Donaldson Named Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year

Haley Donaldson, an incoming freshman for the Nebraska softball team, was named the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year on Thursday.

Donaldson started at shortstop for Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colo., as a senior in the fall of 2015, helping the Sabercats to a third-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament. As a senior, Donaldson hit .662 with eight home runs, 34 RBIs and a 1.169 slugging percentage. Before being recognized as Colorado’s top player, Donaldson had previously been named a first-team all-state selection.

In her prep career, Donaldson posted a .564 career average, hitting above .530 in each of her three full high school seasons. She was a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state selection, despite missing nearly all of her junior season due to a knee injury. In addition to hitting for a high average, Donaldson slugged 26 doubles, six triples and 32 homers for Fossil Ridge, while compiling 118 RBIs.

In the classroom, Donaldson maintained a 3.89 grade-point average and was a three-time academic all-state selection and a member of the National Honor Society. She joins a 2017 Nebraska softball roster that includes past Gatorade Players of the Year Madi Unzicker (Nebraska, 2012) and Kaylan Jablonski (Nebraska, 2013).

Donaldson is one of seven freshmen that will join the Huskers this fall, along with Bree Boruff, her teammate for the Triple Crown Stars travel team. Rounding out the incoming freshmen are Marinda Bryant (Beatrice, Neb.), Tristen Edwards (Murrieta, Calif.), Lexey Kneib (Webb City, Mo.), Sydney McLeod (Goodyear, Ariz.) and Alexis Perry (Oklahoma City, Okla.).