Continuing along with a summer full of accolades, Ava Brown was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Best Female Player of the Year on Tuesday evening in Los Angeles.
Brown is the second softball athlete to take home the honor in the award’s 20-year history. Texas’ returning Gatorade Player of the Year, Brown, who went undefeated for Lake Creek in 2023, led the Lions to a 44-1 record and second straight state championship and national championship.
In the circle, Brown, who repeated as The Courier’s All-County Player of the Year, went 27-0 with 292 strikeouts to 30 walks in 172 innings pitched. She had a 0.53 ERA. At the plate, Brown hit .462 with 65 RBIs and nine home runs with a .594 on-base percentage and .888 slugging percentage.
She will be attending the University of Florida in the fall to begin her softball career for the Gators.
“Winning the Gatorade Best Player of the Year award is so special because it’s a testament to not only my work in the field, but also what I’ve done in the classroom and in my community,” Brown said in a news release. “Seeing my name on the trophy alongside a list of so many legends means everything to me.”
Brown held a 3.55 GPA in the classroom and volunteers with her local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a youth coach.
The Player of the Year award is the culmination of a three-day journey for the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year, who get to experience Los Angeles like a professional athlete with 5-star accommodations, educational opportunities, a trip to the ESPYs and more.
