Addison Sabers, '27, Gatorade Player of the Year

At 7:19 a.m., Addison Sabers awoke from a heavy sleep. Still tired and not quite convinced she was fully awake, she stared at her phone and read the words again. Her name was there. She had been named the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year.

For many athletes, that moment would represent the culmination of years of hard work. For Addison, it certainly did. But her journey was never simply about awards, statistics, or recognition. It was built on family, friendship, perseverance, and a love for the game that began long before anyone knew what the future would hold.

Long before she was one of the state's most decorated athletes, Addison was simply a little girl trying to keep up with her older brother, Nic.

"I played baseball because my brother did," she said. "I wanted to do everything he did."

Some of her favorite childhood memories still revolve around those early days. "My earliest memory is hitting in the backyard with my brother," Addison recalled. "We played a lot of wiffle ball, spent our summers at the pool, and turned everything into a game."

As Addison's talent grew, so did her understanding of what she could accomplish.
The turning point came during a tournament in St. Louis when a college coach delivered a message she still remembers today.

"He told me I was an elite hitter," Addison said. "That conversation gave me a new level of confidence and helped me see what was possible."

Until then, much of her focus had been on pitching. Hearing that evaluation shifted her perspective and helped her focus more heavily on hitting and defense.

Her goals became clearer.

"If you talked to my younger self, I would have said two things," Addison said. "I wanted to win a state championship as a Saint and play college softball."

She eventually accomplished both. But those achievements weren't the result of shortcuts or natural talent alone. Throughout her athletic career, her mother, Beth Sabers, says one quality has always separated Addison from others.

"She cares," Beth said. "She cares deeply about her teammates, her friends, and the game itself." That same quality shows up in every aspect of her life.

"At the end of the day, sports eventually end," Beth said. "Who you are as a person and teammate is what people remember."

Those values were reinforced throughout childhood.
"Stay humble and work hard," Beth said of the lessons she and her husband, Luke, tried to teach.

Their family motto became simple:
"Work hard. Play hard. Have fun."

The Sabers worked intentionally to keep sports in perspective. "We've always reminded her it's just a game," Beth said. "Sports are important, but never at the expense of joy." That mindset has helped Addison navigate both success and setbacks.

Even as accolades accumulated, she remained grounded. "She continues to approach the game with the same love and passion she had when she first fell in love with softball," Beth said.

"I don't really see it as sacrifices. It's just who I am and what I love to do. But it has meant choosing training, workouts, hitting, throwing, and lifting over other activities."

Addison

The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

For the Sabers family, the recognition means far more than a trophy.

"It represents years of early mornings, long drives, missed events, and countless hours of work behind the scenes," Beth said. "More than anything, it reflects Addison's heart, her commitment to her teammates, and the way she approaches everything she does with passion and gratitude."

When asked what stands out most when she reflects on her journey and receiving this award, Addison's answer comes quickly.

"All of the days and nights working when no one is watching," she said. "The early mornings, the late nights, and consistently showing up - all of it shows that hard work really does pay off."