Karissa Fiegener exits Piedmont as two-time Gatorade state softball player of the year.

Piedmont softball coach Keith Coleman isn’t used to seeing many young players like Karissa Fiegener.

Despite still being in middle school when she met Coleman, Fiegener’s potential was easy to spot.

One thing was clear to the coach — Fiegener was going to be a star in high school.

“We knew right away (when she was) in seventh grade that she was going to be a special kid,” Coleman said. “Just extremely talented. Has every tool needed for this sport.”

Fiegener went on to start at shortstop as a freshman, helping Class 5A Piedmont claim its first-ever softball state title.

And although Fiegener’s high school career is now in the books, she leaves Piedmont with one more big accolade.

For the second straight year, Fiegener is the Gatorade Oklahoma Softball Player of the Year, the company announced late last week.

The Oklahoma Christian University signee had a strong senior season, finishing with a .431 batting average, seven home runs and 41 RBI. She also led Piedmont to its second straight title, becoming a three-time state champion.

And although Fiegener’s high school career is now in the books, she leaves Piedmont with one more big accolade.

For the second straight year, Fiegener is the Gatorade Oklahoma Softball Player of the Year, the company announced late last week.

Fiegener said her senior year was a little bit different than the others.

The trust between the 6-foot shortstop and her teammates was stronger than ever.

“We believed more in each other,” Fiegener said. “We didn’t have to rely on certain people this year. Everyone in the lineup could produce.”

Piedmont went 40-3 on its way to the championship.

The Wildcats trailed 3-0 in the title game against Coweta, but Piedmont scored five runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to secure the 5-3 win in a rematch of the 2021 championship.

The Wildcats had a great year, and Fiegener played a huge role.

“The biggest impact she had for us was her leadership,” Coleman said. “She’s always been a kid that makes everyone around her better. Ultimate competitor, ultimate team first type of player. Obviously, she was the focal point of our team as far as our opponents go. She got pitched around quite a bit her senior year.

“The best thing about Karissa is she’s the type of kid that she’s very humble. Talking to her, she would never bring up anything that she’s done. It’s always about her teammates. She would be thrilled to death if one of her teammates won this award.”

Although Fiegener was a shortstop throughout high school, she’ll likely play catcher at the next level.

She accomplished just about everything a player can in high school.

Now, she’s ready for the next chapter of her career.

“Right now, I just want to go in and work as hard as I can, try and get that starting spot in the starting nine,” Fiegener said. “And from then on, just do what I can to help the team. And whatever they need me to do, I want to do. I just want to be coachable and let them kind of do their thing.”