Fort Myers' Julia Knowler named Florida Softball Gatorade Player of the Year

After a dream run to the Class 5A state softball title, the honors keep coming for the Green Wave.

Julia Knowler, the team's standout pitcher and infielder, was named Gatorade Florida Softball Player of the Year on Friday.

"It feels great," Knowler said. "I just feel honored to even be considered for the award."

In posting a 20-6-1 record on the way to a state championship, Knowler was a dominant force on her team's offense, posting a .582 batting average with 35 RBIs, eight home runs and a 1.268 slugging percentage.

WATCH:Fort Myers rallies then celebrates its Class 5A softball title

She was equally ferocious on the mound with a 12-2 mark in her sophomore season. Knowler struck out 117 batters with a 1.46 ERA and gave up just 15 walks in 96 innings pitched.

Knowler thanked her coaches, teammates and family for their support and singled out Johnny Manetta, the head coach of the state championship team. 

"He's helped me so much throughout my career, starting when I was 13-years old," Knowler said.

Manetta departed the program after 11 years for a job as the head coach of Evangelical Christian School earlier this month.

"Julia is a dedicated, hard-working and talented ballplayer," Manetta said in a release by Gatorade. "She has the ability to take control of the game at any time when it is on the mound, in the field or from the plate."

RELATED:Fresh off a state softball title with Fort Myers, Johnny Manetta departs to coach at ECS

MORE:How the Fort Myers softball coach fueled his players to a state title

With the award, Knowler has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national sports organization of her choosing through Gatorade's "Pay it Forward" campaign. 

Knowler was also named the Class 5A finalist for the 2021 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Softball. Manetta was picked as a finalist for Softball Coach of the Year.

Off the field, Knowler volunteered locally as an assistant with a youth after-school program, according to the release. She also worked as a youth softball coach and has maintained a 4.15 GPA.

Knowler was in South Carolina for travel softball when she received the news. Showing her dedication, she plans to play "loads of travel softball tournaments" during the summer. 

Going forward, Knowler wants her team to "keep the same energy" and compete for another state title. 

The squad almost missed the opportunity to even participate in the postseason after COVID-19 contract tracing forced the team into quarantine two weeks before the district playoffs began.

READ:Fort Myers' softball season almost ended abruptly; now they're competing in the state final four

Knowler never could have imagined a state title, or an individual honor like the Gatorade Player of the Year, during this period.

"I think, when we were stuck in quarantine, we were just hoping we'd have a chance to continue the season," she said.

Follow News-Press Sports Reporter Dustin Levy on Twitter: @DustinBLevy. For additional coverage of sports across Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.