Rossville state champ Avery Layton crowned J&C Small Schools Softball Player of the Year

ROSSVILLE, Ind. — Rossville's rising senior pitcher Avery Layton is looking to set a new standard of excellence after an eye-popping 2024.

She asserted a level of dominance this spring by batting .456 along with seven home runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 54 RBIs while she also tossed 102 2/3 innings with a 0.82 ERA and 277 strikeouts.

Rossville never slowed down and culminated its season by winning its first-ever IHSAA state championship in 2024.

Layton for her complete line of work was voted unanimously by coaches as the Journal & Courier Small Schools Softball Player of the Year.

"It feels great both times but this year is special because we won state," Layton said. "This award is so special and I'm thankful for this nomination."

Layton is a two-time Journal & Courier Small Schools Softball Player of the Year winner. It's the team achievements that made 2024 a crowning year for Layton and the Hornets. A state championship is finally in hand for Layton, who will get the chance to repeat as Indiana's best Class 1A program a senior.

“It feels great and I couldn’t comprehend winning the state title," Layton said. "I'm so proud of everyone."

Layton credits her mother Sabrina, Rossville coach Chris Gorbett and pitching trainer Audra May for helping her maintain an extreme level of focus throughout the year. May is the founder of Accelerated Fastpitch Academy in Lafayette and has worked with Layton since she was 12 years old.

"They help me when I get in stressful situations," Layton said. "Last inning of the state game and I was able deep breath and remember what everyone was telling me. They told me to pitch my game."

Rossville beat the two-time defending Class 1A champions from Tecumseh as Layton tossed a complete game while freshman Allie Elliott and sophomore Autumn Paschal had a pair of RBI hits in the sixth inning.

"I was excited for Allie and Autumn," Layton said. "We were hitting off them and piecing it together. I'm thankful Autumn and Allie were there to back me up."

More: Stingers up! Rossville captures first IHSAA softball state championship

There's a calm mystique about Layton, who has learned to weaponize her confidence when throwing pitches. Much of Layton's demeanor, it turns out, is rooted in her love of reading. When she's not playing softball or training, Layton has her eyes and mindset and considers herself an avid fan of Harry Potter.

Layton explains how she channels her inner Hermione Granger, the heroine protagonist within J.K. Rowling's best-selling series. And it's the campus topography and quiet setting of Blacksburg, Virginia, that's helped Layton maintain her commitment to Virginia Tech.

"It felt like a small campus, one place I love called Duck Pond," Layton said. There are benches you can read, ducks are there and I’ll definitely be there when I'm not playing softball or in class.”

Layton hasn't slowed down and is competing for Extreme Elite 18/U National, a softball club for Illinois where she'll continue competing and training.

Winning the Class 1A state championship was a mark finally hit for Layton. Now she's chasing her next goal and says she wants to be voted Miss Indiana Softball and Gatorade Player of the Year.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@gannett.com , on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson .

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Rossville state champ Avery Layton crowned J&C Small Schools Softball Player of the Year