Lake County High School Softball Rankings and Player of the Week

Wauconda jumps into the top 10 as newcomers Lake Zurich, Vernon Hills, Grant, and Lakes join the rankings.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:53pm

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The latest high school softball rankings for Lake County, Illinois feature some new faces in the top 10, including Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Vernon Hills, Grant, and Lakes. Freshman standouts like Brooke White of Antioch and Brooklyn Barber of Lake Zurich are making an early impact, while veteran players like Hannah Baker of Stevenson and Shae Johnson of Mundelein are leading their teams. Vernon Hills junior Ashley Fayard is named the Player of the Week.

Why it matters

High school sports rankings provide a snapshot of the competitive landscape and highlight the rising stars in local communities. These rankings generate excitement and discussion among players, coaches, families, and fans as the season progresses.

The details

Wauconda jumps from #9 to #5 in the rankings, led by freshman Ainsleigh Buse who is batting .500 with 8 RBIs in her last 10 at-bats. Newcomers to the top 10 include Lake Zurich at #6, Vernon Hills at #7, Grant at #9, and Lakes at #10. Lake Zurich freshman Brooklyn Barber is batting .500 with 4 home runs, while Vernon Hills freshman Brooke Gossett is impressing with her pitching. Other standout players include Antioch's Brooke White, Stevenson's Hannah Baker, and Mundelein's Shae Johnson.

  • Records are through Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Brooke White

A freshman at Antioch High School batting .619 with 4 doubles, 5 RBIs, 9 runs scored, and 5 stolen bases while making only 1 error.

Hannah Baker

A player for Stevenson High School who is hitting .480 with 13 runs scored from the top of the lineup, sparking the Patriots' hot 7-0 start.

Shae Johnson

A pitcher for Mundelein High School who has a 0.67 ERA in her first 5 appearances this season after being unable to pitch last year.

Ainsleigh Buse

A freshman at Wauconda High School who is batting .500 with 7 hits and 8 RBIs in her last 10 at-bats, helping the Bulldogs jump to #5 in the rankings.

Brooklyn Barber

A freshman shortstop for Lake Zurich High School batting .500 with 4 home runs and a perfect fielding percentage in her last 3 games.

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What they’re saying

“Freshman Brooke White is making a big impression, batting .619 with four doubles, five RBIs, nine runs scored and five stolen bases while making only one error.”

— Bobby Narang, Reporter

“Hannah Baker has sparked the Patriots' hot start, hitting .480 with 13 runs scored from the top of the lineup.”

— Bobby Narang, Reporter

“Freshman Ainsleigh Buse is setting the table at the top of the Bulldogs' lineup, smacking seven hits and driving in eight runs in her past 10 at-bats.”

— Bobby Narang, Reporter

The takeaway

These high school softball rankings showcase the depth of talent in Lake County, Illinois, with several freshmen making immediate impacts for their teams. As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how these young stars continue to develop and lead their teams to success.