Jill Berkshire

Archbishop Spalding, third baseman, junior

Berkshire was an All-Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference pick a year ago after a standout sophomore season. She batted .421 with 26 RBIs while playing strong defensively at third base to help the Cavaliers to the conference championship and the No. 1 ranking in the metro area.

Evvie Buehlman

Mount Hebron, pitcher-outfielder, senior

Buehlman was an All-Metro first-team pick a year ago and might be the top returning player in Howard County. She batted .540 with five doubles, four home runs, 24 RBIs and 35 runs scored as the Vikings' leadoff hitter. She also pitched her way to a 6-3 record with 65 strikeouts in only 53 innings.

Erin Collins

Hereford, shortstop-pitcher, junior

Collins is one of the most talented all-around players in the metro area, excelling at hitting, pitching and defense. Last season she batted .542 with seven doubles, five triples and five homers, struck out 108 in 632/3 innings and committed just one error in 55 chances at shortstop. She is mulling Division I offers.

Hannah Eslick

Glen Burnie, shortstop, junior

Eslick had a breakout sophomore season, batting .572 with 12 doubles, five home runs and 27 RBIs while fielding the toughest position on the diamond at a .989 clip to earn All-Metro first-team honors. She plays year-round and intends to join a top-level Division I college program.

Sarah Heagy

Eastern Tech, catcher, senior

A three-year starter who was an All-Metro second-team selection and an All-Baltimore County first-team pick a year ago, Heagy is one of the top catchers and more powerful hitters in the metro area. She batted .629 with eight home runs and 48 RBIs last season, helping the Mavericks to a one-loss season.

Tiffany Jerman

Arundel, catcher, junior

One of a number of talented offensive players returning for the Wildcats, Jerman led the team in batting a year ago with a .483 average. She was All-Metro second team with two homers, 11 RBIs and nine stolen bases while handling the pitchers as Arundel finished 13th in the metro area.

Hannah Lewis

Perry Hall, outfielder, senior

Already a three-time All-Metro selection, Lewis was a first-team pick a year ago after batting .533 with four home runs, four triples, 31 runs scored, 27 RBIs and 13 walks in sparking the Gators to a No.?9 ranking. She has committed just one error over the past two seasons.

Haley Simonds

Severna Park, pitcher, senior

Simonds had one of the top seasons in ultracompetitive Anne Arundel County a year ago, both at the plate and in the circle. She went 16-4 with a 1.91 ERA and 129 strikeouts while hitting .508 with seven doubles, six homers and 25 RBIs to help the Falcons win the county championship.

Ally Thompson

Broadneck, pitcher, junior

One of the top returning pitchers in the area, Thompson threw a no-hitter and a one-hitter last year to earn All-Metro first-team honors. She went 11-6 and struck out 163 while compiling a 2.08 ERA. Thompson also batted .360 with 12 RBIs and fielded her position well, helping the Bruins to the region title game.

Lexi Trail

Liberty pitcher, junior

One of only three sophomores to make All-Metro first team last spring, Trail pitched the Lions to the Carroll County championship. She went 15-3 with a 1.27 ERA, striking out 190 and letting opponents hit just .168 against her. She also batted .429 and went all season without an error.

Others to watch

Emily Allen, Centennial

Alyssa Allender, North County

Jamie Bahrijczuk, Howard

Emma Bevard, Dulaney

Jillian Boyd, Seton Keough

Jodie Bronushas, Eastern Tech

Rachel Cadigan, Mount Hebron

Imani Dawson, Seton Keough

Coral Dittmar, Northeast

Morgan Dvorak, Bel Air

Emily Fitzsimmons, Mount de Sales

Carliana Folfas, McDonogh

Kathryn Foreman, Roland Park

Taylor Forgen, Mount de Sales

Morghan Fulton, C. Milton Wright

Kayla Geho, Manchester Valley

Hannah Goodman, Landsdowne

Kelly Harkins, North Harford

Ada Heinze, North Harford

Sammi Johnson, Archbishop Spalding

Lexi Jones, Liberty

Emily Kim, C. Milton Wright

Rylee Kinsella, Mount Hebron

Kaelyn Lavin, Arundel

Gwen Markowski, Bel Air

Emily Maseth, Westminster

Maura McGinn, Dulaney

Mikayla Meehan, Arundel

Molly Mioduszewski, Harford Tech

Brooke Retkowski, Eastern Tech

Hunter Royston, Chesapeake-AA

Katie Seidl, Archbishop Spalding

Meghan Sheehan, John Carroll

Sydney Stephenson, Bryn Mawr

Jessica Swistock, Manchester Valley

Miranda Thompson, Atholton

Lauren Vogel, Manchester Valley

Tiffany White, Catholic