Kennedy Hebert of Morgan City named 2017-18 Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player of the Year

CHICAGO (June 4, 2018) — In its 33rd year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, today announced Kennedy Hebert of Morgan City High School as its 2017-18 Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player of the Year. Hebert is the first Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player of the Year to be chosen from Morgan City High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Hebert as Louisiana’s best high school softball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award announced in June, Hebert joins an elite alumni association of past state softball award-winners, including Catherine Osterman (2000-01, Cy Spring High School, Texas), Kelsey Stewart (2009-10, Arkansas City High School, Kan.), Carley Hoover (2012-13 D.W. Daniel High School, S.C.), Jenna Lilley (2012-13, Hoover High School, Ohio), Morgan Zerkle (2012-13 Cabell Midland High School, W. Va.), and Rachel Garcia (2014-15, Highland High School, Calif.).

The 5-foot-8 senior right-handed pitcher posted a 25-5 record and a 1.34 ERA with 274 strikeouts in 188 innings pitched this past season, leading the Tigers (25-5) to the Class 4A state championship game. At the plate, Hebert produced a .591 batting average with 16 doubles, 37 runs scored and 58 RBI. She stole 17 bases and compiled a .649 on-base percentage along with a 1.086 slugging percentage. A three-time District MVP, she concluded her prep career with 20 home runs at the plate and 750 strikeouts in the circle.

Hebert has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit cancer research, and she has donated her time as a peer tutor in addition to serving as a youth softball and volleyball coach.

Hebert has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a national letter of intent to play softball on scholarship at Nicholls State this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Hebert joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Softball Players of the Year Emma Callie (EC) Delafield (2016-17, North DeSoto High School), Jensen Howell (2015-16, Holy Savior Menard Central High School), Kara Gremillion (2014-15, St. Amant High School), Katie Brignac (2013-14, John Curtis Christian School), Baylee Corbello (2012-13 & 2011-12, Sam Houston High School), Sara Corbello (2010-11, Barbe High School), Meghan Patterson (2009-10 & 2008-09, Mount Carmel Academy), Kelee Grimes (2007–08, Pineville High School), and Ashley Brignac (2006-07, John Curtis Christian School) among the state’s list of former award winners.

As a Gatorade Player of the Year, Kennedy will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. Every Gatorade Player of the Year state winner receives a $1,000 grant to donate and will have the opportunity to enter for an additional $10,000 spotlight grant by writing a brief essay explaining why their selected organization deserves additional support. 12 spotlight grants – one for each sport – will be announced throughout the year.

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/.