Gatorade announced today that Caroline Stanton, the 6-foot senior right-handed pitcher/designated player for Buford (Ga.) High who has signed to play collegiately for the Florida Gators, was named the 2025-2026 Gatorade Softball National Player of the Year.

Carolina was surprised this morning to learn of the significant honor and was informed in a unique way: she was told by softball legendary pitcher Cat Ostermann that she was the 30^th Gatorade National Softball Players of the Year going back to its start in 1996.

She takes over the role, if you will, from another 6-foot pitcher who received the role last year: Hannah Wells from Coahoma High School in Texas who put up legendary numbers, smashing a state single-season record of 31 home runs while recording an incredible 0.44 ERA.

A proven winner, last fall for Buford High, Caroline helped her team win the Georgia 6A title and she also came up big for the USA Softball’s Women’s Junior National Team, help the Red, White & Blue capture the gold medal at the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 World Cup.

In the 2026 Line Drive HOT 100 released last October, here’s how the athlete’s bio read at that time:

T-3—Caroline Stanton, P/IF, Texas Bombers – Smith
Caroline is a power pitcher who lives in the low 70’s with the ability to throw a devastating change-up to go with her hard stuff. Head Coach Scott Smith says: “She has performed at the highest levels since the 8^th grade and it has not slowed down one bit. “Offensively, Caroline can swing the bat with real strength and can leave the yard with easy power. The Florida commit is a three-time 1^st Team All-State honoree for national powerhouse Buford (Ga.) High and is a two-time state champion vying for a third this week in Columbus, Ga. at the state championships. Caroline has played internationally with the USA Softball U-18 World Champion team that recently won the 2025 U-18 Women’s Softball World Championship. For her Bombers team she’s been equally successful including an 18U Alliance National Championship in 2024 and a runner-up finish this year. This year, the Univ. of Florida commit was named to the Line Drive 18U All-Summer Team as the Florida-committed right-hander went 18-2 with a 2.18 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 100.2 innings.

Last week, Gatorade announced the 2025-2026 Gatorade Softball State Players of the Year for every state plus the District of Columbia… click HERE to see the complete list.

In the announcement for Stanton being named as the Georgia State Player of the Year, the release praised her success in three categories:

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-0 senior right-handed pitcher and first baseman led the Wolves to a 36-0 record and the Class 6A state title. Stanton compiled a 14-0 record on the circle in a platoon role with classmate Addie Rackley and posted a 0.35 ERA in 81 innings. She hurled 11 shutouts, including three no-hitters, fanned 1.9 batters per inning and finished with WHIP of 0.49 as opposing batters hit .097 against her. Stanton also batted .329 with 8 home runs and 38 RBI, producing a .740 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.157. Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 prospect in her class by both Prep Softball and Softball America, she led USA Softball’s Women’s Junior National Team to the gold medal at the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 World Cup, earning Tournament Defensive MVP honors.

Academic Achievement

Stanton has maintained a 4.13 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a written letter of athletic aid to play softball at the University of Florida this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of the Beta Club, a weekly Bible studies group and a leader in her school’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Stanton has participated in the IDEALS Leadership School, a nomination-based program for student-athletes who’ve demonstrated leadership potential. She has volunteered locally on behalf of the Feed the Hungry Foundation and has also donated her time as a youth softball instructor at camps and clinics as well as the Happy Feet at Night to Shine event and the Buford United Softball Game, which pairs youth athletes with intellectually challenged peers in celebration of sport.

Line Drive Media will have more on the prestigious award shortly…

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Media