SBLive Arkansas all-state softball teams: Benton pitcher Alyssa Houston is player of the year

By Kyle Sutherland | Photos by Jimmy Jones 

With the 2023 softball season completed, SBLive Arkansas compiled three teams featuring players from all corners of the state along with a player, coach and newcomer of the year. Here are some of the top performers from across every classification. 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR 

Alyssa Houston | Benton | SR

110.2 IP/ 254 K/ .50 ERA/ .067 BAA

.687 BA/ .738 OBP/ 1.361 SLG/ 13 2B/ 2 3B/ 13 HR/ 52 RBI/ 29 R

5A state champion

COACH OF THE YEAR

Lisa Dreher, Bryant

Big Red Series champion

6A state champion

UNDERCLASSMAN OF THE YEAR

Laney Chilton, Gravette

.459 BA/ .511 OBP/ .906 SLG/ 10 2B/ 2 3B/ 8 HR/ 43 RBI/ 31 R/ 12 SB

4A state champion

First Team

PITCHERS

Akayla Barnard | Cabot | SR

108.1 IP/ 182 K/ 1.62 ERA/ .938 WHIP

.507 BA/ .544 OBP/ 1.181 SLG/ 4 2B/ 1 3B/ 14 HR/ 43 RBI/ 33 R

Emory Bowlin | Pea Ridge | SO

169 IP/ 272 K/ .91 ERA/ .805 WHIP

.400 BA/ /467 OBP/ .537 SLG/ 7 2B/ 2 HR/ 30 RBI

Alyssa Houston | Benton | SR

Brinkley Moreton | Lincoln | SO

140 IP/ 258 K/ 1.94 ERA/ .189 BAA

.553 BA/ .659 OBP/ 1.340 SLG/ 15 2B/ 4 3B/ 17 HR/ 53 RBI/ 53 R

Klaire Womack | Riverside | SO

127.2 IP/ 259 K/ 1.21 ERA/ .178 BAA

.368 BA/ .424 OBP/ .579 SLG/ 5 2B/ 1 3B/ 3 HR/ 22 RBI/ 24 R

INFIELDERS

Taviah Bradley | Russellville | SR

.502 BA/ .603 OBP/ 1.149 SLG/ 9 HR/ 38 RBI

Makenzie Guy | Sylvan Hills | JR

.557 BA/ .602 SLG/ 1.186 SLG/ 9 2B/ 7 3B/ 7 HR/ 40 RBI/ 37 R

Emma King | Bauxite | SO

.500 BA/ .602 OBP/ 1.117/ 10 2B/ 3 3B/ 14 HR/ 49 RBI/ 34 R

Trista Peterson | Bentonville | SR

.469 BA/ .526 OBP/ .969 SLG/ 14 2B/ 1 3B/ 11 HR/ 51 RBI/ 38 R

Kasey Wood | Bentonville | SR

.448 BA/ .528 OBP/ .954 SLG/ 8 2B/ 6 3B/ 8 HR/ 34 RBI/ 31 R

39 IP/ 51 K/ .54 ERA/ .158 BAA

OUTFIELDERS

Chloe Ashmead | Sheridan | JR

.505 BA/ .526 OBP/ .602 SLG/ 7 2B/ 2 3B/ 32 RBI/ 30 R/ 20 SB

Ava Carter | Greene County Tech | JR

.562 BA/ .638 OBP/ 1.010 SLG/ 9 2B/ 10 3B/ 6 HR/ 33 RBI

Cameron Culclager | Benton | FR

.602 BA/ .653 OBP/ .639 SLG/ 1 2B/ 1 3B/ 16 RBI/ 35 R

