PILGRIM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE RHODE ISLAND SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (June 9, 2023) — In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Alyssa Twomey of Pilgrim High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Rhode Island Softball Player of the Year. Twomey is the first Gatorade Rhode Island Softball Player of the Year to be chosen from Pilgrim High School.
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 Twomey as Rhode Island’s best high school softball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award to be announced in June, Twomey joins an elite alumni association of state award winners in 12 sports, including Jordyn Bahl (2020-21, Papillion-La Vista High School, Neb.), Megan Faraimo (2017-18, Cathedral Catholic High School, Calif.), Rachel Garcia (2014-15, Highland High School, Calif.), and Cat Osterman (2000-01, Cypress Springs High School, Texas).
At the time of her selection, the 5-foot-10 senior right-handed pitcher had led the Patriots to a 16-2 record and the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 state postseason tournament. Twomey compiled a 17-1 in the circle with a 0.43 ERA and 199 strikeouts, issuing just 12 walks in 107.6 innings pitched at the time of her selection. She is the returning Gatorade Player of the Year in Rhode Island.
Twomey has volunteered locally at the West Bay Community Action food pantry, helping to stock shelves and performing other duties. She also has donated her time by helping to maintain historic cemeteries in her area. “She is so dominant in the circle that it forces you to play every inning like the 7th,” said Bill Aquilante, North Kingstown High School head coach. “If you get down a run, the game feels completely different and you know you are in trouble.”
Twomey has maintained a 4.4 weighted GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball on scholarship at Providence College this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Two-time winner Twomey joins recent Gatorade Rhode Island Softball Players of the Year Haley Venturini (2020-21 & 2018-19, Scituate High School) and Kayla Baptista (2019-20, La Salle Academy), among the state’s list of former award winners.
Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s Play it Forward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.
For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting their communities and achieving academic success. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners, or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade.