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Gatorade 2018 - 2019: Player of the Year

Softball - Ohio

Gatorade Player of the year

Hope Straight

Left-handed pitcher/First baseman
MOUNT VERNON HS
MT. VERNON, OHIO
SENIOR
Height: 5-FOOT-4
Press Release

Peak Performance

0.494

Batting average

14

Home runs

30

RBI

0.59

On-base percentage
“Hope has zero weaknesses at the plate. In my nearly 20 years as a high school and travel ball coach, she’s the best hitter I’ve ever seen and it’s not even close.”
Tim Niswander
Head Coach - Head coach of Madison High

Athletic Excellence

The 5-foot-4 senior first baseman and left-handed pitcher batted .494 with 14 home runs and 30 RBI this past season, leading the Yellow Jackets (23-1) to the Division I, Columbus Regional championship game. Straight scored 51 runs and drew 18 walks while posting a .590 on-base percentage, slugging at a rate of 1.169. In the circle, Straight posted a 12-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 76.2 innings pitched. She graduates with state career records in home runs (60), runs scored (191) and RBI (149).

Academic Achievement

Straight, who has already earned an associate’s degree through the Central Ohio Technical College, has maintained a 3.60 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a national letter of intent to play softball on scholarship at the Ohio State University beginning this fall.

Exemplary Character

Straight has volunteered locally at a nursing home and rehabilitation center. She has also donated her time as a youth softball coach.