Selected by Staff Writer Greg Riddle based on regular-season and postseason performances:

Last year, after Brittany Barnhill orally committed to play softball for Texas, a debate raged in an Internet forum about how good the Justin Northwest pitcher could be in college. Barnhill was compared to Big 12 stars, and one person wrote, "Is she another Cat Osterman? Only time will tell. "

Barnhill, who set a state record with 1,715 career strikeouts, won't begin her career at Texas until next season. But the flame-throwing right-hander, who has been clocked at 70 mph, is already being compared to Osterman, a former UT star who was a three-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.

LISA LEVRIER / DMN

Brittany Barnhill

"Cat did some stuff that I don't even know if it's possible to do ever again. She was amazing," Barnhill said. "That was one of my worries when I committed to Texas. I'm like, 'Man, everybody is going to compare me to her.' But I think they'll realize, hopefully, that I'm a totally different pitcher than her."

They do have one thing in common: both dominated as high school seniors.

Osterman went 20-4 with a 0.00 ERA for Cypress Springs in 2001 and was named Gatorade National High School Softball Player of the Year. Barnhill had a 0.00 ERA through her team's first 39 games this season, pitching 213 innings before allowing her first earned run.

Barnhill finished 29-3 with an 0.06 ERA, led Justin Northwest to the Class 5A Region I final and was named Gatorade's Texas player of the year. She also hit .488, and UT coach Connie Clark plans to keep Barnhill in the lineup when she's not pitching.

That's where Barnhill would differ from Osterman and current UT pitcher Meagan Denny. Osterman, who pitches for the Rockford Thunder in the National Pro Fastpitch league, had one at-bat in her college career. Denny hasn't had any.

"Barnhill is a different athlete than those two," Clark said. "She'll bring something that Cat and Meagan didn't. She'll swing the bat and play other positions."

Last year, Barnhill caught the attention of an Olympic gold medalist, who joined the Internet forum and wrote, "I hope I am around in some capacity to help her even a little bit."

The writer's name? Cat Osterman.

Notable: The Texas signee allowed only two earned runs, seven runs total and 49 hits in 228 innings. She struck out 487. The District 5-5A MVP hit .488 with 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 34 RBIs, 23 stolen bases and 36 runs and was an all-state selection. In a win over Colleyville Heritage, all 21 outs for Barnhill came on strikeouts.

About Barnhill: She had 1,715 career strikeouts. That would rank sixth on the all-time national list, according to the National High School Sports Record Book, if no one surpassed her total this season. Barnhill is the only player from Texas in the top 10. Breaking the state record set last year by Keller's Kirsten Shortridge, who was this year's Big 12 freshman of the year for Baylor, earned Barnhill a mention in Sports Illustrated. Barnhill had a record of 97-24 and averaged 14.6 strikeouts per seven innings in her career.

Did you know? The 6-0 Barnhill had college offers for softball, basketball and volleyball but will play just softball. ... She is considering a career as a teacher and coach.

Notable: In her first full varsity season, De La Torre hit .410 with 12 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 26 RBIs, 35 runs and 14 stolen bases for District 9-5A co-champion Plano West. The shortstop helped Plano West reach the Class 5A Region II semifinals, and she was named the 9-5A MVP.

About De La Torre: She played volleyball as a freshman before deciding to focus on softball.

Did you know? She thinks she may want to pursue a career in sports marketing or sports communications.

Notable: After Marcus finished fifth in its district and lost five starters to graduation in 2006, Tumilty led the team to a 24-7-1 record, the District 6-5A title and a berth in the Class 5A state semifinals in 2007. It was Marcus' first trip to the state tournament.

About Tumilty: This was her 14th season as Marcus' coach. She has been the head coach since the program started. She pitched for Sam Houston State.

Did you know? Tumilty was named the 4A-5A state softball coach of the year by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

Notable: The Florida signee was 33-8 with an 0.69 ERA and 323 strikeouts in 272 innings. She led McKinney North to the 4A state semifinals and was an all-state pick. The District 9-4A co-MVP hit .358 with eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, 23 RBIs and 35 runs.

About Adkins: She plans to major in public relations, with an emphasis in media broadcasting.

Did you know? Adkins has a batting cage in her back yard.

Notable: The District 6-5A MVP was 15-4 with an 0.49 ERA and led Flower Mound Marcus to the Class 5A state semifinals. In the playoffs, Baumgard was 5-0 with a 0.00 ERA until losing to Katy in the state tournament. In the 5A Region I final, Baumgard won a duel with Texas signee Brittany Barnhill, beating nationally ranked Justin Northwest, 1-0.

