Addison Jackson secures Gatorade Louisiana softball POY
SAINT AMANT, La. (BVM) 鈥� Following a historic junior season at St. Amant High School, Addison Jackson put the softball world on notice. Now as Lousiana鈥檚 , it only solidifies her spot as one of the games leading prospects.
Thank you again to for blessing me with this amazing award!!
— Addison Jackson 鈥淎J鈥� #23 (@ABJ_2023)
鈥淚 was really surprised,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I was going to get it. [But] it was great [feeling to win it].鈥�
鈥淚 thought back to how many great players that I was fortunate to coach and didn鈥檛 get that award,鈥� St. Amant head softball coach Amy Pitre said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great feeling, and I鈥檓 just so proud of her.鈥�
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鈥檛 take long for Jackson鈥檚 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.聽
鈥淪he came in here and started as a freshman,鈥� Pitre said. 鈥淲hich is almost unheard of at this place because we鈥檝e had a lot of great softball players around here. [She] just got better and better every year.鈥�
Her numbers during her junior year proved that.
My pitching stats over 31-2 State Championship season. Bring on 2023! 馃悐馃馃弳 @Louisiana5A .
— Addison Jackson 鈥淎J鈥� #23 (@ABJ_2023)
My hitting stats over 31-2 State Championship season. Bring on 2023! 馃悐馃馃弳 @Louisiana5A .
— Addison Jackson 鈥淎J鈥� #23 (@ABJ_2023)
With her improvement personally, she also helped her team accomplish the ultimate goal: winning a state championship.聽
鈥淭he ultimate goal is to win another state championship,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淏ut you [also] have to have little goals in between. Every single player has to give 100% every day, and that鈥檚 how we’re going to win another title.鈥�
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.聽
It only took 57 pitches & 5 innings to:
Hit a 2 run 馃挘
Hit a 2B
Pitch a perfect game
Earn Most Outstanding Player
Win LA 5A State Championship
馃悐馃馃弳 @Louisiana5A— Addison Jackson 鈥淎J鈥� #23 (@ABJ_2023)
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome; you get to coach the best player in the state,鈥� Pitre said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing feeling, and I feel blessed.鈥�
With a state title secured and multiple records set, Jackson has secured her academic and athletic future with Boston College.
鈥淚 knew I wanted to go to medical school, and I knew that would be a great place for me to get that started,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淭hey [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.鈥�
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.
鈥淗er work ethic is nothing like I鈥檝e seen from a high school athlete,鈥� Pitre said. 鈥淥ur focus is always to win a state championship. And with the work that鈥檚 put in, those kinds of things happen. Watching her do what she did this year, there鈥檚 no doubt [she can do it again].鈥�
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.
鈥淚 think the goal is to win another state championship,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淲ith that, we have to have a great [overall] season. With a great season, comes more awards. It鈥檚 all just hand and hand and focusing on hard work day in and day out, and the results will come.鈥�
