Ayla Tuua (Destiny Christian Academy) named Gatorade California Softball Player of the Year

Contributor
Lance Smith
Ayla Tuua (Destiny Christian Academy) named Gatorade California Softball Player of the Year image

Destiny Christian Academy junior Ayla Tuua has been named Gatorade's California Softball Player of the Year after yet another two-way campaign for the books.

One of the state's premier pitchers and hitters at the same time, Tuua led the Lions to a CIF-Sac Joaquin Section Division 4 championship and 22-3 record while posting extraordinary numbers. Through the sectional playoffs, she was 12-0 with a 0.46 ERA, 163 strikeouts, and a 0.88 opposing batting average in 75.2 innings, and hit .500 with six home runs, 26 RBI, a 1.501 OPS, and 30 runs scored.

Tuua has been one of California's top softball players since the beginning of her high school career at Destiny Christian Academy – which at the time was Capital Christian – when she led her team to Division 4 sectional and regional championships. She burst out of the gates with a .545 batting average, 12 homers, 50 RBI, and a 1.880 OPS. In the circle she went 6-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 172 K's in 93.2 innings. As just a freshman, Tuua was named California's Small School Player of the Year and Second Team All-State (all classifications) by Cal-Hi Sports.

As a sophomore, Tuua maintained similar numbers at the plate and was better statistically in the circle despite playing a tougher schedule. She hit .488 with 11 home runs while recording career-bests of 41 runs scored and 22 walks drawn, and she went 17-2 with 245 strikeouts, a 0.93 ERA, and a jaw-dropping 0.75 opposing batting average in 135 innings of work. The Lions went 26-3-1, came one run short of a CIF-SJS D2 title, and rolled to a NorCal Division III regional title.

Tuua will look to lead Destiny Christian Academy to yet more CIF championship glory in 2026 in her final act before heading to LSU, where she committed in September.

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