With near-record homers, .617 average, Morrison Gatorade TN Player of Year
“The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Morrison as Tennessee’s best high school softball player,” a Gatorade Player of the Year program press release stated. “… Morrison has maintained a weighted 4.04 (grade-point average) in the classroom.”
Sporting a .617 average with 23 home runs, 71 RBI, a 1.543 slugging percentage and .757 on-base percentage in helping lead Farragut back to the Division I-4A state tournament (33-7 final record), Morrison also was named District 4-4A Player of the Year.
She struck out just two times the entire season while walking 51 times.
“She’s the best player I’ve ever coached,” said Nick Green, Lady Admirals skipper the past five seasons — leading FHS to back-to-back Division I Class 4A state crowns in 2021 and 2022 — who has been a high school softball coach for 23 years.
“It’s a prestigious honor to even be considered a candidate for that award, let alone win it,” he added. “She gets to be in the running for the National (Gatorade Softball) Player of the Year.”
“Elsa was a very tough out, and if she did get a chance to hit it was usually a bomb,” said Jeff Sherman, head coach of district rival Heritage, regular season 4-4A co-champs with FHS.
“Behind the plate, she completely eliminated the ability to swipe bases. I would say she personally beat us twice — although we attempted to pitch around her.”
Defensively, Morrison threw out seven of 11 runners attempting to steal.
A member of FHS chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, “Morrison has volunteered locally as a youth softball coach,” the release stated.
