Maxpreps.com's top softball prospect in South Carolina for the 2023 season resides in Lexington County.

That player, Chapin High School senior infielder Andee Dircks, has made a name for herself.

The University of Michigan commit was a finalist for the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year last year, an award won by Lexington’s Sarah Gordon (now at Louisville). She batted .538 with a .625 on-base percentage, 42 singles, 13 home runs, 38 RBI and 40 runs scored for the Lady Eagles as a junior.

“I’m so honored, out of all the great talent in South Carolina I didn’t expect them to give me this honor at all,” she said. “I give credit to myself and my coaches for my success. Without all the hard work I put in everyday and my coaches pushing me, I wouldn’t have seen my true potential and been pushed to my limits to make me a better player. I don’t think I’d be the athlete I am today without coach Megan [Betsa] and coach Logan [Herbert].”

Dircks played for Betsa and Herbert on the Lady Dukes 16u national team. Betsa also played at Michigan, where Dircks announced her commitment last September.

“Out of the three visits I went, Michigan just felt like home,” she said. “I loved everything about the school and the people there. I’m so happy to be a Wolverine and to be a part of their program.”

Dircks credited both past and present coaches with developing her into the athlete she is today, starting with Rob Plath.

“He pushed me even when I was a little kid because he saw the potential I had in me,” Dircks said. “Today, I play for the Lady Dukes 16u national team coached by Megan Betsa and Logan Hebert. They have done so much for me not only as an athlete, but as a person as well. They continue to keep pushing me and making me better all the time.

“From the conditioning tests, 5+ hour practices, and the 200+ burpees we do to the time spent together off the field has greatly impacted me. They make me a better player every day and I’m so grateful for them.”

“It would take a lot of convincing for anyone to tell me there is a kid that works harder than Andee does on a daily basis,” Betsa told Extra Innings Softball. “Her consistency and her discipline to the grind of being the best is unlike anything we have seen at her age. This kid has earned every single accolade, timely hit, college offer, and anything else you want to throw in there.

“Not only is she an amazing athlete, but she’s a great human above all. She excels at being a leader and bringing others with her to that next level of success. And she does it with a quiet confidence and so humbly. Our team is better because we have a person and an athlete such as Andee always raising the standard of excellence.”