Keeley Elsea | Gravette | JR

.433 BA/ .573 OBP/ .761 SLG/ 8 2B/ 1 3B/ 4 HR/ 24 RBI/ 27 R

Sofia King | Conway | SR

.425 BA/ .471 OBP/ .725 SLG/ 15 2B/ 3 3B/ 1 HR/ 17 RBI

CATCHERS

Steph Crittenden | Bentonville West | SO

.538 BA/ .596 OBP/ 1.063 SLG/ 53 H/ 18 2B/ 8 HR

Abby Gentry | Bryant | SR

.590 BA/ .692 OBP/ 1.295 SLG/ 13 2B/ 14 HR/ 36 RBI/ 48 R/ 14 SB/ .995 FPCT

UTILITY

Aidan Gorton | Valley Springs | SR

.743 BA/ .770 OBP/ 1.635 SLG/ 12 2B/ 9 3B/ 12 HR/ 44 RBI/ 45 R

Kiera “Kiki” Pickens | Beebe | SR

.539 BA/ .676 OBP/ 1.368 SLG/ 17 HR/ 50 RBI/ 43 R

126 K/ .71 ERA/ .671 WHIP

Second Team

PITCHERS

Emma Banks | Stuttgart | SR

105 IP/ 245 K/ 1.33 ERA/ .118 BAA

.492 BA/ .521 OBP/ .662 SLG/ 7 2B/ 2 3B/ 6 RBI/ 9 R/ 6 SB

Alyson Edwards | Mansfield | JR

157.1 IP/ 287 K/ 1.29 ERA/ .168 BAA

.625 BA/ .703 OBP/ 1.295 SLG/ 12 2B/ 1 3B/ 15 HR/ 54/ 47 R

Lexi Franklin | Booneville | JR

163.1 IP/ 229 K/ 1.84 ERA/ .195 BAA

.447 BA/ .527 OBP/ .851 SLG/ 11 2B/ 6 3B/ 5 HR/ 39 RBI/ 34 R

Ava Johnson | Rogers | JR

74 IP/ 146 SO/ 1.23 ERA/ .132 BAA

.389 BA/ .500 OBP/ .583 SLG/ 7 2B/ 2 3B/ 1 HR/ 15 RBI

Makenzie Freeman | Hackett | SO

152.1 IP/ 244 K/ 1.98 ERA/ .200 BAA

.537 BA/ .621 OBP/ .878 SLG/17 2B/ 4 3B/ 1 HR/ 34 RBI/ 18 R

INFIELDERS

Kelsey Baker | Marion | SR

.447 BA/ .565 OBP/ .835 SLG/ 15 2B/ 4 3B/ 4 HR/ 27 SB

Lydia Bethards | Benton | SO

.475 BA/ .526 OBP/ .616 SLG/ 10 2B/ 2 3B/ 29 RBI/ 32 R

Laney Chilton | Gravette | FR

Maggie McHenry | Taylor | SR

.451 BA/ .526 OBP/ .890 SLG/ 8 2B/ 1 3B/ 9 HR/ 43 RBI

Ally Mendoza | Mount Vernon-Enola | JR

.614 BA/ .674 OBP/ 1.945 OPS/ 9 HR/ 37 RBI/ 45 R/ 13 SB

OUTFIELDERS

Kylee Branscum | Mayflower | SO

.485 BA/ .547 OBP/ 4 2B/ 1 HR/ 24 RBI/ 46 R

Peyton Hester | Maumelle | JR

.616 BA/ .679 OBP/ 9 2B/ 3 3B

Macy Hoskins | Bryant | SR

.416 BA/ .451 OBP/ .818 SLG/ 6 2B/ 2 3B/ 7 HR/ 31 RBI/ 24 R

Layla Pasley | Clarksville | JR

.443 BA/ .506 OBP/ .857 SLG/ 7 2B/ 2 3B/ 6 HR/ 31 RBI/ 28 R

Reese Shirey | Farmington | JR

.489 BA / .511 OBP / .716 SLG/ 6 2B/ 7 3B/ 23 RBI/ 34 R

CATCHERS

Jackie Kelner | Bradley | SR

.587 BA/ .598 OBP/ .962 SLG/ 20 2B/ 2 3B/ 5 HR/ 51 RBI

