You voted for Middle Georgia’s top softball player this year. Here’s the winner.

Zaria Blasingame of Rutland High School is the winner of The Telegraph’s poll as the top softball player in Middle Georgia this year, as decided by fans.

As a senior, Blasingame had a .562 batting average, a .692 on-base percentage, 28 runs, 25 RBIs, and an .839 fielding percentage, according to MaxPreps .

Blasingame ranked 54th nationally and 24th in Georgia for on-base percentage, 143rd nationally and 43rd in Georgia for batting average, and 265th nationally and 79th in Georgia for slugging percentage.

Blasingame said her final year on the team was all about overcoming challenges.

“I tore my ACL back in December 2023 playing basketball for my school, which caused me to be out for spring travel softball. It felt like my whole world stopped, but now I’m back on the field,” she said. “This honor shows that not only can you do all things, but just because roadblocks or naysayers get in your way, you can still overcome anything and be great.”

Blasingame said she plans to attend college and continue her softball career. Once she graduates with her degree, she plans to be a softball coach and start a travel softball organization.

Darryl Silas, Rutland High School athletic director, said Blasingame is a leader on and off the field and that being nominated and winning this honor is a well-deserved recognition of her talent, effort and sportsmanship.

“I’ve had the privilege of watching Zaria grow as a player over the years. As Athletic Director, seeing Zaria receive the Softball Player of the Year award fills me with pride,” he said. “She has not only excelled individually but has also inspired her teammates to strive for excellence and persevere through challenges her senior year. Winning Player of the Year is a reflection of Zaria’s passion for the game and her determination to constantly improve. She has been a true asset to our softball team this season.”

Blasingame said winning the poll feels amazing - what she will miss most about high school softball is her coaches and teammates.

“We were like family,” she said. “And the bus rides with my teammates were so fun.”

We invited the Middle Georgia community to nominate a softball player for this poll. Among the four nominees, Blasingame received 58% of the votes. More than 34,000 votes were cast in the poll.

We also asked the community to select a baseball player for the Telegraph Baseball Player of the Year, which was won by a fellow Rutland student athlete .