![\"\"](\"https:\/\/extrainningsoftball.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ava-receives-the-trophy.png\" "\\"\\"")
Ava was surprised when she walked into her school gym and friends and family gathered for the trophy presentation!<\/p>\n
Brown earned 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 former medals and five championships national<\/p>\n
Brown was surprised with the trophy by his family, coaches and teammates at the school earlier today<\/p>\n
The Gatorade Player of the Year Award recognizes athletes not only for their excellence on the playing surface, but for their commitment in the classroom and their impact on their community.<\/p>\n
Brown beat out nearly half a million student-athletes playing softball across the country to top the list of all-state softball winners who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including 30 signed National Letters of Intent to play softball at Division I colleges or universities and 27 with a GPA of 4.0 or higher.<\/p>\n
“Statistics can sometimes be deceiving, but in Ava Brown’s case, they accurately reflect an amazingly accomplished high school career, especially in 2023,” he said. Brent Eads<\/strong>President and Executive Editor of Extra Innings Softball.<\/p>\n “Ava led her team to a second consecutive Class 5 championship, pitching a hit in both title games and striking 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.<\/p>\n “She’s a tough pitcher who hits her spots and beats batters while mixing speeds and showing top-notch control. Also a dangerous hitter, she drove in 65 runs and batted nearly .900 last season, and is raising her game as she raise the stakes. She’s one of the most productive high school players of the last two decades.”<\/p>\n The returning Gatorade State 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 5A Conference state championship last season .<\/p>\n Classified as the nation’s Recruit number 3 of the class of 2023 by <\/strong>Softball extra entry<\/strong>, Brown struck out 292 batters while walking just 30 in 172 innings. At the plate, the 2022 MaxPreps First Team All-American batted .462 with nine homers, 17 doubles, 65 RBI and an .888 slugging percentage. She concluded her prep softball career with an 81-0 record and 830 strikeouts in the circle.<\/p>\n Brown has volunteered with her local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as a youth softball coach.<\/p>\n The student-athlete has maintained a 3.55 in the classroom. She has signed a national letter of intent to play softball on scholarship at the University of Florida this fall.<\/p>\n Here is the video of today’s presentation:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/extrainningsoftball.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Gatorade-State-Player-of-the-Year-logo-246x300.png\" "\\"\\""){kind=logo}
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 win over Canyon High in the state final.<\/p>\n