Douglas High junior Talia Tretton delivers a pitch this spring. Tretton was named Nevada’s Gatorade Player of the Year in softball, becoming Douglas’ second student-athlete ever to earn the honor.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
Friday, Talia Tretton became the second Douglas Tiger in history to earn Gatorade Player of the Year.
The junior earned the award in softball where Gatorade names one player of the year in each sport across the state of Nevada.
The award is handed out on three principles – exemplary character, academic achievement and athletic excellence.
“It’s kind of like a goal that I wanted to accomplish. I think it’s cool to be able to win that and have giving back to my community be a part of winning that,” Tretton said.
Tretton joins Shawn Estes (1991) as the only Tigers to win the Gatorade Player of the Year award.
Giving back
Tretton admits her work in the community is in large part due to those who came before her.
She’s a part of the school’s Block D program and she coaches youth softball and basketball in her spare time.
Tretton helped coach a 12u softball team over the last month and assisted with her old middle school basketball team.
She joined other classmates in putting on the Tiger Camps for youth hoops as well.
“I love to be able to help all the girls down here who really enjoy playing softball,” said Tretton. “It’s nice to give back to everything that I grew up on and being able to have someone who is older than them that they can look up to. … I think it’s good for young kids to have someone to look up to.”
Her mentorship under Kali Sargent dating back to her childhood has had a profound effect on Tretton.
In the classroom, Tretton boasts a 3.89 GPA.
(Talia Tretton turns on a pitch this spring. Tretton, a junior, was named Nevada’s Gatorade Player of the Year for softball after batting .500 this season with 29 extra-base hits and 47 RBIs. / Ron Harpin)
Athletic prowess
Tretton helped lead the Tigers to their first state championship in 31 years.
She picked up Class 5A North regional player of the year for the second season in a row after hitting .500 at the plate and compiling a 1.70 ERA in 119.2 innings pitched.
Tretton tortured opponents this year on both sides of the field, racking up 193 strikeouts, 29 extra-base hits and 47 RBIs. Her slugging percentage was 1.047.
Extra Innings Softball has Tretton ranked as the No. 25 national recruit in the Class of 2024.
The University of Iowa commit spends countless hours practicing. In season or out of season, Tretton will be in the gym or on the road looking to continue her pursuit of perfection.
“When I was younger, I just thought that if I kept working I might be able to accomplish my goals,” said Tretton.
The Tiger hurler said she prefers pitching, but there was a slight hesitation after her answer.
“Pitching … well actually I like both of them. Maybe pitching a little more because I’m kind of a control freak,” Tretton laughed.
Her junior year has been capped with an abundance of hardware.
Even if she can fill a display case with her awards, Tretton doesn’t plan on becoming complacent.
“It’s just working on how I can become a better pitcher – getting faster or having more spin,” said Tretton. “Becoming a better hitter, better first baseman or just constantly practicing.”
