See who are the high school softball top position players in the Bucks County area

Spring is here, and that means softball season is underway. Last season, we had a state champion in North Penn. Which players will lead the way to Penn State's Nittany Lion Softball Park? Here are our picks for the Top Returning Position Players this season.

8 Top Catchers

Molly Sheehy, Council Rock North, senior . A four-year starter, Sheehy was one of the Indians’ leading hitters despite missing time due to injury last year. She had a team-high 5 home runs, 17 RBIs and 13 walks last year. Behind the plate, she recorded just one error in 156 chances for a .994 fielding percentage. She was a second-team All-State selection as a sophomore, and, starting the season healthy, is expected to have a big senior campaign.

Jenna Morrison, Gwynedd Mercy, senior . Morrison was excellent behind the plate last year with 82 putouts, two assists, and no errors. At the plate, she hit .510 with 10 doubles, one triple and 17 RBIs, and was second on the team with 28 stolen bases.

Bri Hunter, Palisades, senior . Hunter moves from third base to the catcher position that was vacated by All-State selection Ashley Amato. Last season, she drove in 15 runs and hit five doubles, two triples and one home run. Defensively, she had 18 assists and 10 putouts.

More: Pitch Perfect: See who are the top pitchers in Bucks County area softball this season

Alleigh Waskie, Neshaminy, senior . The Thomas Jefferson commit is a natural leader and role model for her younger teammates. Nothing gets past her when she’s behind the plate, and she’s also expected to be one of the team's top hitters.

Grace Stepp, CR South, senior . Stepp is a 4-year starter who has earned All-SOL Patriot honors in each of her first three seasons. She has committed to play D1 softball for UMass Lowell. She threw out nine runners last year while hitting .379 with 8 doubles and 19 RBIs.

Hailey Hernandez, Abington, junior . Of the Ghosts’ returning players, Hernandez was the team’s top hitter last year and represented the SOL in the Carpenter Cup. But her work behind the plate is even more important, as the Ghosts have several young pitchers.

Kaylee Brown, Upper Moreland, senior . Brown is a three-year varsity starter and has played multiple positions over the years. This season, she moves to catcher where her athleticism and toughness will be an asset.

Sophia Orth, North Penn, senior . After playing third base last year, Orth moved behind the plate with the departure of Sarah Sabocsik (Shippensburg). She hit .378 with 28 hits, 13 RBIs and five doubles last year. In the PIAA state playoffs, she drove in the winning run in both the semifinal and championship games, both 1-0 wins.

22 Top Infielders

Maura Yoos, Archbishop Wood, senior . An ideal leadoff hitter, Yoos had a hit in 21 of 23 games last season, with multiple hits in 17 games. For the season, she hit .589 with 50 hits, 17 stolen bases and 39 runs scored, in addition to 14 RBIs, 5 doubles and 4 triples. In the PIAA 4A playoffs, she went 3-for-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs in the Vikings’ first-round win and was named first-team All-Catholic & first-team All-State at second base.

Gianna Cimino, North Penn, senior . Cimino was named first-team All-State at second base last year after a campaign that included 35 hits, 22 RBIs, 20 runs scored, nine doubles, three home runs and a .389 batting average. The Shippensburg commit scored the game-winning run in the PIAA 6A championship game and will play shortstop this season.

Chloe Dryden, CB West, senior . In addition to being great with her glove, the shortstop led the Bucks with a .397 batting average last season. She will be taking her talents to Boston University next year. Highlights from last season include going 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored, including a steal of home plate, in a win over Wissahickon.

Taylor Gearhart, Council Rock North, senior. The Kutztown commit is a four-year varsity starter and infield anchor at shortstop. She hit four home runs, scored 16 runs and had 15 RBIs last season, but her defense is even better. Gearhart committed just one error during the regular season and her arm strength is unparalleled, reaching 67 mph on the radar.

Lina Sponheimer, Bensalem, senior . As a junior, Sponheimer was named second-team All-State at first base. A four-year starter, she has led the Owls in RBIs her first three seasons. Last year, Sponheimer also led Bensalem in hits, batting average and extra-base hits. She starts the season with 91 career hits.

