CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Big Ten Softball Players to Watch list was announced by the league on Tuesday. Paige Berkmeyer, Adisyn Caryl and Ava Moore were selected to represent the Fighting Illini on the conference list.
Berkmeyer had a stellar junior campaign in 2024. The Ohio native caught 18 runners stealing last year, which led the league and ranked fourth nationally. The mark currently puts the catcher tied for third all-time in the Illini record books for a single season and fourth with 34 for her career.
Additionally, Berkmeyer showed power at the plate, batting .313 with a .500 slugging percentage. The catcher shattered the program record for home runs in a single game, tallying three in a 19-9 defeat of SIUE. The 12 total bases by Berkmeyer also sits atop the single game records.
Caryl was the only all-conference performer from the 2024 season, earning All-Freshman Team honors. The Kansas native played in all 52 season games for the Fighting Illini, making 51 straight starts following the season opener when she came on in relief.
On the year, Caryl was third on the team in batting with a .335 average along with 25 RBI. The newcomer logged 12 multi-hit games during her first year, tallying three hits in four of those games. The Illini third baseman posted a .306 batting average with 10 RBI and four extra-base hits during league play. The Kansas native's lone homer of the season came during the Orange and Blue's series finale at Maryland, helping the team to a 4-0 win.
Moore is no stranger to preseason awards, having been named to D1Softball's D100 Freshman List and Softball America Freshman Watch List. The Ohio native was a three-year varsity letterwinner at Tecumseh High School. Moore received the Allstate Insurance Good Hands award three times during her high school campaign. She was also named to the All-Central Buckeye Conference team in 2021-22 and 2024. During her senior season, when she was received First Team All Southwest District honors, Moore batted .548 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI. It was her third year batting above .500 as she did so during her freshman and sophomore seasons.
The Fighting Illini begin the 2025 season against CSU Bakersfield in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 7.
