Most teams expected to contend in their respective classifications have one, maybe two, star players on roster that will ultimately go far in deciding their fate.

Unless, of course, you’re Holy Family, which has standouts at nearly every spot this fall, and is currently ranked as the top team in the nation by MaxPreps.

Among their loaded roster, junior Isabella Arroyo has the best record in 4A over the past three seasons in the circle, going 38-2. Senior second baseman Kaylee McDonald has more RBIs (28) this season than outs (26), and more home runs (two) than strikeouts (one).

In this week’s look at the sport, let’s dive into another player from each classification who has been a difference-maker for their team now that we’re at the midway point of the season.

Class 5A

Matix Hull, Erie: The Colorado School of Mines commit makes up half of a stellar duo in the circle for the 5A CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index No. 4 Tigers, who are led by University of Northern Colorado commit Gracie Sackett.

But no one has been stingier than Hull in the classification, and if that holds up, last year’s 5A semifinalist could make a run at their state-leading 13th softball title next month.

As of now, Hull’s 0.23 ERA is the best in the state. She allowed her first earned run of the season in an 8-4 win over Rock Canyon Friday. In 30 innings this year, she’s allowed 21 hits, striking out 32.

The Tigers (10-3, 4-1 5A/4A Front Range League) are home against Fort Collins (7-5, 3-1) Thursday.

Class 4A

Mikayla Hancock, Air Academy: The Kadets are ranked just 21st in the updated CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index, which dictates regional placement.

But with Hancock’s red-hot bat, they might be one of the more dangerous teams in the classification.

The senior infielder led the classification with 31 runs driven in coming into Thursday, five more than Lewis-Palmer’s Grace Lendt.

Overall, she’s hitting .596 with 11 extra-base hits. In five games over the past week, she had 10 hits, nine runs and eight RBIs as the Kadets (10-4, 1-2 4A Pikes Peak) beat Liberty and Montrose, and lost tight games to No. 7 Roosevelt, No. 14 Palmer Ridge and No. 16 Rifle.

They host defending 4A champ Lutheran Monday.

Class 3A

Sadie Ross, Eaton: The 3A player of the year in 2020 led Eaton to the title that year, but missed the team’s 2022 run with a torn ACL.

She’s back for another run in 2023 and currently has Eaton ranked 12th in the nation by MaxPreps through its 11-1 start.

Committed to Baylor, Ross has three homers and 11 RBIs in just 39 plate appearances in her comeback season.

In the circle, she is 5-1, averaging more than two Ks an inning and has allowed just three earned runs in 34 innings (two against Holy Family earlier in the month and one against Lyons Wednesday).

Perhaps her most impressive performance of the season came in a 2-0 win over 4A No. 2 Riverdale Ridge last month, where she allowed four hits and no runs in seven innings, fanning 12.

The Reds are at 3A No. 6 Sterling (10-3-1) Saturday.