OBP, .768 SLG, three home runs, four triples and 31 RBIs.
Clockwise, from top left: Sienna Erker, Sophia Erker, Samantha Dolan, Lucy Feigenbaum, Delilah Cummings.
Sienna Erker, Massapequa, UTIL, Soph.
Erker hit .386 with a .466 OBP, .511 slugging percentage, 30 runs scored, 28 RBIs and 14 walks.
Sophia Erker, St. Anthony’s, CF, Sr.
Erker hit .414 with 18 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and had a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Lilah Eten, Center Moriches, C, Sr.
The League VII Defensive Player of the Year hit .492 with a 1.413 OPS, two home runs, 40 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
Lucy Feigenbaum, Half Hollow Hills, P/1B, Jr.
She hit .424 with a 1.017 OPS, 16 RBIs, a home run and seven doubles. She also pitched to a 7-3 record.
Olivia Feldman, St. Anthony’s, P/OF, Fr.
Feldman hit .333 with 10 stolen bases and had 38 strikeouts in 38 innings for Farmingdale.
Alexa Ferguson, Half Hollow Hills, OF/MIF, Soph.
She hit .507 with a 1.145 OPS with 25 stolen bases, 14 RBIs and eight doubles.
Cassidy Fitzgerald, Mineola, SS, Jr.
The Binghamton commit hit .361 with five triples, three doubles and 25 stolen bases.
Sadie Forman, Harborfields, CF/C, Jr.
Forman hit .373 with a .542 slugging percentage, nine RBIs, six doubles and two triples.
Ava Frangas, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, SS, Sr.
The Sacred Heart commit hit .384 with a .394 OPS, 14 runs scored and 13 RBIs.
Alexa Furman, North Babylon, CF, Jr.
A torn ACL forced Furman to miss her sophomore season. She hit .497 as a freshman, including a .679 average in the 2024 playoffs.
Top row from left: Olivia Feldman, Cassidy Fitzgerals, Ava Frangas. Middle row, from left: Alexa Furman, Karley Handleman, Adyson Hartcorn. Bottom row, from left: Lauren Hofmann, Madson Johnson, Samantha Kapitansky.
Karley Handleman, Oceanside, SS, Sr.
The Rollins College commit hit .360 with a 1.109 OPS, four home runs and 32 RBIs.
Adyson Hartcorn, Connetquot, C, Soph.
She hit .423 with five home runs, including two grand slams, and four doubles.
Savannah Hesse, Mount Sinai, SS/3B, Jr.
Her .400 average led the Mustangs. She had seven doubles and 18 RBIs.
Lauren Hofmann, Islip, P/3B, Sr.
The Queens College commit struck out 129 batters and totaled three home runs and 15 RBIs.
Madison Johnston, Commack, SS, Jr.
The Suffolk Class AAA Field Player of the Year batted .585 with a 1.677 OPS, 38 RBIs and 30 runs. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Samantha Kapitansky, Bellmore JFK 1B/CF, Sr.
The Skidmore College commit hit .409 with 10 stolen bases.
Arianna Kelly-Weihberg, Patchogue-Medford, P/OF, Soph.
The League I Pitcher of the Year pitched to a 13-3 record with 100 strikeouts and three shutouts.
Breya Kesler, Miller Place, LF, Jr.
She hit .324 with a .964 OPS, 27 RBIs, 20 runs and seven extra base-hits.
Lexi Kneisel, East Islip, SS, Jr.
Kneisel hit .395, had 34 RBIs and scored 30 runs for the Long Island Class AA champions. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Clockwise, from top left: Breya Kesler, Olivia Kostka, Lexi Kneisel, Jordyn Kwasna.
Olivia Kostka, Port Washington, P/OF, Soph.
Kostka had a 1.86 ERA and struck out 104 over 94 innings. She hit .305 with a .400 OBP.
Gabrielle Krayewski, Smithtown West, C/3B, Soph.
A rock-solid catcher, she hit .455 with 22 RBIs to help the Bulls reach the Suffolk Class AA final.
Katherine Krayewski, Kings Park, SS, Jr.
Krayewski hit .494 with a .561 OBP and an 1.197 OPS.
Jordyn Kwasna, Riverhead, OF, Sr.
Kwasna hit .451 with a 1.216 OPS, three home runs, 26 RBIs and 32 runs to help Riverhead to its first Suffolk title. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Ella Lanza, Syosset, 3B/1B, Sr.
The Georgetown commit hit .436 with a 507 OBP, .909 slugging percentage and 10 home runs.
Sophia Lee, St. Anthony’s, SS, Sr.
The Middlebury commit hit .365 with 34 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. She will be the Friars’ primary shortstop this season.
From left: Ella Lanza, Sophia Lee, Alexandra Livanos.
Alexandra Livanos, MacArthur, P, Jr.
Livanos hit .315 with 22 RBIs, 26 runs scored and struck out 115 batters.
Xiomara Llerena, Sachem East, SS, Sr.
The Drew University commit batted .493 with 18 RBIs and 17 runs scored. She played for the Peruvian National Team this fall.
