On Friday, Gatorade released its State Players of the Year. Two softball players who are set to continue their careers at the University of Tennessee were selected.
Bailee Shelton, a class of 2026 right-handed pitcher and infielder from McNairy Central High School in Selmer, TN., was among those selected. Shelton helped lead the Bobcats to the TSSAA state championship game. There, they finished as runner-ups to the Alcoa Tornadoes.
Shelton finished her senior year with an 18-2 record and five saves. She compiled a 0.74 ERA and struck out 261 across 150.2 innings. At the plate, she finished with a .632 batting average with 27 doubles, 41 runs scored, 55 RBI and a .919 slugging percentage.
According to Softball America at On3, Shelton is the No. 25-ranked player and the No. 8-ranked pitcher nationally, and the No. 2-ranked player in Tennessee for the class of 2026. She plays in the TN Mojo travel organization.
In Virginia, class of 2027 right-handed pitcher and first baseman Kaylee Hodges from Matoaca High School in Chesterfield, Va., was selected. Hodges and the Warriors are currently in the Virginia state playoffs. They will face Midlothian High School for the Class 5 Region C championship on Friday.
According to MaxPreps, Hodges is slashing .562/.639/.1.396 with nine home runs, 11 doubles, 12 runs scored and 26 RBI. In the circle, Hodges is 12-0 with a 0.07 ERA and 256 strikeouts to 10 walks across 105 innings pitched.
Hodges is the No. 3-ranked player nationally and the No. 1-ranked pitcher in the class of 2027. She is also the No. 1-ranked player in Virginia. She plays in the Team NC organization, and committed to Tennessee on Oct. 2, 2025, over Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU.
