BATTLE CREEK -- The B.O.B. is ready for spring sports.
The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on baseball and softball fields throughout the area.
Each week, throughout the spring, we are going to ask, "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in baseball and softball among the city/area high school teams.
Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It will be a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field to city and area teams, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.
Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Tuesday with polls closing at noon.
Next up are the pitchers for the city/area softball teams:
Dakoda Carpenter
School: Athens
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Already a captain as a sophomore, Dakoda Carpenter is a leader from the circle for a young Athens team. She already has 26 strikeouts in 19 innings and has also been a force at the plate, batting .312.
Layne Churchill
School: Harper Creek
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: A four-year varsity player, Layne Churchill has 23 wins for her career as a pitcher. A force in the circle and the plate, the senior was all-conference, all-area, all-district and all-region a year ago.
Ashlynn Harris
School: Bronson
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: A two-time all-state pitcher for Bronson, she was the league MVP a year ago. Already proving to be dominant once again this year, she is 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA and 33 strikeouts, while hitting .607 at the plate.
Alyse Langs
School: Climax-Scotts/St. Philip
Class: Freshman
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Just a freshman, Alyse Langs has started her high school career strong on the rubber and the plate. In three starts, she is 3-0 as a pitcher with a 1.75 ERA. At the plate, she is hitting .625 with 12 RBIs.
Payten Minix
School: Homer
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Payten Minix is a four-year standout for Homer with 52 career wins as a three-time all-conference and all-area selection. Minix has four wins this season already with 44 strikeouts and his batting .600. She is committed to play at Cleary University.
Alaina Simmons
School: Pennfield
Class: Senior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: An all-city pick last year, Alaina Simmons gives Pennfield veteran experience as a leader from the circle. Also earning all-conference honorable mention honors, Simmons is an important leader for a young Pennfield team.
Aleena Stahlhood
School: Harper Creek
Class: Junior
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: A junior captain and returning all-city and all-league players, Aleena Stahlhood is the ace of the Harper Creek staff with 44 strikeouts against the 99 batters she has faced with six wins already. At the plate, she is hitting .625 with four home runs.
Brooke Thomas
School: Union City
Class: Freshman
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Having a breakout season as a freshman, Brooke Thomas is already leading the Union City pitching staff while also playing outfield. She has a one-hitter and a no-hitter in the early going and is hitting .471.
Laynie VanAken
School: Coldwater
Class: Sophomore
Why she is the best pitcher in the city/area: Named the No. 1 pitcher in the state for her class in Michigan by Softball America, Layne VanAken has helped Coldwater get off to an 11-0 start as she is 6-0 from the circle. She has a 1.05 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 33 innings and just two walks.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Best of Battle Creak softball pitchers for 2026 season voting now open