Six Chatham County athletes were named all-state players by the North Carolina Softball Coaches Association for the 2024 season.
The NCSCA released its all-state list on June 26. Three players each from Chatham Central (Maddie Kaczmarczyk, Sallie Oldham and Caleigh Warf) and Jordan-Matthews (Logan Gunter, Lilli Hicks and Sophia Murchison) received all-state honors for the 1A and 2A classifications, respectively. That’s the most Chatham County players selected since 2016 when eight players made the all-state list.
Gunter concluded her high school career as the 2024 2A Co-Player of the Year for the west division, sharing the award with West Wilkes’ Madison Fletcher. Gunter is Chatham County’s first softball player to win NCSCA player of the year honors since 2013 when Chatham Central’s Cayley Oldham was named the 1A Player of the Year for the west division.
Chatham Central and Jordan-Matthews, the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference regular season co-champions, both had successful 2024 campaigns. The Bears went 19-5 overall and made it to the second round of the 1A state playoffs while the Jets went 20-5 overall and finished its season in the fourth round of the 2A playoffs.
Between the two schools, 11 players earned all-district honors from the NCSCA, including the all-state selections. Here’s a rundown of how Chatham County’s all-state softball players did this season:
1A
Maddie Kaczmarczyk (Chatham Central, first all-state selection)
Chatham Central pitcher Maddie Kaczmarczyk made a loud entrance to her high school softball career in 2024. The freshman took on the role of the Bears’ ace, and on the mound, she built a 14-2 record with 169 strikeouts (third in 1A East, per MaxPreps) and a 2.32 earned run average (sixth in 1A East). As a batter, Kaczmarczyk recorded a .429 batting average, 24 hits, 14 runs batted in and one home run.
Sallie Oldham (Chatham Central, first all-state selection)
Chatham Central outfielder Sallie Oldham stepped into a larger role with the Bears in her sophomore season and became not just the best hitter, but one of the best overall offensive players on the team. Oldham led Chatham Central in batting average (.541), hits (40), RBIs (28), slugging percentage (.837), on base percentage (.609), runs (30), stolen bases (20) and home runs (two).
Caleigh Warf (Chatham Central, first all-state selection)
Catcher Caleigh Warf had a career year for the Bears from behind the plate and saw more power as a batter in 2024. Warf, a rising senior, recorded career-highs in fielding percentage (.991) and putouts (205), and as a batter, she achieved career-highs in hits (26) and doubles (seven).
2A
Logan Gunter (Jordan-Matthews, second all-state selection)
Jordan-Matthews shortstop Logan Gunter is back on the all-state list after earning all-state honors in 2023. In 2024, Gunter put together a productive senior year at the plate with a .515 batting average, .985 slugging percentage, 23 RBIs and 4 home runs.
Lilli Hicks (Jordan-Matthews, first all-state selection)
Pitcher Lilli Hicks put out a well-rounded sophomore season for the Jets in 2024. On the mound, Hicks recorded a 14-2 record, 110 strikeouts and a 2.09 ERA. She contributed to the Jets’ offensive attack as well, finishing the year with a .381 batting average and 21 RBIs.
Sophia Murchison (Jordan-Matthews)
Jordan-Matthews third baseman Sophia Murchison showcased some power as a batter to go along with her solid season as an infielder. Murchison, a rising senior, was one of the Jets’ better batters in 2024, recording a .464 batting average, .786 slugging percentage, 32 RBIs and three home runs.