High school softball is getting back onto the fields across the country and we will honor those athletes who have shined on the field!
Moving forward after this initial posting, we will honor top high school performances nationwide each Tuesday for the next several months and, if you’d like to have a player considered, scroll down to see how to fill out a nomination.
Games for this week’s honoree were for Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 through Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023…
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Extra Inning Softball’s National High School Player of the Week
* We’re less than 24 hours following the end of a thrilling Super Bowl and much of the country is trying to stay warm in sub-freezing temperatures, but in other places–believe it or not–high school softball has begun for the 2023 season!
One of those places was sunny Southern California where Gigi Ganje, a junior outfielder at Aliso Niguel High in Aliso Viejo, Calif., had quite the week to kick off this season of high school softball.
Last Wednesday (Feb. 8, 2023), she fulfilled a lifelong dream of taking her fastpitch skills to the next level as she committed the University of Penn, one of the top academic institutions in the country as well.
Then, on Thursday and in two games on Saturday, she kicked off her 2023 prep campaign with an explosive start going 6-for-10 with four home runs, four runs scored and nine RBI’s.
And it’s not as if she’s been your typical cleanup power hitter, either—Gigi is a speedy outfielder who just so happened to start off the season with a 1.800 slugging percentage and a 2.40 OPS.
Head Coach Randie Baldwin said of her player’s fast start to the season:
“Gigi is full of confidence now and every time she’s up I think she’s putting one over!”
And the future Fighting Quaker (UPenn’s nickname) was clutch too, going 4-for-4 with runners in scoring position as her team lost 5-4 in the pre-season matchup with Chino Hills and before capturing victories against Newport Harbor (13-3) and Redondo Union (3-2).
What’s made such a difference to the start of this season, especially when it’s come to crushing the ball with power?
“I’ve greatly improved my swing and have been taking a different approach at the plate with the help of my hitting coach Ken Briggs,” Gigi believes. “It’s helped me become more confident and consistent.”
It should be a fun ride for the So Cal team and Coach Baldwin, for one, is looking forward to one more year with Gigi.
“She is a coach’s dream,” the coach explains. “Gigi shows up every day with the intent to improve and be the best that she can be. She will be a force for us all year long.”
Fresh off her verbal less than a week ago, the teenage athlete says she’s known since her campus visit that she was ready to announce her decision.
“I fell in love with the team culture and campus vibe after spending time with the coaches and players on my visit last month,” she states. “My main goal was to go to the most prestigious academic school possible where I could also play softball. I feel like I’ve accomplished my goal with Penn.”
And as for her prized player heading East to begin her Ivy League career later this year, Coach Baldwin feels it’s a perfect fit for both sides.
“In regard to her commitment,” she begins, “any school would be lucky to have a player of Gigi’s caliber but to be able to play softball and receive an education from Penn is a game-changer.”
“I’m so very excited for all that she will accomplish the rest of her career here at Aliso, at Penn and for the rest of her life!”
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
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Nomination Process
Each week during the spring and summer high school seasons, Extra Inning Softball honors a National High School Player of the Week.
Honoree are announced every Tuesday; cutoff for submitting the nominations is each Monday at noon EST/9 am PST.
We’re looking for standouts who excelled in the circle, at the plate or in the field so be sure to nominate your favorite performance(s) by submitting the following:
- Player Name
- Grad Year (example: Class of 2023 or Senior)
- Position(s)
- High school team name with city/state
- Stats for the week (be as detailed as possible!)
- Up-to-date season stats if possible
- Recruiting information if applicable
- Any interesting background on the player
- Action and/or head shots
- If possible, contact info if we’d like more info or quotes
Email info and photos (1-4 as available) by the cutoff of Monday at noon EST/9 am PST to: info@extrainningsoftball.com.
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Extra Inning Softball National High School Players of the Week (Historically)
2022
- June 14: P Courtney Layne (Appomattox County, Appomattox, Virginia)
- June 7: SS Graciela Dominguez (James Madison, Vienna, Virginia)
- May 31: 1B Macee Eaton (Wheelersburg, Ohio)
- May 24: P Karyln Pickens (North Buncombe, Weaverville, North Carolina)
- May 17: P Keagan Rothrock (Roncalli, Indianapolis, Indiana)
- May 10: SS Teagan Thrunk (Point Pleasant Boro, Point Pleasant, New Jersey)
- May 3: SS Abby Hornberger (Regina, Warren, Michigan)
- Apr. 26: OF Cassidy McLellan (Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Florida)
- Apr. 19: P/UT Madison Knight (Patterson Mill, Bel Air, Maryland)
- Apr. 12: OF Chelsea Mack (Brecksville, Ohio)
- Apr. 5: P/IF Madison Inscoe (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, Virginia)
- Mar. 29: P Rose Malen (Marin Catholic, Kentfield, Calif.)
