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The Gatorade Players of the Year for Each State was announced today.The Class of 2022 had two players that were named their State's POY.
North Carolina - Kierston Deal - Here is her announcement.
https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/po ... _KDeal.pdf
Key paragraph:
The 5-foot-7 senior left-handed pitcher led the Eagles (27-3) to the Class 4A state final this past season. Deal posted
a 23-3 record with a 0.79 ERA, striking out 305 batters in 150.1 innings pitched, while walking just 34. She also
batted .533 with 5 home runs and 28 RBI. The Central Piedmont Conference Player of the Year and three-time
Pitcher of the Year, Deal is also an Extra Inning Softball First Team All-American. She is ranked as the nation’s No. 1
prospect in the Class of 2022 by Extra Inning Softball.
A devoted member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Deal has served as a peer tutor in her school system and
has volunteered locally on behalf of the Salvation Army, a Vacation Bible School and youth sports programs.
“Kierston Deal is the kind of top-notch athlete that doesn’t come around often,” said Natalie Layden, head coach at
Ronald Reagan High School. “The statistics showing what she does on the mound and in the box speak for
themselves, but she is a real competitor who understands what it takes to be successful.”
Deal has maintained a weighted 4.38 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play
softball on scholarship at the University of Oklahoma this fall.
Arizona - Jocelyn Erickson - Here is her announcement.
https://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/po ... ickson.pdf
Key paragraph:
The 5-foot-9 senior catcher posted a .624 batting average with 25 home runs and 58 runs batted in this past
season, leading the Eagles (22-11) to the Conference 6A state tournament. Erickson, who is ranked as the nation’s
No. 10 recruit in the Class of 2022 by Extra Inning Softball, also banged out 10 doubles, scored 50 runs and walked
28 times, compiling a .704 on-base percentage and a 1.581 slugging percentage. As a catcher, the Conference 6A
Player of the Year threw out 4-of-8 would-be base stealers and picked off five runners at first base.
The president of her seminary class at her church, Erickson has volunteered locally with Feed My Starving Children
and as a youth softball coach. She has also donated her time to multiple community service initiatives through her
church. “Jocelyn is the best player in the state,” said Rich Hamilton, head coach of Red Mountain High. “We
couldn’t get her out. Offensively, she controls the plate. Pitchers have to be so careful that they usually make a
mistake. Defensively, she made you change your offensive plan because of her skills as a catcher.”
Erickson has maintained a weighted 4.12 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play
softball on scholarship at the University of Oklahoma this fall.
