Iowa softball signee Jena Young added a big accolade to her growing list of high school accomplishments. Gatorade announced on Friday that the senior from Winterset, Iowa, was their 2022-2023 Iowa Softball Player of the Year.
“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 Young as Iowa’s best high school softball player,” Gatorade stated in their official press release.
Young set the softball world on fire this year with her stellar play for the Huskies. The 5-foot-6 shortstop led Winterset to a 37-4 record and the Class 4A state championship last season, earning The Des Moines Register All-Iowa Player of the Year.
Congratulations to @YoungJena on being named the 2022-23 State Gatorade Player of the Year for Iowa!👏
In the 2022 HS season at Winterset, Jena hit .624 with 55 RBIs, 70 runs scored, and 22 HRs. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/H5aqYIQeMH
— Iowa Softball (@iowasoftball) June 9, 2023
Young was a hitting machine, boasting a .624 batting average and 1.346 slugging percentage. She led the state in home runs with 22 and in total bases with 179. Her 55 RBIs and 70 runs scored were the top marks in 4A.
“Jena Young is a stellar softball player. She has great all-around skills in every area of the game,” said Steve Schlafke, head coach at Dallas Center-Grimes High School. “She’s passionate about the sport, plays the game at the highest of levels, and has few weaknesses as a player. I love her competitive spirit and enjoy watching her play.”
While one of the best players in the nation on the field, Young also represents herself extremely well off the diamond. According to Gatorade’s official press release, Young has volunteered locally as a referee for youth basketball leagues and an instructor at youth basketball camps. She also has donated her time giving hitting lessons to youth softball players. Even as a high schooler, she has been a great ambassador for the game to the next generation of athletes and will look to continue doing so in Iowa City.
Jena Young is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award which will be announced in June. She joins a nine-player Hawkeye signing class that also includes Soo-Jin Berry, Devin Bowman, Mya Clark, Andrea Jaskowiak, Georgia Lessmann, Ellie Lynch, Jaylee Ojo and Devin Simon.
“This is a really exciting, well-rounded class,” Iowa head softball coach Renee Gillispie said of the class in November. “We are adding players that will help continue to grow the culture of Iowa softball. We are happy to welcome these nine amazing players to the Hawkeye family. We can’t wait to see them in the black and gold.”
The Hawkeyes just finished their 2023 season with a 35-27 (10-13 Big Ten) record. Iowa capped its season by winning the National Invitational Softball Championship and Nia Carter was honored as a third-team All-American by Collegiate Softball.
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