About Baumgard: She was plagued by rotator cuff tendinitis this season but went 13-1 with an 0.27 ERA and eight shutouts in district play and the playoffs.

Did you know? This was Baumgard's first season to pitch in high school.

Notable: Was 26-6 with an 0.53 ERA and 305 strikeouts in 222 2/3 innings and led Garland to its second straight 5A state title. She was an all-state pick and hit .323 with 11 doubles, three triples, one home run, 33 RBIs and 46 runs.

About Garrison: She pitched a shutout in each of her last four games, two in the regional final and two at state. She threw a one-hitter against Austin Bowie in the state semifinals, coming within three outs of the first perfect game in state tournament history.

Did you know? Garrison enjoys bungee jumping.

Notable: The Georgia signee was 28-5 with an 0.25 ERA and 412 strikeouts. She pitched 18 shutouts, three no-hitters and one perfect game and led Celina to the Class 3A Region II final. She hit .443 with four home runs and 37 RBIs. The District 9-3A MVP beat 5A playoff teams Plano West, Coppell and Belton.

About McCloud: She had a career record of 72-13 in high school.

Did you know? McCloud plans to major in marketing.

Notable: Hit .488 with seven doubles, nine triples, four home runs, 30 RBIs, 35 runs and 13 steals for District 10-4A co-champion Mesquite Poteet. She was an all-state selection.

About Barsoum: She also plays volleyball for Mesquite Poteet.

Did you know? Math is her favorite subject.

Notable: The Tulsa signee played first base, outfielder and pitched. She hit .431 with 16 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 28 RBIs and 48 runs for District 10-5A co-champion Rowlett. As a pitcher, she was 16-5 with a 1.68 ERA.

About Chapman She had a 3.8 grade-point average. She plans to major in exercise and sports science.

Did you know? Chapman played volleyball as a freshman. ... She was a first-team all-state selection as an outfielder her junior season.

Notable: The District 7-4A MVP hit .654 with 15 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 44 RBIs, 48 runs and 20 stolen bases. She led area 4A players in batting average in the regular season for the second straight year.

About Feather: She was one of the area's most versatile players, playing catcher, second base, shortstop, left field and center field.

Did you know? Feather plans to walk on at Alabama.

Notable: The UT-Arlington signee hit .507 with 10 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 37 RBIs and 31 runs for District 8-5A champion Arlington.

About Simpson: She hit 21 home runs over the last two seasons.

Did you know? Arlington went 28-0 in district play over Simpson's junior and senior years.

Notable: The Texas signee hit .517 with eight doubles, five triples, five home runs, 23 RBIs, 42 runs and an .888 slugging percentage for District 12-5A champion North Mesquite.

About Hooks: She grew up playing baseball and played the sport at the select level. She played volleyball at North Mesquite in addition to softball.

Did you know? Hooks plans to get a teaching degree and wants to become a coach.

Notable: The District 15-4A MVP hit .633 with 15 doubles, 10 triples, five home runs, 44 RBIs and 50 runs for District 15-4A champion Waxahachie.

About Polanco: She has attracted interest from Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Marshall.

Did you know? She lived in Lathrop, Calif., before moving to Waxahachie in the middle of her sophomore year.

Notable: The shortstop/pitcher was an all-state pick and hit .568 with 15 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 54 RBIs and a .949 slugging percentage for District 9-4A co-champion Frisco. As a pitcher, the 9-4A co-MVP was 15-3 with a 1.10 ERA.

About Rigsbee: She has signed with Ouachita Baptist.

Did you know? She plans to major in pharmacy or physical therapy.

Notable: The Sam Houston State signee hit .456 with 13 doubles, six triples, five homers, 45 RBIs and 50 runs. The second baseman/pitcher was the 10-5A MVP, an all-state pick and led Garland to a second straight 5A state title. As a pitcher, she was 12-3 with a 1.15 ERA.

About Wilson: She was in FFA at Garland and raised a steer, cows and pigs. She missed much of her sophomore season after a family steer kicked her in the knee, tearing her ACL and MCL.

Did you know? Wilson plans to major in physical therapy or forensic science.

Notable: The Alabama signee was an all-state pick, the District 12-5A MVP and hit .611 with 12 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 59 RBIs and a 1.472 slugging percentage. Her team won the 12-5A title and made the regional quarterfinals. As a pitcher, Locke was 17-7 with an 0.61 ERA.

About Locke: In the regular season, Locke led area 5A players in home runs and RBIs and tied for the lead in batting average with teammate Amy Hooks.

Did you know? Locke has family in Germany and hopes to study abroad there during college.