Related: Gatorade Softball State Players of the Year
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF Softball signee Ryleigh Buck has been tabbed as the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Kansas.
During her senior campaign at Wellington High School, she led the Crusaders to a 17-6 overall record, while earning the program's first state tournament berth in 21 years. Buck helped Wellington advance to the Class 4A-Division I state tournament quarterfinals on May 27.
Buck turned in a .634 batting average with five home runs and 37 RBI during her senior season. She recorded 12 doubles, five triples, 53 runs scored and 38 stolen bases.
The shortstop finished the season with a .714 on-base percentage and a 1.155 slugging percentage while committing just two errors in the field. A four-year AV-CTL IV All-League honoree, Buck was named the league's MVP in both her junior and senior seasons. The Wellington, Kan., native was also a member of the 2015 USA Women's National Baseball team that won a gold medal at the Pan-Am games.
In the classroom, she maintained a 4.0 grade-point average and was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Wellington. She also volunteered as an elementary school tutor and participated in the local Students Against Destructive Decisions group.
The Gatorade State Softball Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
Buck will join the Knights when classes resume in the fall and will make her Black and Gold debut on the softball field in the spring of 2017.