Chelsea Martin

No. 1 - St. Agnes Academy Tigers

The champs are ready to defend their title in 2025. St. Agnes Academy went 26-8 overall and won the TAPPS Division I Championship, defeating Antonian College Prep in the title game. Priscilla Riser enters her fifth season (86-44) leading the Tigers and returns seven starters off the State Title team, including Princeton-commit Mia Valenzuela, who hit .515 last year with 11 doubles, five triples, three homers, and 29 RBIs. Valenzuela was also first-team, all-state and the TAPPS Division I State Tournament MVP. Washington University-commit Julia Sullo will roam the outfield after being a first-team, all-state selection after hitting .475 with 17 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. Other key returners include Harvard-commit Kyra Nguyen (.469, .864 slugging, 14 2B, 6 HR, 34 RBIs, 15 steals), Dartmouth-commit Ella Darby (.357, 13 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBIs), Caroline Crocker (11 starts, 60 IP, 62 Ks) and Sophia Deutschen (,372, 1 HR, 16 BB). Deutschen was named second-team, all-state a year ago and hit a homer in the State Semifinal game to send them to the title game. Other players to watch include Penelope England, Emily Paiva, Anna Morton, and Kirsten Moon. Riser’s keys to success for this season include finding consistency in the circle, reloading after losing three starters and their ace, and taking it one game at a time. “With being the defending champions, it’s easy to skip ahead to the end of the season, or add pressure on ourselves thinking we have to repeat,” Riser said. “We need to prioritize our growth as a team and individuals each week.”