Junior Morgandee Sawatzky is a four-sport athlete at Arapaho High School, where she competes on the fast pitch, basketball, track & field, and slow pitch teams. Sawatzky is the ace pitcher for the Indians’ fast-pitch team and is one of the best pitchers in Class A. The righty is leading the class with 181 strikeouts, 23 wins, and with a flyout percentage of 31.65 percent while currently second with a 1.50 ERA. 

“Morgandee is a very cerebral player,” coach Luke Thompson said. “She is very adept at studying hitters and getting a feel for their tendencies and weaknesses. She is also extremely consistent, you know what you are going to get from her game in and game out.” 

Last season was the first time the Indians advanced to state since 2006. And after a dominant performance by Sawatzky at Regionals, Arapaho is going to state in back-to-back seasons. Sawatzky finished the regional game against Hominy with two doubles, a single, and a sac fly to go along with 12 strikeouts in the circle. 

“Morgandee gives us a chance to win every game on our schedule,” Thompson said. “What makes our team really good starts with what she does in that circle. Some pitchers shy away from that and don’t want to have to handle or deal with that pressure, but Morgandee truly embraces it and thrives on it.” 

Outside of athletics, Sawatsky is involved in FFA as the chapter president, STUCO as the class vice president, FCA, the academic team, and NHS while carrying a 4.0 GPA. 

Sawatsky credits her parents, Ryan and Kristie, for her success on and off the field. 

“My parents always push me to never give up and pushed my sister and me to learn all we can with the game of softball,” Sawatzky said. “They have always helped me learn and adapt to what will be the most beneficial to myself and the team. They help give me the confidence to push through even the roughest games and to never give up.”