Katie Orona
The Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame Committee began a new tradition by recognizing the most valuable high school girls softball player recipient from the Pueblo area --a young scholar/athlete who epitomizes all of the qualities that any parent, school, and fellow teammates would want to have as part of their family and team. That individual is Katie Orona an amazing pitcher for the Pueblo East High School Eagles.
The traits that Katie possesses, not only on the softball diamond but in the classroom, makes her our choice for this inaugural award. She is the daughter of Richard and Kimberly Orona. Katie is a product of the parochial elementary school, the Corwin International Magnet School and is currently a junior student at Pueblo East High School's International Baccalaureate (I.B.) program
Her involvement with extracurricular and academic programs is quite remarkable. Orona has taken twenty honors courses during her first three years of high school, is ranked in the top six percent of her class, has received five academic letters, is a member of National Honor Society and has been on the Principal's honor roll five times.
Katie's community involvement is extremely well-rounded as she coaches youth basketball, teaches Sunday School, volunteers at a battered women's shelter, and pitches in at Tom and Louie's Cupboard. Orona also mentors at-risk students, speaks to local elementary and middle school students about academic and educational achievement and is East High School's representative to the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Educational Leadership Tour.
Orona's athletic achivements include:
2012-2013 (Junior)
Member of Pueblo East High School's softball team which won the 2012 Colorado 4A Softball State Championship.
Pitched all four state tournament games, striking out 31 hitters and had an E.R.A. of 0.75
The 2012 Denver Post M.V.P. of the 2012 State Championship game.
Selected to the South-Central League First Team for the second year.
Selected to the All-Colorado Team in 2012 (All Classifications).
Three-year varsity letter winner at East High School.
A candidate for the 2012-2013 ESPN/Gatorade Softball Player of the Year for Colorado.
The 2012 East High School Softball Team will be inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame this spring.
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