PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Five of Rutgers softball's newcomers have been named to Softball America's Freshman To Watch List, it was announced on Tuesday just a few short weeks from the 2025 campaign getting under way. 

Infielders Addie Osborne and Baileigh Burtis and pitchers Ella Harrison, Kelsey Hoekstra and Dezaria Johnson were named to the list.
   

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ADDIE OSBORNE
INFIELD
ERIE, COLORADO
 


AROUND THE BASES:

• 5A State Player of the Year (2023)
• First Team 5A All-State (2023)
• Conference Player of the Year (2023)
• Erie Offensive Player of the Year (2023)
• All-State Honorable Mention (2022)
• State runner-up (2023)
• Three-time Regional Champion (2023, 2022 & 2021)
• First Team All-Conference (2023 & 2022)
• Erie MVP (2023)
• First Team All-Region (2022)
• State semifinalist (2022)
• League Champion (2022)
• State quarterfinalist (2021)
• Honorable Mention All-Conference (2021)
• Erie Most Improved (2021)
• During scholastic career hit .452 with 134 runs, 131 hits, 160 RBIs , 38 home runs, .993 slugging percentage and 1.509 OPS
• HIt .400 with 19 hits, 14 RBIs and three home runs as freshman
• Batted .440 with 37 runs, 40 hits, 58 RBIs, nine home runs and 1.000 slugging percentage her sophomore season
• As a junior hit .418 with 37 runs, 33 hits, 34 RBIs and seven home runs
• Hit .518 as a senior behind 41 runs, 44 hits, 58 RBIs and 19 home run, 1.305 slugging percentage and 1.890 OPS
• Tennis state qualifier 
• First Team All-Academic

BAILEIGH BURTIS
INFIELD
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
 

AROUND THE BASES:

• District Champion and Third Round 5A Area Finals (2023)
• Two-time First Team All-District Infield (2023 & 2022)
• Two-time First Team All-County Infield (2023 & 2022)
• First Team All-State Infield 5A (2022)
• District Co-Champion and Fourth Round 5A Area Regional Semifinal (2022)
• District Newcomer of the Year (2021)
• District Co-Champion and Third Roundd 5A Area Finals (2021)
• Three-time District All-Academic Honors (2023, 2022 & 2021)
• Hit .405 as a junior and .413 as a sophomore

ELLA HARRISON
PITCHER
CLARENCE, NEW YORK
 
AROUND THE BASES:

• 2023 New York State Class AA Player of the Year
• First Team All-State (2023)
• First Team All-Western New York (2023)
• ECIC First Team (2023)
• First Team All-Bee (2023)
• Class AA State Champion (2022)
• Class AA Sectional Champion (2023 & 2021)
• Threw 134 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched with a 1.50 ERA while hitting .382 with 19 singles, six doubles and a triple as a junior (2023)
• Pitched 11 innings in state championship shutout (2023)

KELSEY HOEKSTRA
PITCHER/FIRST BASE
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS
 

AROUND THE BASES:

• Pitcher of the Year Sunflower League (2023)
• First Team All-State (2023 & 2022)
• All-Sunflower First Team Honors (2023, 2022 & 2021)
• State quarterfinalist helping team to 20-2 record (2023)
• Picked up 202 strikeouts in 112 innings pitched with a 1.00 ERA and hit .476 with 21 runs  (2023)
• Shawnee Mission North MVP (2023)
• Second Team All-State (2021)
• Shawnee Mission North Defensive Player of the Year (2021)

DEZARIA JOHNSON
PITCHER
COVINGTON, GEORGIA
 

AROUND THE BASES:

• Ranked No. 20 in 2024 Extra Elite 100
• Region Pitcher of the Year (2022)
• Pitcher of the Year (2023 & 2022)
• Two-time Team 8AAAAA All-Region (2023 & 2022)
• Newcomer of the Year (2022)

 

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