- Mar 22: P Katie Kutz (Bishop O’Connell, Arlington, Virginia)
- Mar. 15: IF Tanya Windle (Cactus, Glendale, Arizona)
- Mar. 8: P Jayden Nishi (South, Torrance, California)
- Mar. 1: P Marissa McCann (Willow Canyon, Surprise, Arizona)
- Feb. 22: 1B Sydney Lewis (Prosper, Texas)
2021
- June 15: P Eden Bingham (Rustburg, Virginia)
- June 8: P Lauren Derkowski (York, Elmhurst, Illinois)
- June 1: SS Shayne Immke (St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Joseph, Illinois)
- May 25: OF Cassidy McLellan (Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Florida)
- May 18: IF Abby Ota (Joel Barlow (Redding, Connecticut)
- May 11: IF Kali Heivilin (Three Rivers, Michigan)
- May 4: P Maya Johnson (St. Joseph Academy, Cleveland, Ohio)
- Apr. 27: P/UT Karlyn Pickens (North Buncombe, Weaverville, North Carolina)
- Apr. 20: P/IF Madison Inscoe (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, Virginia)
- Apr. 13: P Keagan Rothrock (Roncalli, Indianapolis, Indiana)
- Apr. 6: C Jayla Castro (Rocklin, California)
- Mar. 30: SS Brooke Blankenship (River Ridge, New Port Richey, Florida)
- Mar. 23: SS Rylee Cloud (Fairview, Grant, Louisiana)
- Mar. 16: IF Jenna Madison (Curry, Jasper, Alabama)
- Mar. 9: P/IF Annabelle Widra (Spain Park, Hoover, Alabama)
- Mar. 2: C/3B Elizabeth Moffitt (Prosper, Texas)
2020
- Season cancelled in March due to COVID-19 pandemic
- Mar. 17: P Kenzi Lyall (Alleghany, Sparta, North Carolina)
- Mar. 10: C Maci Bergeron (Notre Dame, Crowley, Louisiana)
- Mar. 3: IF Jayda Coleman (The Colony, Texas)
- Feb. 26: IF/P Micaela Wark (Reedy, Frisco, Texas)
2019
- Jun. 10: P/1B Sydney Supple (North, Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
- May 27: P Aynslie Furbush (Winter Springs, Florida)
- May 20: SS Bailey Dowling (St. Joseph-Ogden, St. Joseph, Illinois)
- May 13: P Britton Rogers (Cypress Ranch, Cypress, Texas)
- May 6: C Neely Peterson (Cypress Creek Middle, Wesley Chapel, Florida)
- Apr. 29: OF/IF/P Angela Zedak (Marist, Chicago, Illinois)
- Apr. 22: SS Kali Heivilin (Three Rivers, Michigan)
- Apr. 15: 3B Trinity Cannon (Forney, Texas)
- Apr. 8: P/1B Sydney Supple (North, Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
- Apr. 1: OF Leea Hanks (Eustis, Florida)
- Mar. 25: P/IF Madison Inscoe (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, Virginia)
- Mar. 18: 1B/OF Avery Goelz (Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Florida)
- Mar. 11: OF/2B Tanya Windle (Cactus, Glendale, Arizona)
- Mar. 4: SS Hallie Wacaser (Bentonville West, Centerton, Arkansas)
- Feb. 25: P Stevie Hansen (Norco, California)
2018
- May 27: P Lexi Kilfoyl (Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes, Florida)
- May 20: P Ashley Rogers (Meigs County, Decatur, Tennessee)
- May 13 (tie): P Sydney Supple (Oshkosh North, Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
- May 13 (tie): OF Lexi Voss (Marist, Chicago, Illinois)
- May 6: P Danielle Williams (Amador Valley, Pleasanton, California)
- April 29: P Montana Fouts (East Carter, Grayson, Kentucky)
- April 22: IF Kasey Simpson (Keller, Texas)
- April 15: SS Jayda Coleman (The Colony, Texas)
- April 8: P Megan Faraimo (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, California)
- April 1: C Macy Simmons (Hamilton, Chandler, Arizona)
- March 25: C Paige Pfent (Springstead, Spring Hill, Florida)
- March 18: SS/OF Deja Westbrook (Arcadia, California)
- March 11: P Megan Faraimo (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, California)
