Softball legend surprises Buford pitcher with national player of the year award

“I definitely was so surprised and overwhelmed, but I’m so thankful,” Stanton said. “No one better could have given it to me.”

Stanton led Buford to a state championship in the fall of 2025 before enrolling early at Florida for the spring semester. Tuesday’s return to Buford was her first since leaving to play for the Gators.

Stanton thought she was just coming back for recognition as Gatorade’s Georgia Player of the Year, which she won on Friday. The national award was a fitting final accolade for Stanton, who won three state championships and finished with a 36-0 senior year.

The top-ranked player in the 2026 class set career school records in ERA (0.62), shutouts (33), strikeouts per seven innings (11.97), WHIP (0.67) and no-hitters (13). Five of Stanton’s 13 career no-hitters were perfect games.

Stanton also dominated at the plate, batting .389 on her career with 43 home runs and 125 RBI.

Her leadership was also key to the Wolves’ undefeated season in 2025, beginning with the moment they lost the 2024 state championship by a run.

“She had told me down there in Columbus when we were walking back to the bus, she was like, ‘Coach, I promise you we’re going to be back, and we’re going to play for it,’” Buford coach Trent Adams said. “And you hear that, and you kind of think, ‘Yeah, that was good,’ but she led in the locker room and especially on the field.”

Credit: Jack Leo

Credit: Jack Leo

Osterman also won Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year as a standout pitcher for Cy Springs (Texas) in 2001. The three-time Olympic medalist and three-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year coached Stanton on her travel team for the last two summers.

The two have remained close — Osterman visited Stanton in Florida a couple of weeks ago.

“(Stanton was) one of my favorites that I’ve ever coached,” Osterman said. “I think I can go down and say that. It was without a doubt when they asked me (to present the trophy).”

Stanton said she strives to emulate Osterman in “so many things,” from the way she competed in the circle to her off-the-field leadership. Osterman sees a young professional in her former star.

“I think there’s a lot that goes on to not only be the No. 1 recruit in your class, but obviously she’s competed for the state title every year that she’s been here, and that’s a lot of weight that goes on any pitcher,” Osterman said. “She’s not exactly going to a small-named college, either, so she knows how to carry that weight.”

Stanton is the third Georgian to win Gatorade’s national award after East Coweta’s Kelley Lynch (2019) and Oconee County’s Geri Ann Glasco (2012). She’s the second Buford player to win the Georgia Gatorade POTY, following fellow pitcher Olivia Duncan in 2023.