I hadn’t followed it much since my kids got out but this girl made every local take note. It was something to see if you are a fan of softball.
(June 5, 2026) — In its 41st year of celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Ava Twilley of Mardela High School is the 2025-26 Gatorade Maryland Softball Player of the Year. Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their excellence in sports, academics, and community. The award recognizes Twilley as Maryland’s best high school softball player.
The 5-foot-10 senior right-handed pitcher led the Warriors to a 26-0 record – a single-season state record for victories – and a second straight Class 1A state championship this past season. Twilley compiled a 17-0 record in the circle with a 0.29 ERA and 208 strikeouts, allowing just 17 hits in 96 innings. A four-time Bayside South Player of the Year, she fired a one-hitter and hit a home run in Mardela’s 11-0 win over Boonsboro High School in the state final. She also produced a .639 batting average with five home runs, 35 RBI, and a .709 on-base percentage.
“Ava was dominant a year ago on their way to a state championship, and she’s risen to an even higher level this spring,” said Scott Kurtz, head coach of Decatur High School. “Ava is the best two-way player I’ve seen in my 12 years as a parent and coach.”
In the classroom, Twilley has maintained a weighted 4.56 GPA, and signed a written letter of athletic aid to play softball at Mississippi State University this fall.
