Press release
AVA BROWN Named 2022-23 Gatorade National Softball Player Of The Year
MONTGOMERY, Texas, June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 38th year of honoring the nation's most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Ava Brown
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[{"type":"text","content":"MONTGOMERY, Texas, June 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 38th year of honoring the nation's most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Ava Brown of Lake Creek High School in Montgomery, Texas is the 2022-23 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year. Brown won the prestigious award for her accomplishments on and off the field, joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Softball Players of the Year who have combined for more than 17 gold medals and five National Championships. \nBrown was surprised with the trophy by her family, coaches and teammates at school. Check out a video of the announcement here.\nThe Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes athletes not just for their excellence on the playing surface, but for their commitment in the classroom and impact in their community. Brown beat out nearly half a million other student-athletes who play softball nationwide, topping the list of state winners in softball who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including 30 with signed National Letters of Intent to play softball at Division I colleges/universities and 27 with a GPA of 4.0 and above. \n\"Stats can sometimes be misleading, but in Ava Brown's case, they accurately reflect an amazingly accomplished high school career, especially in 2023,\" said Brentt Eads, president and executive editor of Extra Innings Softball. \"Ava led her team to a second straight Class 5 championship, pitching a one-hitter in both title games, and punching out 15 batters in this year's state final. She averaged 1.7 strikeouts per inning as a senior and never lost a high school game against excellent competition in the Lone Star State. She's a hard-thrower who hits her spots and overpowers hitters while mixing speeds and displaying pin-point control. Also a dangerous hitter, she drove in 65 runs and slugged almost .900 this past season, and she elevates her game as the stakes get higher. She's one of the most productive high school players of the past two decades.\"\nThe state's returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 5-foot-7 senior right-handed pitcher and first baseman led the Lions to a 44-1 record and a second straight Conference 5A state championship this past season. Brown compiled a 27-0 record in the circle with a 0.53 ERA, firing a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts in Lake Creek's 8-0 w...