Emma Lombardi, Kings Park, C, Sr.
Lombardi hit .350 with a .395 OBP and a .883 OPS for the Suffolk Class A runners-up.
Autumn Malone, Mineola, P, Jr.
Malone hit a walk-off single in Game 2 of the Nassau Class A final and a two-run home run in Game 3. She pitched a one-hitter to clinch the series.
Adriana Martinez, Riverhead, SS, Sr.
The Clarke University commit hit .451 and posted a 1.151 OPS with 23 RBIs, 29 runs and 13 stolen bases. She struck out just twice last season.
Makayla Martinez, St. Anthony’s, 1B, Jr.
Martinez hit .443 with six home runs, 32 RBIs and 23 runs for the CHSAA state champions. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Clockwise, from top left: Makayla Martinez, Alexa Mifsud, Jainessa Melendez, Autumn Malone, Delaney Mathes.
Delaney Mathes, Sachem North, C, Jr.
The Stony Brook commit batted .682 and hit three homers to lead Sachem North to a Suffolk AAA final appearance. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Alexa Mifsud, Carle Place, 3B, Jr.
Mifsud hit .388 with a .500 OBP, 1.076 OPS, 31 runs scored and 10 stolen bases for the Long Island Class B champions.
Lianna Mills, Central Islip, C, Sr.
The Adelphi commit hit .557 with 28 RBIs and was the League I Defensive Player of the Year.
Jainessa Melendez, Valley Steam North, SS, Fr.
The speedy slap-hitter batted .559 with 31 RBIs and 26 runs scored.
Tiffany Melendez, Valley Stream North, CF, Sr.
The Seton Hall commit hit .582 with a 1.457 OPS, 35 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.
Meghan Moore, Plainedge, 3B, Jr.
Moore hit .370 with a .508 OBP, .965 OPS and 12 RBIs.
Kiki Napolitano, Comsewogue, SS, Soph.
Napolitano hit .508 with two home runs, three triples, 17 doubles and 10 stolen bases. She hit .733 in the playoffs and was the League IV Defensive Player of the Year.
Sophia Nicastro, Calhoun, P/3B, Fr.
Nicastro hit .380 with 17 RBIs and three home runs. She also struck out 86 batters.
Lauren O’Brien, Kellenberg, 2B/SS, Jr.
The Hofstra commit batted .407 with 20 RBIs and six stolen bases.
Clockwise, from left: Tiffany Melendez, Sophia Nicastro, Marisa Renganeschi, Lucy Olore, Julianna Plunkett.
Lucy Olore, Wantagh, P, Jr.
Olore had a 1.58 ERA and struck out 148 in 124 innings. She also hit .391.
Rylee Petruskie, Bethpage, P/SS, Sr.
The Oneonta commit hit .328 with 13 runs scored, 10 RBIs, five doubles and struck out 97 batters.
Leila Piccoli, Smithtown East, 1B, Jr.
She hit .377 with 25 RBIs and two home runs.
Julianna Plunkett, Mineola, C, Sr.
The East Stroudsburg commit hit .351 and struck out just three times for the Nassau Class A champions.
Sophia Reichman, Wheatley, C/INF, Soph.
Reichman hit .424 with a .465 OBP, 1.056 OPS, 22 runs scored and 15 RBIs.
Marisa Renganeschi, East Islip, 2B, Jr.
The League IV Offensive Player of the Year hit .344, with 32 hits, 35 runs scored, 11 doubles and 18 stolen bases. She is a strong fielder with outstanding speed.
Sienna Renny, Syosset, SS, Sr.
The Seton Hall commit hit .309 with a .354 OBP, .473 slugging percentage and 17 RBIs.
Taylor Renny, Syosset, CF, Jr.
The University of Pittsburgh commit hit .554 with a .597 OBP and slugged 1.196. She hit nine doubles, four triples and stole 15 bases to earn Newsday All-Long Island first team honors.
Arianna Rodriguez, North Babylon, SS, Jr.
An excellent defender, Rodriguez hit .488 with 33 runs scored and committed no errors.
Jaylene Rodriguez, Deer Park, INF, Sr.
Rodriguez batted .536 as a sophomore before injuries derailed her junior campaign. She is an excellent defender with a dynamic bat.
Cate Ropiak, East Islip, P, Soph.
Ropiak struck out 165, had 28 RBIs, five home runs and 11 stolen bases to earn Newsday All-Long Island second team honors.
Julianna Russ, Ward Melville, P/OF, Jr.
Russ batted .588 with four home runs and 33 RBIs. She struck out 126 batters and recorded 13 wins in the circle.
Clockwise from left: Taylor (left) and Sienna Renny, Cate Ropiak, Madison Saladino, Grace Ryan, Julianna Russ.
Grace Ryan, Islip, 1B/OF, Jr.
Ryan batted .352 with five homers, 28 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.
Madison Saladino, Riverhead, C/3B, Jr.
She hit .448 with a 1.118 OPS with seven doubles, 34 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
Sophia Sanchez, Jericho, SS, Sr.
