Extra Inning Softball’s National High School Player of the Week—June 8, 2021 (Week 15)

Each week until the high school softball season ends nationwide, we’ll honor top performances nationwide; if you’d like to have a player considered, scroll down to see how to fill in a nomination.

Players below are recognized for play in games Sunday, May 30, 2021 through Saturday, June 5, 2021…

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Extra Inning Softball’s National High School Player of the Week

* Lauren Derkowski, the senior pitcher for York (Elmhurst, Illinois) High and a Michigan signee, is closing out her outstanding prep career with a bang.

Last week in the Regional round of the Illinois High School State Tournament, she threw a five inning perfect game with 15 K’s in the 10-0 semi-final over Berwyn/Cicero Morton and came back in the final to hit a two-run, two-out home run in the 6-0 shutout of Downers Grove where she also struck out 11 in seven innings.

Her stats for last week: 12 innings pitched, just two hits given up with no runs, walks or hit batters while she sat down 26 batters via the strikeout.

Offensively, Lauren—ranked #16 of the 2021 Extra Elite 100—went 1-for-4 with the home run, two RBIs and two intentional walks.

Today, she leads her 19-2 Dukes into the Illinois Class 4A Section semis but no matter what happens, the senior has much to be proud of.

She’s a Gatorade State Player of the Year finalist as she is carrying a 4.58 weighted GPA and also has spectacular pitching and hitting stats for the season.

Lauren has a 16-1 record with a next-to-nothing 0.06 ERA and in 113 innings pitched has struck out 241 batters while walking just 11. Offensively, the future Wolverine is hitting .408 (30-for-49) with a .586 on-base percentage and has 11 home runs, 34 RBIs, a 1.153 slugging percentage and a 1.739 OPS.

“Lauren is an extremely hard worker both on an off the field,” says Brendan Holba, the York High softball coach. “She not only competes and trains at a high level but she also strives for excellence in the classroom with a tough load of AP and honors classes.”

“When she goes to Michigan to play softball next year she also plans on majoring in engineering. Academic success and softball prowess aside, Lauren is a true ambassador to the game of softball. She spends a good chunk of her free time volunteering at youth camps, working one on one with elementary and middle school players to go along with the other volunteer and service projects she participates in. The last two years have been a great privilege coaching her.”

Runner-Up National Players of the Week

* It’s been an unusual year for Stefania Abruscato, the 2023 C/UT for Hauppauge (New York) High as she’s only allowed to play a dozen games (state rule) due to COVID restrictions.

In those limited times on the field, she’s made the most of it.

Last week in four games, the Missouri commit ranked in the Top 40 of the 2023 Extra Elite 100, went a sizzling 8-for-11 (.727) with three home runs, 10 RBIs, 12 runs scored, nine walks and twice was intentionally walked with the bases loaded.

For the season—she’s played 11 games to date—is hitting .678 (19-for-28) with six home runs, 23 RBIs, 14 walks and is a perfect 17-for-17 in steals.

Of playing a limited schedule, Stefania says: “With everything that has gone on, I’m just glad we got a chance to play. New York was very different from every other state.”

As to what has helped her have such a strong season, the sophomore adds: “I think my pitch selection, approach and patience at the plate (has improved). I don’t get many pitches to hit each at-bat, so as soon as I get a good one in the zone, I jump on it.”

* Dani Hayes, the outstanding 2021 UT for Daniel Boone (Birdsboro, Pennsylvania) High, came up clutch when it counted last week as she played in two District playoffs games and helped her team win both and advance to the PIAA State Championships.

Dani, a Stanford signee ranked in the 2021 Extra Elite 100, went 6-for-7 (.857) with three home runs, three singles and compiled an unheard of 3.0 OPS including a 2.143 slugging percentage.

The senior also had eight RBIs and scored four runs herself.

For the season, she’s hitting .544 with a .622 on-base percentage and has 14 home runs, 36 RBI, 11 intentional walks and a 1.96 OPS.

Dani has another claim to fame as well: her great-grandfather threw nine straight strikes (swings and misses) to legendary New York Yankee Babe Ruth, striking him out three times, though the 10^th pitch was a home run.