Ashlyn Michael | Van Buren | JR

.453 BA/ .471 OBP/ .863 SLG/ 9 2B/ 3 3B/ 8 HR/ 36 RBI

UTILITY

Lillie-Faye McWhorter | Woodlawn | SO

.425 BA/ .525 OBP/ .975 SLG/ 9 2B/ 4 3B/ 9 HR/ 38 RBI/ 19 R

120.1 IP/ 205 K/ 1.69 ERA/ .136 BAA

Audrey Blair | Marshall | SO

.682 BA/ .770 OBP/ 1.364 SLG/ 8 2B/ 5 3B/ 4 HR/ 14 RBI, 30 R

88.2 IP/ 128 K/ 1.09 WHIP

All-Underclassmen Team

PITCHERS

Ava "Ace" Ellis, Harding Academy

70 IP/ 61 K/ 3.32 ERA

.643 BA/ .705 OBP/ 1.129 SLG/ 11 2B/ 7 3B/ 3 HR

Gracie Keeling, Maumelle

75 IP/ 117 K/ 4.44 ERA

.369 BA/ .537 OBP

Sylvia King, Conway

151.2 IP/ 150 K/ 2.91 ERA/ .128 BAA

.314 BA/ .377 OBP/ .514 SLG/ 4 2B/ 2 3B/ 2 HR/ 16 RBI

Reese Lackey, Lake Hamilton

68 IP/ 75 K/ 3.30 ERA/ .247 BAA

.588 BA/ ,646 OBP/ 1.098 SLG/ 12 2B/ 4 3B/ 2 HR/ 31 RBI/ 19 R

Kaylee McDonald, Des Arc 

98 IP/ 169K/ 1.27 ERA/ .097 BAA

.405 BA/ .511 OBP/ .829 SLG/ 4 2B/ 3 3B/ 4 HR/ 24 RBI

INFIELDERS

Aniya Arnold, Arkansas High

.507 BA/ .587 OBP/ .701 SLG/ 2 2B/ 1 3B/ 3 HR/ 19 RBI/ 36 R

Michaelyn "Mikey" Freeman, Hackett

.546 BA/ .593 OBP/ .990 SLG/ 18 2B/ 11 3B/ 1 HR/ 37 RBI/ 45 R

Skylar Sterritt, Sheridan

.494 BA/ .526 OBP/ .811 SLG/ 6 HR/ 28 SB/ .938 FPCT

Landyn Tompkins, Nashville

.420 BA/ .458 OBP/ .850 SLG/ 9 2B/ 3 3B/ 10 HR/ 39 RBI/ 29 R

Zaylee Warden, Pea Ridge

.477 BA/ .500 OBP/ .703 SLG/ 17 2B/ 1 3B/ 2 HR/ 34 RBI/ 28 R

OUTFIELDERS

Audrey Bishop, Maumelle Charter

,528 BA/ .614 OBP/ 9 XBH/ 1 HR/ 11 RBI/ 22 SB

Frankie Caldwell, Beebe

.419 BA/ .479 OBP/ 8 2B/ 24 RBI/ 1.000 FPCT

Abbie Mayden, North Little Rock

.424 BA/ .525 OBP/ .515 SLG/ 3 2B/ 6 RBI/ 14 R/ 12 SB

Kayla Myers, CAC

.554 BA/ .597 OBP/ .643 SLG/ 27 R/ 16 SB

Ryleigh Simmons, Dierks

.486 BA/ 36 H/ 9 2B/ 17 RBI/ 38 R/ 32 SB

CATCHERS

Addison Highfill, Baptist Prep

.476 BA/ .526 OBP/ 1.000 SLG/ 11 HR/ 40 RBI

Ryanne Pozza, North Little Rock

.471 BA/ .541 OBP/ 1.059 SLG/ 10 2B/ 1 3B/ 6 HR/ 30 RBI

UTILITY

Kendall Watson, Malvern

.452 BA/ .565 OBP/ .822 SLG/ 6 2B/ 3 3B/ 5 HR/ 26 RBI

73 IP/ 65 K/ 3.74 ERA/ .276 BAA

Emmy Thomason, Greene County Tech

.400 BA/ .424 OBP/ .726 SLG/ 13 2B/ 6 HR/ 36 RBI