Addison Jackson secures Gatorade Louisiana softball POY
SAINT AMANT, La. (BVM) — Following a historic junior season at St. Amant High School, Addison Jackson put the softball world on notice. Now as Lousiana’s Gatorade Softball Player of the Year, it only solidifies her spot as one of the games leading prospects.
Thank you again to @Gatorade for blessing me with this amazing award!! #GatoradePOY pic.twitter.com/3XK1yC99w9
— Addison Jackson “AJ” (@ABJ_2023) June 10, 2022
“I was really surprised,” Jackson said. “I didn’t think I was going to get it. [But] it was great [feeling to win it].”
“I thought back to how many great players that I was fortunate to coach and didn’t get that award,” St. Amant head softball coach Amy Pitre said. “It’s a great feeling, and I’m just so proud of her.”
Jackson has been at the forefront of one of the top softball teams in Class 5A. In the last four seasons, the St. Amant Lady Gators softball team has won two titles. And it didn’t take long for Jackson’s impact to be felt on the softball diamond.
She hit 15 home runs during her freshman campaign and had a .476 batting average. But Jackson also became a dreadful sight for batters when she took to the circle and racked up 253 strikeouts.
“She came in here and started as a freshman,” Pitre said. “Which is almost unheard of at this place because we’ve had a lot of great softball players around here. [She] just got better and better every year.”
Her numbers during her junior year proved that.
My pitching stats over 31-2 @_STAsoftball State Championship season. Bring on 2023! 🐊🥎🏆@Softball_La @GeauxPrepsLA @Louisiana5A @kyleR_sports @Los_Stuff .@MaxPreps @TGA_Turner @StriveSoftball @IHartFastpitch @CoachKvilhaug @BC_Softball @pitrea09 @ExtraInningSB @AleeexIbarra pic.twitter.com/n1ZWrQk6XM
— Addison Jackson “AJ” (@ABJ_2023) May 9, 2022
My hitting stats over 31-2 @_STAsoftball State Championship season. Bring on 2023! 🐊🥎🏆@Softball_La @GeauxPrepsLA @Louisiana5A @kyleR_sports @Los_Stuff .@MaxPreps @TGA_Turner @StriveSoftball @IHartFastpitch @CoachKvilhaug @BC_Softball @pitrea09 @ExtraInningSB @AleeexIbarra pic.twitter.com/uKnlJOrtX4
— Addison Jackson “AJ” (@ABJ_2023) May 7, 2022
With her improvement personally, she also helped her team accomplish the ultimate goal: winning a state championship.
“The ultimate goal is to win another state championship,” Jackson said. “But you [also] have to have little goals in between. Every single player has to give 100% every day, and that’s how we’re going to win another title.”
The Lady Gators’ state title was captured in one of the most dominating ways possible. The team scored 54 runs and only gave up three. Jackson also pitched a perfect game, and the Lady Gators forced a run-rule in the championship game.
It only took 57 pitches & 5 innings to:
Hit a 2 run 💣
Hit a 2B
Pitch a perfect game
Earn Most Outstanding Player
Win LA 5A State Championship
🐊🥎🏆@FloSoftball @Softball_La @BC_Softball @GeauxPrepsLA @MaxPreps @Louisiana5A @LSL_Sportsline @ExtraInningSB @TGA_Turner pic.twitter.com/RxaaUXFEem— Addison Jackson “AJ” (@ABJ_2023) May 2, 2022
“It’s awesome; you get to coach the best player in the state,” Pitre said. “It’s an amazing feeling, and I feel blessed.”
With a state title secured and multiple records set, Jackson has secured her academic and athletic future with Boston College.
“I knew I wanted to go to medical school, and I knew that would be a great place for me to get that started,” Jackson said. “They [also] had a new coach who just came in, and I really like the coaches, and I really connected with them. I [also] love the campus; it was beautiful. [And] I always wanted to be at a Power 5 school.”
Jackson still has one more year to play at St. Amant. And with more hard work, Jackson has the potential to win Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player of the Year again.
“Her work ethic is nothing like I’ve seen from a high school athlete,” Pitre said. “Our focus is always to win a state championship. And with the work that’s put in, those kinds of things happen. Watching her do what she did this year, there’s no doubt [she can do it again].”
Who knows what lies in store for Jackson in the last year of her high school career. But one better believe that she will continue to build upon her impressive work ethic and guide her team in the best way possible.
“I think the goal is to win another state championship,” Jackson said. “With that, we have to have a great [overall] season. With a great season, comes more awards. It’s all just hand and hand and focusing on hard work day in and day out, and the results will come.”
