Spanish Fork High School’s Avery Sapp led her team to a 5A state softball championship in May — a big accomplishment for any high school athlete, let alone for a sophomore.
The accolades keep coming for the rising junior.
Sapp won the Gatorade Player of the Year award for softball in Utah, becoming the third softball player from Spanish Fork to win the award. Jordyn Bate and Cambrie Hazel were the previous two winners from the school.
“I felt like my heart rate was going through the roof,” Sapp said. “I was really overwhelmed with emotion. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
Sapp’s sophomore year featured a 21-1 record and an earned run average of just 1.25. She struck out 190 batters and allowed 67 hits and 20 walks.
As a batter, she hit a sizzling .506, hit eight home runs, scored 31 runs and batted in 34 more.
“Along with her incredible stats, Avery’s passion for the game and mentality to strive to better herself every day is what makes her great,” Spanish Fork coach Natalie Jarvis said. “She is an incredible athlete and has the ability to play all positions and play them well.”
Sapp said winning the Gatorade award was a “big honor” and motivates her to be an even better pitcher than she is now.
“I’d like to push myself hard to try and get it again,” Sapp said.
With four seniors graduating from Spanish Fork, the team will be a bit younger. But Sapp thinks another state title is possible.
“I know the potential of the younger girls coming up, so I’m just really excited to see how that turns out,” Sapp said.
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