NWF Daily News Softball Power Ranks and Stat Leaders on Emerald Coast

Spring has officially sprung, and with the change in season comes a focus on the ball field. More spherically the softball diamond.

With 13 area softball teams comes myriad college-bound stars and district champ hopefuls. So let's talk about our area's stat leaders and the hierarchy of area teams based on records, strength of schedule, head-to-heads, depth and balance.

Who better to begin with than ...

1. Fort Walton Beach (4-4)

The early returns are promising for the Vikings, who are coming off a 3-0 stretch against Navarre (6-5), Choctaw (6-0) and Crestview (13-1). Meanwhile their four losses are forgivable -- 11-0 Pace, 7-3 West Florida, 12-0 Gulf Breeze and 5-5 Jay.

So what's working? The lineup is batting a collective .351 with 25 extra-base hits, 19 stolen bases and 8.2 runs per game. At the heart of the success is a trio of underclassmen in sophomore Alyx Hall and sophomores Anita Palmer and Aubree Davis. In eight games, Hall is hitting .500 with six extra-base hits, two homers and 16 RBI, Palmer is hitting .500 with six RBI, and Davis is hitting .385 with 12 RBI and 10 runs to back Ace Ava Smith, who during the three-game win streak is 3-0 with 20 Ks over 16 innings while allowing just three earned runs on 13 hits.

Up next: The Vikings face a tough test over spring break with West Florida and Pace coming to town Tuesday and Thursday.

2. South Walton (7-1)

What's not to love? A 78-7 run differential, a lineup sporting an impressive .448 OPS, a staff with an anemic .16 ERA ... this has all the makings for 2023 to be the Seahawks' year. The only adversity has come in a 4-3 loss to Paxton, who they turned around and beat 10-0 less than two weeks later.

At the center of it all has been Ella Troutt, whose value has been just as valuable in the batter's box as the circle. The junior is 5-1 with a .20 ERA, a .43 WHIP and an 89:4 K:BB ratio over 35 innings. She's helped out her own cause with a .463 batting average, 17 RBI, 12 runs and an area-best three homers. Even so, it's freshman phenom Tatum Kreinus leading the team with a .519 batting average, 19 runs scored and five stolen bases.

Up next: SoWal next travels to 8-2 Arnold for a much-anticipated battle Monday.

3. Navarre (5-5)

The momentum from a 4-1 start was quashed by a four-game skid to Orange Beach (Alabama), Mobile Christian (Alabama), Fort Walton and Tate. But last week's 16-6 run-ruled shellacking of Niceville -- propelled by an 11-run fifth frame -- was a statement.

On the year, the Raiders are averaging 8.2 runs per game on the shoulders of a .328 batting average, 30 extra-base hits, seven homers and a patience that's drawn 39 free passes. Cailyn Cooke leads the Raiders bats with 16 hits, 14 RBI and three homers to fuel her .457 batting average. Lily Weaver is catching fire late with a 7-for-13 stretch with six RBI and six runs.

Up next: Navarre faces a tough spring break with 10-5 Orange Beach, 12-0 Gulf Breeze and 7-3 West Florida looming Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

4. Niceville (5-6)

It hasn't been the prototypical start for the Eagles, who rarely are a) under .500 and b) giving up more than six runs per game.

Wins over county rivals Crestview and Choctaw signal better days ahead, as does a looming generous stretch where their struggles should rebound. But that'll be largely dependent on the team hitting better than .274, pitching to better than a 4.23 ERA and continuing to get key contributions from Kamryn Neely (.419 batting average, nine runs, six RBI), Mary Owens (.381, seven runs) and Grace Langston (.375, nine runs).

Up next: Niceville has all of Spring Break off before traveling to Tate Tuesday.

5. Paxton (5-4)

The Bobcats began 4-0, including a massive win over 7-1 South Walton, but have since lost to Jay, Holmes County, Walton and South Walton to fall to 5-4. The good news is the bats will likely come back around to back Graysen Usher's stellar 2.96 ERA.

Emily Ward's .435 batting average paces a lineup hitting just 2.66 and averaging less than five runs per game.

Up next: The Bobcats are off until hosting Chipley on April 3.

AREA STAT LEADERS (According to MaxPreps as of March 21st)

Batting Average

1. Tatum Kreinus, South Walton -- .519

2. Alyx Hall, FWB -- .500

3. Anita Palmer, FWB -- .500

4. Cambell Toolan, Crestview .481

5. Ella Troutt, South Walton -- .462

Home Runs

1. Ella Troutt, South Walton -- 32. Cailyn Cooke, Navarre -- 33. Alyx Hall, FWB -- 23. Aylanni Enriquez, FWB -- 2 3. Aylanni Enriquez, FWB -- 23. Haley Smith, Navarre -- 23. Haleigh Sallee, Niceville -- 2

Runs1.Tatum Kreinus, South Walton -- 192. Cailyn Cooke, Navarre -- 163. J'anni Murray Walton -- 144. Ella Troutt, South Walton -- 125. Several tied with 11

RBI1. Ella Troutt, South Walton -- 172. Alyx Hall, FWB -- 163. Bailey Crowther, Walton -- 154. Cailyn Cooke, Navarre -- 145. Graison Dorr, Freeport -- 13

ERA (minimum 20 IP)

Ella Trout, South Walton -- 0.20Cambell Toolan, Crestview -- 2.59Ellie Long, Choctaw -- 2.65Graysen Usher, Paxton -- 2.96Emma Sites, Niceville -- 3.10Alaynah Smith, Baker -- 3.35

Strikeouts

Ella Trout, South Walton -- 89Graysen Usher, Paxton -- 60Ellie Long, Choctaw -- 50Ava Smith, FWB -- 40Kaylee Carroll, Freeport -- 36

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: NWF Daily News Softball Power Ranks and Stat Leaders on Emerald Coast