St. Amant’s Addison Jackson named Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player for second straight year

CHICAGO — In its 38^th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Addison Jackson of St. Amant High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player of the Year. Jackson is the fourth Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player of the Year to be chosen from St. Amant 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 Jackson as Louisiana’s best high school softball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award to be announced in June, Jackson joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Jordyn Bahl (2020-21, Papillion-La Vista High School, Neb.), Megan Faraimo (2017-18, Cathedral Catholic High School, Calif.), Rachel Garcia (2014-15, Highland High School, Calif.) and Cat Osterman (2000-01, Cypress Spring High School, Texas).

The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 5-foot-9 senior right-handed pitcher led the Gators to a 32-2 record and the Non-Select Division I state championship this past season. Jackson compiled a 28-2 mark in the circle with a 0.93 earned run average. She struck out 288 batters while allowing just 81 hits in 188.2 innings. At the plate, Jackson batted .500 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI while posting a .669 on-base percentage and a 1.595 slugging percentage. She concluded her prep softball career with a school record 75 home runs.

Jackson has volunteered locally at no-kill animal shelters and as a youth softball coach. She has also donated her time to multiple community service initiatives through her church. “Addison is the hardest-working player I have ever coached,” said Amy Pitre, head coach of St. Amant High School. “She guided her team to another state championship against arguably the toughest 5A schedule in the state.”

Jackson has maintained a weighted 4.41 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a letter of intent to play softball on scholarship at Boston College 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 leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Two-time winner Jackson joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Softball Players of the Year Maci Bergeron (2020-21 & 2019-20, Notre Dame High School) and Mary-Cathryn Comeaux (2018-19, Brusly High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s Play it Forward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting their communities and achieving academic success. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade.