Pacifica’s Freed Wins National Honor

Amanda Freed had to buy a dress to attend the news conference Thursday at which she was named the best softball player in the country, so the last thing she expected was to be compared to Miss USA by the mayor of Garden Grove.

But that’s what happened as Freed became the first Gatorade Circle of Champions National High School Softball Player of the Year.

Freed, 18, is a record-setting pitcher at Pacifica who will play her final high school game Saturday for the Southern Section Division III title.

She thanked her friends, family and teammates, as well as her opponents--some from Foothill High were present--”because I learn from you, and it sometimes helps to get beaten up.”

That hasn’t happened often. Freed, who will attend UCLA, has a career record of 62-5, a .925 winning percentage.

“This young lady is a national champion,” Mayor Bruce Broadwater said. “She’s the Miss USA of her sport.”

Freed said she hadn’t really considered the full scope of the award--that she was considered the best high school player among more than 306,000 nationwide.

“The sport is so big, and there’s so much talent,” Freed said. “It’s always somebody’s desire to be best, but you think it can never happen because it’s so high of a standard.”