Megan Faraimo was 26-3 with a 0.23 ERA as a senior at San Diego's Cathedral Catholic HS (photo courtesy of Gatorade).
Faraimo Named Gatorade National Softball POY
June 05, 2018 | Softball
UCLA Softball Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
SAN DIEGO - Incoming UCLA freshman Megan Faraimo was named the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year, as announced on Tuesday. Faraimo is the third Bruin to be named Gatorade National Softball POY in the last four seasons and the seventh to earn the honor.
Starting this fall, the Bruins' roster will feature a trio of players that have won Gatorade National Softball POY honors, which will include 2015 honoree Rachel Garcia and 2016 honoree Bubba Nickles. Also earning the prestigious award before their playing days in Westwood were Paige McDuffee (2011), Anjelica Selden (2004), Lisa Dodd (2003) and Amanda Freed (1998).
Faraimo, who was named the California Gatorade State Player of the Year earlier this week, is the 10th Bruin to earn State POY honors, joining fellow Californians Nickles ('16), Garcia (2013 and 2015), Jessica Hall (2010), Selden ('04), Dodd ('03) and Freed ('98), Texan McDuffee ('11), Washingtonian Whitney Baker (2006) and Floridian Claire Sua (2000).
The 6-foot-1 right-handed pitcher posted a 26-3 record in the circle as a senior with a 0.23 earned run average, leading Cathedral Catholic High School to the San Diego Section Open Division championship game. Faraimo had 405 strikeouts, the second-highest, single-season total in CIF San Diego Section history, giving up just 47 hits and eight walks in 186 1/3 innings. At the plate, she recorded a .316 batting average, seven home runs, 22 runs batted in and a .645 slugging percentage. Faraimo, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2018 according to FloSoftball, finished her high school career with 1,028 strikeouts.
"Megan is a fierce competitor who has championship experience on the mound," UCLA head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez said last November as part of the Bruins' No. 1 recruiting class in the country, according to FloSoftball. "Megan is the top pitcher in her class and will bring great confidence to our program both as a pitcher and hitter."
Faraimo has a 3.49 grade point average and volunteers locally as a youth tutor and softball coach. She has donated her time on behalf of multiple community service initiatives through her church.
Players Mentioned
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Tennessee (June 1, 2025)
Sunday, June 01
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Texas Tech (May 31, 2025)
Saturday, May 31
Highlights - UCLA Softball vs. Oregon (May 29, 2025)
Thursday, May 29
UCLA Softball Postgame - Coach Inouye-Perez & Players, vs. Oregon (May 29, 2025)
Thursday, May 29