Morgan Ray of Frenchtown High School was named the 2012-13 Gatorade Montana Softball Player of the Year on Thursday.
The 5-foot-10 sophomore right-handed pitcher and first baseman led the Broncs (24-3) to the Class A state championship this past season. Ray posted a 14-1 record in the circle with two saves, a 0.78 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 107.2 innings pitched. She allowed 44 hits and 26 walks and threw one perfect game. At the plate, the 2012 Class A all-state selection batted .506 with six home runs, nine doubles, 38 runs scored, 39 RBI and a .800 slugging percentage.
The Gatorade award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.
Ray has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. A member of the Frenchtown High student council, she has volunteered locally at a food bank and with Mountain Home Montana, a program that provides housing to young mothers and their children.
“Morgan throws mid-60s and has a great curve, rise and changeup,” said Doug Greenup, Ray’s summer coach with the Seattle Sidewinders. “She is very athletic and fields her position exceptionally well. When she pitches, we are in every game we play.”
Ray has made a verbal commitment to play softball on an athletic scholarship at Ohio State University beginning in the fall of 2015.