The Queens College commit hit .638 with a .688 OBP, 1.204 slugging percentage and four home runs.
Kaitlyn Santopietro, Garden City, P, Sr.
The Adelphi commit struck out 134 over 100 innings and posted a 2.50 ERA.
Maeve Schiereck, Massapequa, C, Sr.
The Stony Brook commit hit .482 with a 1.488 OPS and eight home runs. She had 34 RBIs and 32 runs scored and was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island first team.
Delaney Schleider, Miller Place, C, Jr.
Schleider batted .539 with a 1.384 OPS, 41 RBIs and 33 runs to help the Panthers win the Class A state title. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Clockwise from top left: Kaitlyn Santopietro, Delaney Schleider, Margaret Schumacher, Kate Schweitzer.
Margaret Schumacher, Commack, 3B, Soph.
The League III Rookie of the Year hit .435 with three home runs, seven doubles, three triples and 25 runs scored.
Kate Schweitzer, Commack, P, Sr.
The Suffolk Large School Pitcher of the Year had 247 strikeouts, a 1.14 ERA, .106 batting average against and picked up 20 wins. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island first team.
Megan Scott, Farmingdale, 3B, Jr.
Scott hit .395 with four home runs, 27 RBIs and 10 doubles.
Clockwise from top left: Megan Scott, Jiselle Singh, Gabriella Shepherd, Molly Silecchia, Brooke Simmons.
Gabriella Shepherd, East Meadow, P/SS, Jr.
She hit .508 with a 1.329 OPS, two home runs, nine RBIs and 19 runs scored.
Molly Silecchia, Kellenberg, P/INF Sr.
Silecchia hit .453 with two home runs, 21 RBIs and five steals. She earned six wins and a save in the circle and was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
Brooke Simmons, Glen Cove, P, Sr.
Last year’s Newsday Nassau Player of the Year pitched to a 1.60 ERA and struck out 197. She hit .458 with a 1.413 OPS and five home runs.
Jiselle Singh, Smithtown West, SS, Soph.
Singh hit .475 with a .522 OBP, 29 runs scored, 21 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.
Ruthie Small, Calhoun, SS, Jr.
The Oneonta commit hit .462 with two home runs and 20 RBIs. She has great range at shortstop.
Gianna Spaventa, MacArthur, LF, Sr.
The Barry University commit scored 15 runs and drove in 11 for the Nassau Class AA runner-up.
Savannah Speicher, Plainedge, P, Jr.
Speicher hit .471, with a .533 OBP, 1.161 OPS, 16 RBIs. She pitched 80 innings and picked up eight wins.
Brooke Springsteen, Eastport-South Manor, C, Jr.
The East Stroudsburg commit hit .603 with 40 runs scored and was the League V Defensive Player of the Year.
Caterina Surleti, Wheatley, 1B, Sr.
The St. Joseph’s (LI) commit hit .400 with a .547 OBP, 1.165 OPS, 22 RBIs and three home runs.
Clockwise from left: Ruthie Small, Gianna Spaventa, Samantha Szypula, Caterina Surleti, Nina Vandernoth.
Samantha Szypula, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, CF/P, Soph.
Szypula hit .333 with a .400 OBP, 21 runs scored, nine RBIs and two home runs.
Leila Thakkar, Clarke, SS, Jr.
She batted .415 with a 1.200 OPS, 20 RBIs and 16 runs scored. She hit a home run, five triples and three doubles.
Ahria Treschl, Patchogue-Medford, 1B, Jr.
She hit .473 with 13 extra-base hits, including three home runs. She led the Raiders in RBIs (32) and doubles (nine).
Nina Vandernoth, St. Anthony’s, P/INF, Soph.
Vandernoth went 4-0 with 57 strikeouts over 27 innings. She will be the Friars’ primary pitcher this season.
Kayla Varga, East Islip, 1B, Sr.
The Stony Brook commit hit .475 with 30 RBIs and 21 runs scored for the Class AA Long Island champions. She was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island first team.
Laney Vomero, Miller Place, SS, Sr.
The Stony Brook commit hit .442 with a 1.177 OPS, 37 runs and 33 RBIs and was named to Newsday’s All-Long Island second team.
From left: Kayla Varga, Laney Vomero, Alyssa Weigand.
Alyssa Weigand, Glen Cove, C, Sr.
The Trinity College commit hit .446 with four home runs for the Nassau Class AA champions.
Raylee Weisman, Rocky Point, CF, Sr.
The Rhode Island commit hit .567 with 30 runs scored, 16 RBIs, 33 stolen bases and posted a 1.349 OPS.
Erin Wolfe, Bay Shore, P/UTIL, Sr.
The St. Anselm commit hit .459 with a .527 OBP, .703 OPS and 11 stolen bases. Wolfe struck out 61 batters over 58 innings.
From left: Raylee Weisman, Erin Wolfe.
Chloe Zielinski, Floral Park, P/CF, Soph.
She hit .701 with 18 doubles and pitched to an 8-1 record with 73 strikeouts.
