Seven Colorado Seniors Compete for Inaugural Softball Gold Award

Residents of Colorado will see a new name on a trophy next week as the state recognizes senior softball excellence for the first time. The Colorado Gold Softball Award is being presented to one of seven finalists who demonstrated high performance in the classroom and on the field. The winner will be announced on Nov. 15.

The recipient gets a $1,000 scholarship and a trophy. The award includes an honorary banquet and a moment of recognition at a Colorado Rockies spring game. A 25-member committee reviewed the candidates based on their overall impact.

Sydney Cobb of Cherokee Trail is a pitcher and outfielder with a 4.37 GPA. She is set to play for the University of Memphis. Cobb recorded 321 career strikeouts, a school record. This year she hit .408 with a 1.83 earned run average in 24 games. She helped lead the Cougars to the Class 5A semifinals. Cobb is in the National Honor Society and logged over 100 hours of service. She volunteered at science fairs, tutored children, and assisted with toy and blanket drives for Children’s Hospital.

Kiley Glenn of Castle Rock is a shortstop with a 4.37 GPA. She plans to play for the University of Iowa. Glenn helped the Lions win two Class 4A state titles and finish as a 5A runner-up this year. She hit .546 with 38 runs batted in this season. Her career batting average is .482. She volunteered with the Miracle League of Metro Denver, helped set up a Vacation Bible School at Journey Church, and worked at a local food bank. She also picked up trash in Castle Rock with the Road Rangers.

Tylee Glenn of Pueblo County is a catcher with a 4.75 GPA. She has not yet chosen a college. As team captain, she led the Hornets to the Class 4A semifinals. She batted .506 with 32 runs batted in and a .580 on-base percentage this season. Her career on-base percentage is .497. Glenn organized a fundraiser for Charlie Halliday, a Riverdale Ridge player who died in a car crash. She also volunteered with youth softball programs and served in the Hornets’ student mentorship program.

Sophee Horovitz of Erie is a pitcher with a 4.42 GPA. She is headed to the University of Rochester. She helped the Tigers reach the Class 5A semifinals. This season she posted a 2.64 earned run average in 25 games with 183 strikeouts. Her career record includes 363 strikeouts and a 3.02 earned run average. Horovitz played viola in the school’s symphonic orchestra. She completed over 140 hours of community service, which included performing at retirement homes, working at a food bank, and making blankets for foster-care children.

Jenna McGinnis of Cherry Creek is a pitcher with a 3.75 GPA. She will play for Idaho State. She is the CHSAA Class 4A Player of the Year. She led the Wizards to three straight title games, culminating in the program’s first championship in 20 years this fall. She posted a 0.79 earned run average in 21 games with 162 strikeouts, including three perfect games. Her career record is 44-4 with 473 strikeouts and a 1.33 earned run average. McGinnis helps in a kids’ Bible-study camp at her church and runs pitching camps for younger players.

Isabella Ramsey of Eaton is a catcher and outfielder with a 3.6 GPA. She has not committed to a college. She helped the Eaton team reach the Class 4A quarterfinals. She hit .459 with 21 runs batted in, 14 doubles, and five homers this season. Her career on-base percentage is .478. Ramsey participates in Future Farmers of America, community gardening, and the Citizenship Washington Focus program. She also volunteered for food drives and at the local senior center.

Brynlee Taga of Broomfield is a catcher with a 4.59 GPA. She is headed to Black Hills State. She helped Broomfield win consecutive Class 5A titles. She hit .500 with a .635 on-base percentage and a 1.537 on-base plus slugging percentage. She recorded 45 runs batted in and six homers while committing to only one error all season. Her career batting average is .444. Taga is the CHSAA Class 5A Player of the Year. She volunteered with A Precious Child and Food Bank of the Rockies and served on the Student-Athlete Leadership Team.