The hours of hard work put forth on local diamonds has led several former local high school softball standouts to the college level this spring. 

Here’s a roundup of young women from this area playing at the next level of the game they love. 

At the NCAA Division I level, there are three locals playing this spring.

Jane Kaniecki and Karsen Jany are members of the Saint Louis University softball squad. Kaniecki, a Waterloo High School graduate, is a junior who plays first base for the Billikens. A second team all-conference selection last year, she is hitting .200 with seven RBIs in 16 games so far for a team that’s 12-6. Jany, a freshman utility player who graduated last year from Columbia High School, is 1-for-4 at the plate and has played in 12 games, scoring three runs.

Another CHS grad, Aryn Henke, is a senior outfielder at Eastern Illinois University. In 19 games, Henke is hitting .214 with six runs and two stolen bases this season for the Panthers, who are 14-8. 

At the NCAA Division II level, a pair of locals are members of this year’s McKendree University softball squad that is 13-8. Sophia Koesterer is a senior from Red Bud who has pitched seven innings. Dupo High School grad Kyann Prater is a freshman catcher who has not yet seen game action this spring. 

At the NCAA Division III level, a few locals are shining already this spring. 

CHS grad Kaitlyn Bearley is a sophomore infielder at Mississippi College for Women. She’s hitting .333 with three stolen bases and three runs in seven games played.

Her former Eagles teammate, junior Ava Khoury, plays first base at Illinois Wesleyan University. She’s hit a home run and has five RBIs in eight games played.

Gibault Catholic High School grad Melissa Bernal is a junior pitcher for Greenville University. She has one save and a 3.50 ERA in four innings pitched for the Panthers, who are 4-0.

At the National Junior College Athletic Association level, there are two locals playing this spring.

WHS grad Maddie Davis is a sophomore shortstop at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. She hit .302 last year and in nine games so far in 2024, is hitting .250 with three runs.

Valmeyer High School grad Aspen Schmidt is a sophomore pitcher/outfielder for Kaskaskia College in Centralia. Schmidt is 2-for-4 at the plate in the early going and 2-0 in the pitching circle with a 1.62 ERA in three appearances.