64 YAIAA softball players you won't want to miss this season

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It's one thing to have the division's top pitcher back for a final softball season.

But to have the division's top catcher to go with that? That's next level stuff.

That's exactly what Central York coach Shane Walker is looking forward to using when the season kicks off on March 20.

Ava Beamesderfer was last year's Division I Pitcher of the Year and Brianna Twigg was her division all-star battery-mate. Beamesderfer, who will continue her softball career at Appalachian State, went 20-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 119 innings for the Panthers, who won the division and league tournament, but lost early in the District 3 Class 6A tournament.

Beamesderfer isn't the only accomplished pitcher back for another season.

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Littlestown senior Chelsey Stonesifer has twice been named the Division III Pitcher of the Year. Last year she had a 2.11 ERA with 143 strikeouts as the Bolts finished in a tie atop the division with Bermudian Springs. Stonesifer also hit .475 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs and was named the division's Player of the Year.

The top pitchers and players in Division II and IV graduated last year.

Here is a look at this year's returning starters and newcomers as reported by area coaches.

Returning starters

• Brooke Altland, Dallastown, Jr. … DI all-star honorable mention 
• Amy Anderson, Delone, Sr. … DIV all-star pitcher 
• Ava Beamesderfer, Central York, Sr. … DI all-star Pitcher of the year  
• Brooke Becker, New Oxford, Sr. 
• Hannah Becker, New Oxford, Jr. … DI all-star infielder 
• Hailey Bloom, Dallastown, Jr. 
• Riley Brewer, Biglerville, So. … outfielder, pitcher 
• Katie Chronister, Dallastown, Jr. 
• Riley Crowl, South Western, Jr. … SS 
• Jocelyn Davis, Susquehannock, Sr. … DII all-star infielder 
• Sarah Devilbiss, Fairfield, Sr. … DIV all-star honorable mention 
• Keira Devor, Central York, Jr. … DI all-star infielder 
• Cora Diviney, New Oxford, Jr. … DI all-star honorable mention 
• Alexi Dowell, Dallastown, Jr. … DI all-star honorable mention 
• Colleen Finnegan, Northeastern, Jr. … DI all-star outfielder 
• Gabby Fowler, Dallastown, Sr. … DI all-star pitcher 
• Teagan Funkhouser, Delone Catholic, So. 
• Kennedy Gray, Eastern York, Jr. … DIII all-star outfielder 
• Christina Hamilton, Fairfield, Jr. … DIV all-star outfielder 
• Ella Heap, Central York, Jr. … outfielder 
• Kendal Hengst, Eastern York, Sr. … DIII all-star infielder 
• Brooklyn Hodges, New Oxford, Sr. 
• Emma Holmes, Northeastern, Jr. .. DI all-star outfielder 
• Emily Karst, Susquehannock, So. 
• Alexis Kirkessner, Eastern York, Jr. 
• Sydney Lambdin, Susquehannock, Sr. … DII all-star infielder 
• Autumn Lehighm, New Oxford, Sr. … DI all-star honorable mention 
• Tatum Livelsberger, Eastern York, Jr. … DIII all-star honorable mention 
• Pep Markel, Northeastern, Sr. … DI all-star honorable mention 
• Olivia Miller, Biglerville, Jr. … DIV all-star infielder, shortstop 
• Bailey Moser, New Oxford, So. 
• Jenna Mummert, Susquehannock, So. 
• Riley Nace, Central York, Sr. … shortstop  
• Hannah Naylor, Biglerville, Jr. … first base 
• Taylor Neumann, York Suburban, Sr. … DII all-star outfielder 
• Kendall Noel, Dover, Jr. … DII all-star utility 
• Leah Noel, New Oxford, Jr. 
• Kara Pateriti, Susquehannock, So. 
• Ava Peterson, Biglerville, So. … infielder 
• Alexis Pickett, Biglerville, Jr. … DIV all-star catcher 
• Kinsley Proepper, South Western, Jr. … DII all-star infielder (third base) 
• Emily Raugh, York Catholic, Jr. … DIV all-star infielder 
• Bailey Rucker, Littlestown, Sr. … DIII all-star outfielder 
• Paige Slaybaugh, Biglerville, So. … third base 
• Ellie Snyder, Fairfield, Jr. … DIV all-star outfielder 
• Jenna (JJ) Stiffler, Central York, Sr. … first baseman, DP 
• Chelsey Stonesifer, Littlestown, Sr. … DIII all-star POY and Pitcher of Year 
• Brianna Twigg, Central York, Sr. … DI all-star catcher  
• Carly Vaughn, Kennard-Dale, Sr. ... shortstop
• Ashlyn Weigle, Central York, So. … outfielder 
• Kierney Weigle, Biglerville, So. … DIV all-star outfielder 
• McKenzie Weigler, Biglerville, Jr. … outfielder 
• Amaya Wheeler, Susquehannock, Jr. … DII all-star catcher 
• Alyssa Wiles, Fairfield, Sr. … DIV all-star infielder 
• Aiyana Young, Spring Grove, Sr. … DI all-star honorable mention 

Newcomers

• Emily Adams, New Oxford, So. … pitcher 
• Aaliyah Gonzalez, Biglerville, So. … outfielder 
• Olivia Holtzman, Central York, So. 
• Jayda Koontz, South Western, So. … not newcomer to team, but new as pitcher 
• Miranda Leatherman, New Oxford, Fr. … pitcher 
• Timberley Linebaugh, New Oxford, Sr. … outfielder 
• Sydney McCleaf, Biglerville, Fr. … pitcher 
• Aaralyn Smith, New Oxford, Fr. … utility 
• Cammble Sterner, Central York, Jr. 

Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams high school sports for GameTimePA through the York Daily Record. Connect with her via email mstallsmith@ydr.com or on Twitter: @ShelStallsmith.