Morgan Ray, a senior right-handed pitcher at Frenchtown High School, was named Gatorade Montana Softball Player of the Year for the third straight season, the company announced Thursday.
Ray posted a 19-2 record along with a 0.32 ERA in the circle this past season, leading the Broncs (24-2) to a third straight Class A state title. Ray struck out 248 batters in 130 innings pitched, allowing just 55 hits and 22 walks. At the plate, the three-time Class A First Team All-State selection batted .553 with seven home runs, 33 RBI and a .953 slugging percentage.
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 is the best that we’ve faced as far as consistency, great control, good speed and she throws all the pitches,” said Larry Smith, head coach of Polson High. “Her batting skills, she’s a tough out. She can hit the ball anywhere in the zone.”
Ray has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball on an athletic scholarship at Ohio State University beginning this fall.
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 Ray as Montana’s best high school softball player.
Three-time winner Ray joins Gatorade Montana Softball Players of the Year 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.
Click here for a list of past winners.