- April 15, 2025
-
-
Loading
The postseason is just a few weeks away for prep baseball and softball teams in the Sarasota area, and the best has started to separate themselves from the rest this spring.
There have been several types of success on the diamond this year, from seasoned seniors leading their teams to winning records to ridiculous stat lines and some unexpected success stories.
Below are the top five baseball and softball players this spring season:
Riverview was counting on having a successful season with several key senior returners, but the Rams have surpassed even their own expectations. Riverview (15-1) ranked No. 24 in the state and second in Class 7A-Region 3.
Sarasota has been close behind. The Sailors (13-5) have used a deep lineup and a few ace pitchers to have one of its best seasons in years. Sitting at No. 64 in the state and fifth in 7A-3, Sarasota might have to face Riverview in the district and regional playoffs.
Other area teams like Cardinal Mooney (9-5) and Booker (4-5) aren’t ranked as high, but both have improved this season.
Sierra Lipton, Riverview senior
Lipton has played a vital role for Riverview as the team’s starting shortstop and catalyst of the lineup. She leads the Rams in batting average (.431), hits (22), runs (22), doubles (four), stolen bases (10) and assists in the field (16).
Allison Cole, Riverview senior
Anyone familiar with local prep softball has likely heard of Cole, who has been not only the top pitcher in Sarasota but also one of the best in the state. She owns a 13-0 record with a 0.28 ERA and 204 strikeouts.
The senior has also been reliable on a day-to-day basis, pitching 101⅓ of Riverview’s 108 innings this year.
Cole has also been a top hitter for the Rams with a .412 batting average, 21 hits, 11 RBIs and five extra-base hits.
Ashlan Guengerich, Sarasota junior
The Sailors have talented seniors who led the way this season, but it’s been Guengerich who has posted the best stats.
The junior pitcher/third baseman is hitting a team-best .467 with 28 hits, 15 runs, 33 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits in 60 at-bats.
Guengerich has also been a go-to pitcher for the Sailors. She is 6-1 with a 0.71 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 29⅔ innings.
Olivia Lockhart, Cardinal Mooney sophomore
Lockhart burst onto the scene with a breakout freshman season and she’s followed that up with another impressive year at the plate.
Cardinal Mooney scheduled stiffer competition this year, but Lockhart still has some of the best stats in the area. She leads the Cougars with a .526 batting average, 16 runs, 20 hits, 14 RBIs and seven extra-base hits while striking out just twice in 38 at-bats.
A’Rayia Davis, Booker sophomore
The Tornadoes have had some wildly high-scoring games this year, averaging 32 runs per game in their four wins, and Davis has played a big part in that offensive outburst. The sophomore third baseman/left fielder is batting .667 with 20 runs, 14 hits and 38 stolen bases through eight games.
None of the Sarasota-area baseball teams hold a ranking inside the top 100 teams in the state, but don’t assume that means there isn’t talent worth watching.
Sarasota (19-4-1) has responded well after recording one of its worst seasons in program history last year. The Sailors have won 14 of their last 15 games with a pitching staff that owns a collective 1.27 ERA and hitters who have come up in timely spots.
Cardinal Mooney (16-7) lost several players this past offseason via graduation and transfer, but that hasn’t fazed the Cougars, who have relied on underclassmen to fill the void.
Booker (8-9) and Riverview (5-17) have been on the losing side of games more often than not, but still have some players who give them a chance to win.
Mark Metcalf, Sarasota junior
The grandson of former longtime Sailors coach Clyde Metcalf, Mark transferred to Sarasota from Florida State University High School ahead of this season and has made a major difference.
The junior shortstop leads the Sailors in hits (29), runs (28) and stolen bases (19) while sporting a .387 batting average, a .495 on-base percentage and eight extra-base hits through 75 at-bats.
Braedon MacKay, Sarasota sophomore
MacKay may be just a sophomore, but doesn’t play like it. The pitcher/third baseman is hitting .325 with 16 runs, 25 hits, a team-leading 25 RBIs and 10 extra-base hits.
He’s been more than effective on the mound, too, with a 3-2 record, a 1.46 ERA and 30 strikeouts across 24 innings.
Wyatt Hossenlopp, Cardinal Mooney junior
Hossenlopp has been especially valuable this year for a Cougars team lacking veteran returners. He’s hit .311 while leading the team in runs (23), RBIs (17), walks (12) and stolen bases (13). The infielder/pitcher has thrown just 9 ⅓ innings on the mound this year, but has allowed just one earned run on six hits and one walk with nine strikeouts.
Morgan Peggs, Riverview senior
Riverview has struggled on the mound this year, but Peggs has held the Rams together. The senior right-hander is the only pitcher on his team with a sub-3.00 ERA (2.88).
Peggs has pitched well while also having his name called often. He’s thrown a team-high 41⅓ innings with 54 strikeouts and just 19 hits allowed.
Dameer Watford, Booker freshman
Watford’s debut season couldn’t be going much better. The freshman first baseman/pitcher has paced the Tornadoes with a .514 batting average, a .640 on-base percentage, 16 runs, 19 hits 16 RBIs and seven extra-base hits across 37 at-bats.
Watford has also stolen nine bases and has committed just one error in the field (94.4 fielding percentage).
