For a list of the other Gatorade State Softball Players of the Year, click here.

THE WINNER: Miranda Elish

THE BASICS

School: Crown Point (Ind.)
Grade: Sophomore
Position: RHP
Height: 5-foot-10

Athletic achievement: She had led the Bulldogs to a 28-0 record entering the June 3 regional championship game against Munster. Elish posted a 23-0 record and a 0.22 ERA in the circle through 28 games, amassing 223 strikeouts against just 17 walks in 126 innings pitched. A First Team All-State selection, she added a .480 batting average with four home runs and 26 RBI.

Academic excellence: Elish has maintained a 3.64 GPA.

Exemplary character: A peer tutor in her school, she has volunteered locally on behalf of the Best Buddies program, which matches students with developmentally disabled individuals.

THE PRAISE

“Elish is the top pitcher we’ve seen,” said Brooke Baker-Runyon, head coach at Andrean. “She throws hard and she’s very smart on the mound. She has a lot of pitches, she gets ahead in the count and she hits her spots.” 

THE FUTURE: Elish will be a junior this fall.