The awards are beginning to roll in for Ardmore senior pitcher Cody Reed. Already one of the favorites for the state’s Mr. Baseball, Reed was named the Gatorade Alabama Baseball Player of the Year on Tuesday.

As a senior, Reed and his teammates reached the 4A state championship series for the first time in school history. The left-hander finished with a 10-2 record, 0.46 ERA and 226 strikeouts.

“Cody has a great passion for the game of baseball, but an even great passion for being a great human being,” said Ardmore head coach Andrew Smith. “He strives for perfection in everything that he does. He makes my job much easier, because I never have to question his work ethic. His desire has gotten him to where he is now. He is a great character kid and strives to do everything the right way.”

The reigning ASWA 4A Player of the Year tied a state record with 21 strikeouts in seven innings in a 3-0 win over Elkmont in March. For the season, Reed’s strikeout total was the second most in state history while his ERA ranked No. 7 in AHSAA history.

At the plate, Reed batted .494 with six home runs, 10 doubles, 33 RBIs and 40 runs scored. The Vanderbilt commitment finished his senior year with a .667 on-base percentage and .800 slugging percentage.

As a state winner, Reed is eligible for the National Player of the Year. Each sport’s pool of state winners is evaluated further on athletic achievements, academic excellence and exemplary character.

The 12 national winners selected represent the nation’s best all-around high school student-athletes and are then eligible for Gatorade Male and Female Athlete of the Year.

The Gatorade Player of the Year award was established in 1985. Now in its third decade, the award has become one of the most prestigious accolades in high school sports.

USA TODAY High School Sports, in partnership with Gatorade, administers the selection process for Gatorade State and National Player of the Year awards.