Tristin Achenbach of the Conrad-Choteau co-op team was named 2015-16 Gatorade Montana Softball Player of the Year.
The award distinguishes Achenbach as Montana’s best high school softball player.
The 6-foot-1 junior right-handed pitcher led the Cowgirls to a 25-3 record and a second-straight Class B/C state championship this past season, firing a perfect game in the title-clincher. Achenbach was 23-0 in the circle with a 0.19 ERA, setting state records for both single-season wins and ERA. She amassed 338 strikeouts in 151 innings pitched, allowing just 24 hits and issuing only eight walks. Achenbach also fired 12 no-hitters and four perfect games — both state single-season records. A 2015 MaxPreps Small School All-American, she batted .607 at the plate with four home runs, 16 doubles, 34 runs scored and 35 RBI. She finished the season with a .663 on-base percentage and a 1.013 slugging percentage.
Achenbach is the first Gatorade Softball Player of the Year from Conrad-Choteau.
Achenbach has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom and ranks No. 1 in her class at Choteau High. She has volunteered locally with Backpack Buddies, a program that provides food for students in need, and as part of multiple community-service initiatives through her school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter. She has also donated her time as a youth softball coach.
“Tristin is a phenomenal softball player,” said Tim Bastian, head coach of Huntley Project High. “She is an all-around great player with a super strong arm and a great bat to back it up.”
Achenbach has made a verbal commitment to play softball on an athletic scholarship at the University of Montana beginning in the fall of 2017.
Achenbach joins recent Gatorade Montana Softball Players of the Year Morgan Ray (2014-15, 2013-14 & 2012-13, Frenchtown High School), Heidi Riley (2011-12, Skyview High School), Jaimee Paffhausen,(2010-11, Butte High School), Jessyka MacDonald, (2009-10, Billings West High School), DJ Johnson (2008-09, Hellgate High School), Maghan Yurek (2007–08, C.M. Russell High School), and Bobbie Lee, (2006-07, C.M. Russell High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.