South Lyon softball’s Ava Bradshaw named Gatorade Player of the Year

Ava Bradshaw wasn’t merely offering lipservice to prove she’s a good sport and an even better teammate. 

The South Lyon sophomore was being dead serious. 

“Really, it is an individual award,” the pitcher said. “But I feel like this team won it with me. Does that make sense? 

“It was a total group effort.”

And that award? Pretty much the best one you can win. 

On June 9, she was named the Gatorade Softball Player of the Year for Michigan. 

You know, just a little banner that’ll hang in South Lyon’s gym that says Bradshaw was the best player in the state in all of 2022. It’s a pretty big deal. 

Entering the week, she carried a 28-2 record with a 0.88 ERA and had struck out 314 batters through 175 2/3 innings pitched. She had just 31 walks. Offensively, she batted close to .400, smacked three homers and drove in 34 runs. 

Not only does she carry a 4.0 grade-point average but she has also been ranked the No. 10 2024 recruit in the entire country by Extra Inning Softball. 

And, according to Gatorade, those stats put her heads-and-shoulders above the rest of the state’s players nominated for the honor. 

But here’s why it was a total group effort for her to win it. 

First of all, her pursuit of being the best began well before the No. 1-ranked Lions started their Division 1 state title defense earlier this spring. It was her and catcher Madison McKenzie getting together multiple times a week during the fall and winter. Throwing and catching. Simulating being in a jam. Balls and strikes. Hour after hour of practice.