She dominated Idaho hitters for years. Now she’s the state’s top softball player.
The global coronavirus pandemic canceled Idaho’s spring high school sports season just as it got started. But that hasn’t stopped the postseason awards season.
Ridgevue senior Gracie Walters was named the 2020 Gatorade Idaho Softball Player of the Year on Thursday, the company announced.
The 5-foot-6 right-handed pitcher posted a 2-0 record with a perfect 0.00 ERA in the Warhawks’ three games this spring. She struck out 25 and walked one in 11 innings.
The 4A Southern Idaho Conference’s 2019 player of the year finished her high school career with a 48-15 record, a 0.73 ERA and 784 strikeouts.
“Gracie Walters is just an outstanding pitcher, probably the best in the state at any classification,” Vallivue coach Kevin Schimmelpfennig said in a news release. “Every year she just gets better. She gives any team she’s on a shot at winning the state title.”
Walters has signed a softball scholarship with the College of Southern Idaho. She maintained a 3.41 GPA and volunteered with community clean-up projects and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that builds and delivers beds to needy children.
Walters joins recent winners of the state’s all-classification softball player of the year award like Rocky Mountain’s Kaylan Walker (2019), Middleton’s Lainey Lyle (2018), Meridian’s Lexi Knauss (2017) and Eagle’s Bradie Fillmore (2016 and 2015).
Twin Falls senior Magnum Hofstetter was named the state’s all-class baseball player last week. Awards in track and field are due in the coming weeks.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 1:08 PM.