Megan Klein, Bensalem, senior . The shortstop earned second-team All-State honors last season, when she led the Owls in stolen bases and runs scored. She was second in hits and batting average last year, and enters her senior season with 103 career hits. Klein is on pace to become Bensalem’s all-time hits leader.

More: Poll: Who do you think will be the top softball player in the Bucks County area? Vote here.

Averi Dockery, Pennridge, junior . Dockery had a full plate last season – pitching, playing shortstop and being the Rams’ top hitter. She drove in 30 runs, hitting 9 home runs, 10 doubles and 2 triples and batting .458.

Ava Storlazzi, Pennsbury, senior . Last year, the junior led the Falcons in nearly every offensive stat, including hits (31), runs scored (27), average (.443) and stolen bases. In addition to giving the Falcons’ golden glove defense at second base, Storlazzi was a perfect 27-for-27 in stolen base attempts.

Hollie Schaub, CB South, junior . Schaub didn’t make her varsity debut until mid-April last year, but when she got the chance she made an immediate impression, hitting a grand slam and a double. She finished the season with 11 RBIs and three doubles while playing first base.

Maura Fleming, CB South, junior . The shortstop led the Titans with a .388 batting average and 26 hits, and was second in runs scored (14), doubles (3) and stolen bases (10) last year.

Brooklynn Lucas, junior, Palisades . She drove in a team-high 29 RBIs as a sophomore for a Pirates team that made the PIAA Class 3A semifinals. Lucas scored 25 runs and hit seven doubles and three home runs while batting .429. At first base, she had a .980 fielding percentage. She had eight hits and four RBIs in the playoffs.

Pitch Perfect: See who are the top pitchers in Bucks County area softball this season

Avery Tumolo, CR South, senior . A Ramapo College commit, Tumolo lines up at third base but she can play nearly every position. A team leader and power hitter, she was a first-team All-SOL Patriot selection last year.

Ava Beal, Quakertown, senior . A first-team All-State selection at shortstop last year, Beal had a team-high 34 hits and 25 runs scored. She drove in 18 RBIs while batting .557.

Zoey Clarke, Germantown Academy, sophomore . Clarke had a dynamite freshman season, hitting .576 with a .643 OBP while batting leadoff. The left-handed hitter possesses both speed and power, in addition to solid defense at shortstop. She drove in 22 RBIs and stole 19 bases in 16 games, along with 5 triples, 5 doubles and 3 home runs.

Sophia Sekac, Morrisville, senior . After putting in plenty of work in the offseason to grow her skills, Sekac will bat leadoff while anchoring the Bulldogs’ defense at shortstop.

Alexa Weiss, Gwynedd Mercy, senior . Weiss had 33 hits and drove in 22 runs last season, batting .579 with an OBP of .647. She led the team with 11 doubles and will anchor the Monarchs’ defense at shortstop.

Molly Milewski, Conwell-Egan, senior . A three-sport varsity athlete, Milewski earned second-team All-Catholic and second-team All-State honors at third base last year. In addition to standout defense, Milewski is a proficient hitter. She finished the regular season with a spurt of 10 hits in three games, and was 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs in the Eagles’ first-round PIAA Class 3A loss.

Cecelia McBeth, Conwell-Egan, junior . She earned first-team All-Catholic honors after a standout season at shortstop, and was named second-team All-State. McBeth hit .460 last year and had 20 RBIs and four home runs in her first 11 games of the season. In the PCL championship game, she drove in two runs to help clinch the title.

Addison Landis, Dock Mennonite, sophomore . Landis made an impact as a freshman, batting .546 with 36 hits and seven doubles. Hitting leadoff, the speedy shortstop scored 47 runs and hit two triples.

Victoria Colagreco, William Tennent, junior . Providing standout defense at shortstop, Colagreco is also a threat at the place, hitting .383 with 16 RBIs, four doubles, three triples and 28 runs scored last year.

Sam Raub, Pennsbury, senior . Raub (third base) has a knack for coming up with clutch hits – she had two game-winning hits last season, including a walk-off home run, and was 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI in the Falcons’ first-round district playoff win.

