On Friday, Gatorade named Box Elder’s right-handed ace the Utah Softball Player of the Year, which “recognizes Blackmer as Utah’s best high school softball player,” according a release.

Blackmer’s juni0r season was instrumental to Box Elder’s state runner-up campaign with a 14-3 record in the circle, a career-high 220 single-season strikeouts and 26 different homers. She finished the year hitting .554 with 175 career RBI to her name.

“I really enjoyed with the best that we had at the time,” Blackmer said of the run. “It’s been a real cool opportunity to be put on that stage when it comes to softball because not many get to experience it, and I know there are many that would love to be in our position.”

Committed to Utah Valley for softball, Blackmer has one final prep season left to chase down the first state title of her Bees career and the school’s first since 2018.

Salem Hills, the top seed in the 5A softball state tournament, defeated No. 4 Box Elder 3-1 in a double-elimination tiebreaker last month in Provo at BYU. The fateful loss included a single run by Blackmer, hitting her 26th homer of the season over the right wall at Gail Miller Field.

“KJ’s demeanor in the circle and at the plate is calm, confident and impressive,” Clearfield coach Kamie Hoggan said in the release.

The Gatorade Player of the Year award is a unique honor, and is another accolade on Blackmer’s shelf alongside three years running as an All-Area and All-State selection.

In Northern Utah, Ogden’s Nevaeh Peregrina previously won the award for girls soccer in 2023.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker20@standard.net, X @ctbecker and Instagram @standardexaminersports.