CHICAGO – Lillie-Faye McWhorter, an incoming Arkansas Softball freshman, was named the 2024-25 Gatorade Arkansas Softball Player of the Year, Gatorade announced Monday.
The Gatorade Player of the Year award is the premier honor in high school sports, recognizing the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence in their sport, academics, and community involvement.
This accolade marks McWhorter as Arkansas’ top high school softball player. She joins an elite group of national alumni, including notable figures like Cat Osterman (2000-01, Cypress Springs High School, Texas) and Rachel Garcia (2014-15 & 2012-13, Highland High School, Calif.).
McWhorter, a 5-foot-10 senior right-handed pitcher, guided the Bears (32-5) to the 2A state tournament semifinals. She posted a 22-1 record in the circle, allowing zero earned runs with 285 strikeouts and 31 walks over 124 innings. She threw five no-hitters and maintained a 0.44 WHIP.
“She dominated in the circle with excellent pitch command and velocity,” said Drake Snyder, head coach at Star City High School. “Her pitching kept her team competitive in every game.”
At the plate, McWhorter hit .483 with 41 RBI, six home runs, and a 1.445 OPS.
Beyond softball, McWhorter is active in the Future Business Leaders of America and volunteers as a youth softball and basketball coach. She also contributes to community service through Beta Club and excels academically with a 4.08 GPA.
McWhorter is the fourth consecutive Razorback signee to earn this honor, following Cam Harrison (Texas, 2024), Payton Burnham (Oregon, 2023), Nikki McGaffin (Colorado, 2022), and Atalyia Rijo (New York, 2022).
The Gatorade Player of the Year program honors top athletes in 12 sports across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, selecting one national winner per sport. The selection committee includes coaches, scouts, and media members.
Each winner receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner, supporting Gatorade’s mission to remove barriers in youth sports. The program has donated over $5.6 million to more than 2,000 organizations nationwide.
For more details, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow on Instagram (@Gatorade), Facebook (@GatoradePOY), or X (@Gatorade).
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