Makenzie Leo, Upper Moreland, senior . Leo was a standout hitter for the Golden Bears until shoulder surgery kept her sidelined for her entire junior season. Fully recovered now, Leo looks to pick up where she left off.

12 Top Outfielders

Kaylee Masterson, CB East, junior . As one of the most experienced players on a young team, Masterson, who was an All-SOL Colonial second-team selection last year, will be counted on to provide plenty of offense for the Patriots. In a standout performance last season, Masterson had six RBIs with a double and triple against rival CB West.

Alex Johnson, Germantown Academy, junior . Johnson moves to center field from shortstop, where her strong arm should be an advantage. In addition to her versatile defensive skills, Johnson was a top hitter for the Patriots last year, batting .522. With an innate ability to get on base and lay down a bunt, Johnson has worked to improve her power hitting for this season.

Ella Wheeler, CB South, junior . Wheeler led the Titans with 18 RBIs last season, and hit a team-high five doubles and three home runs while hitting .347. She also led the team with 14 stolen bases.

Camryn Nadolski, Souderton, senior . She led the Big Red with 20 runs and 27 hits, which included six doubles, two triples and one home run, last season, while driving in nine runs. She also hit a team-high .429 and stole seven bases.

Lindsey Rooney, Villa Joseph Marie, junior . Rooney hit .357 last season while showing impressive range in center field. Rooney will take on even more responsibility this season as the center of the Jems’ offense, highlighting her explosiveness at the plate and situational hitting.

Emily Davis, Harry S. Truman, senior . Davis is a versatile player who earned plenty of varsity experience at various positions the last two years. This year, she looks to play in the outfield with some time at shortstop. She is a solid situational hitter.

Helen Woloshyn, CR South senior. Woloshyn is speed-personified, giving her excellent range in center field and on the base paths. A Division I recruit, she has 100 career stolen bases.

Kacie Lawson, Harry S. Truman, senior . The Tigers are ready to take the next step, and Lawson, one of the team’s senior leaders, will be a crucial piece. The outfielder’s dedication, effort and hard work helped usher a cultural change to the softball program.

Morgan Volgraf, Neshaminy, senior . A leader in the huddle and in the outfield, Volgraf hit .387 last season and has committed to play Division 1 softball at Fordham University.

Elana Shire, New Hope-Solebury, sophomore . After a stellar freshman season, Shire earned second-team All-SOL Freedom honors.

Morgan Kocher, William Tennent, junior . She led the Panthers in nearly every offensive category last season, hitting .449 with a 1.059 OPS, 31 hits, 28 RBIs and six doubles. She earned first-team All-SOL Freedom honors.

Amirah Bell, Bristol, sophomore . As a freshman, Bell earned first-team All-State honors for her work at second base. This year, she moved to the outfield. Bell had 36 hits, scored 39 runs and stole eight bases last season.

4 Top Designated Hitters/Utility Players

Olivia Schlindwein, CR North, sophomore . In addition to pitching, Schlindwein was one of the Indians’ top hitters as a freshman, batting .359. She’s also fast – Schlindwein was 20-for-20 on stolen bases and scored 18 runs, earning first-team All-SOL Patriot honors at designated player.

Leah Schwalm, Quakertown, junior . As a sophomore, she led the Panthers with 30 RBIs and 5 home runs, along with 5 doubles and 2 triples, while batting .585. She was named first-team All-State as a designated player.

Aubrey Gahman, Dock Mennonite, junior . Gahman had an incredible sophomore season, leading the Pioneers in batting average (.588), hits (47), doubles (7) and home runs (4). Most impressively, she hit 10 triples and drove in 50 runs, while also handling pitching duties, where she struck out 185 batters in 105 innings. In the District One 1A title game, she got a strikeout with a runner on third to end the game and clinch the win and was named BAL Player of the Year. She looks to split time in the circle with Dana Delamater (a transfer from North Penn) while playing third base or in the outfield.

Natalie Kelly, Gwynedd Mercy, sophomore . Kelly had a remarkable freshman season, driving in 27 runs and batting .407 with five doubles and three triples while playing first base.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: See who are the high school softball top position players in the Bucks County area