Valor Christian’s Ali Kilponen named softball player of the year by Gatorade

Cannon Casey/CHSAANow.com

Ali Kilponen, who completed an excellent career last fall, was named Colorado’s Gatorade player of the year in softball on Monday.

Kilponen went 22-1 with a 0.42 ERA as a senior, striking out 273 while walking just 12 in 134 innings. She also hit .466 with 26 RBIs and six home runs.

In her career, Kilponen was 87-4 as a pitcher, and had a 0.55 ERA. She struck out 998 batters, and walked 67 in 537 1/3 innings pitched.

She is a four-time selection to the Class 4A all-state teams, and also a four-time player of the year in 4A.

Kilponen is signed to play softball at Louisiana State in the fall.

Kilponen is the first softball player from Valor Christian to win the Gatorade award, and sixth athlete overall.