The softball standout keeps the article of her relative’s “baseball moment” in a book by her dresser as her inspiration.

Honorable Mention National Players of the Week

* One last time for Kali Heivilin, the outstanding 2021 infielder from Three Rivers (Michigan) High who has accomplished something we don’t think has been done for us: she was National Player of the Week earlier this year after being one in 2019 (see the complete list at the bottom of this page).

She made sure to go out in a blaze of glory last week too, as she went 10-for-18 (.556) in five games with five home runs, 10 RBIs, 12 runs scored and had a final at-bat she will never forget.

Here’s a clip of her final swing at the high school level:

That was her 29^th home run of the season which sets the new Michigan state single season record—the previous mark was 26. For her career, Kali had 66 dingers, second all-time in MHSAA history and just seven away from the record. And remember, that’s missing her entire junior year due to COVID.

Kali also cross the plate for her 88^th run of the season which tied her own state single season record and her 71 RBIs this year is second in school history after her own 72 hit in 2018 (her freshman season).

* Chloe Taylor, a 2021 P/IF for South Laurel (London, Kentucky) High, went 7-for-8 (.875) with 10 RBIs, two triples and eight runs scored last week and compiled a .909 on-base percentage with a 1.500 slugging percentage.

In the circle, Taylor struck out nine and gave up just one hit and one unearned run over four innings in one game while recording three no-hit shutout innings in another contest to earn MaxPreps / NFCA National High School Player of the Week honors for the South Central Region.

* Sami Huck, a 2022 P for Potosi (Missouri) High, finished her season with a 3-0 no-hitter in the Missouri State Semifinal with 15 strikeouts which beat the strikeout record of 14K for a semifinal game that she set in 2019.

The next day she threw 28 strikeouts in a 12 inning pitchers’ dual in the Class 2 Missouri State Championship game. Sami broke the previous record which was 12 and had a no hitter going into the seventh.

Shining on the biggest of playoff stages, Sami threw 14 straight no hit innings in the semifinal and final games and finished her junior season with 300 K’s in 30 games comprised of 136.2 innings.

She gave up just 24 walks and 14 earned runs and finished with a 0.71 ERA while also excelling offensively, hitting .579 with a 6.95 on-base percentage and had 42 RBIs, 41 runs scored, 27 steals and, very impressively, no strikeouts.

Sami earned 1^st Team All-State, All-Region, All-District and All-Conference honors too.

* McKenzie Oslanzi, a 2023 P/1B for Ottawa Township (Ottawa, Illinois), pitcher 17 innings last week and gave up no earned runs while striking out 20.

In the start against the #13 team in the state, she went 10 innings throwing 140 pitches and scattered five hits and no earned runs while striking out 12 and walking just one.

* Ashlyn Flinchem, a 2021 P at St. Bonaventure (Ventura, California) High threw two perfect games last week, retiring all 30 batters she faced.

She struck out 14 in one 10-0 win and then struck out 12 batters two days later in a 14-0 victory to earn MaxPreps / NFCA National High School Player of the Week honors for the West Region.

*** Scroll down to read about more outstanding performances across the nation in high school softball last week!

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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 2021 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: [email protected].

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Extra Inning Softball National High School Players of the Week (Historically)

• 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)
• 27: P/UT Karlyn Pickens (North Buncombe, Weaverville, North Carolina)
• 20: P/IF Madison Inscoe (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Suffolk, Virginia)
• 13: P Keagan Rothrock (Roncalli, Indianapolis, Indiana)
• 6: C Jayla Castro (Rocklin, California)
• 30: SS Brooke Blankenship (River Ridge, New Port Richey, Florida)
• 23: SS Rylee Cloud (Fairview, Grant, Louisiana)
• 16: IF Jenna Madison (Curry, Jasper, Alabama)
• 9: P/IF Annabelle Widra (Spain Park, Hoover, Alabama)
• 2: C/3B Elizabeth Moffitt (Prosper, Texas)

2020 Extra Inning Softball National High School Players of the Week

• 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 Extra Inning Softball National High School Players of the Week

• 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 Extra Inning Softball National High School Players of the Week

• 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)