H.S. softball: Clayton's Muhaw earns South Jersey Player of the Year

CLAYTON – The sky isn’t the limit for Gianna Muhaw.

That’s because the girl everyone calls “Gigi,” who aspires to be an astronaut, already possesses softball skills that are other-worldly.

A game-changer on offense, defense and on the base paths, the junior left fielder has been the ignition switch to blastoff for the Clayton High School softball team, which has rocketed into the stratosphere of elite squads in the Garden State over the last two years.

Muhaw, who wears No. 42, has plenty of responsibilities for the Clippers, but it’s her contagious energy that powers the ship.

“I like getting the team excited because when we are having fun, that’s when we play our best,” Muhaw said. “I like to play with a lot of passion and excitement, so I love being the leadoff batter where I can set the tone for the game.”

Few players accomplished that feat better than Muhaw.

The leadoff hitter slapped her way to a .541 batting average with 46 hits and 36 runs scored. She patrolled left field like a gazelle with a glove, turning sure-fire extra-base hits into routine flyouts, while providing leadership for a team that captured its second straight state Group 1 title.

For her accomplishments, Muhaw is the South Jersey Player of the Year for Gannett New Jersey.

“She’s just a complete player,” Clayton head coach Joe Moore said. “Her play in left field is second to none, but I think her setting the table offensively is her biggest strength. She’s an extremely tough out, she’s always on base and once she’s on base, she causes a lot of problems for teams.”

Muhaw’s numbers certainly back up her reputation as a premier leadoff batter. After recording a hit in each of her 30 games last season, Muhaw posted a knock in 24 of 25 contests this spring. In the games she didn’t get a hit, she reached base via walk.

For her career, she has 98 hits, 78 runs scored, 42 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in just two seasons. The Clippers are 49-6 during the stretch.

However, he game didn’t come easy for Muhaw at first.

She laughs now when telling a story of how she used to be afraid of the softball when playing second base for the town youth team. She tried pitching too, but “after two years and I only got one strikeout I realized that wasn’t going to be my thing either.”

The early struggles helped fuel the fire for Muhaw, whose game took off when she switched around to the left side to become a slap hitter as well as finding a permanent home in the outfield.

The 5-foot-7 Muhaw has textbook technique on how to track down flyballs, especially ones she has to go back on.

“I’ve worked really hard on my drop step,” Muhaw said. “When I was younger that was something I really struggled with, I would get my feet tangled up all the time.”

Muhaw, who plays club ball for Virginia Glory based in Fairfax Station, Virginia, also competes in soccer and track, but spends most of athletic hours of a jam-packed schedule in a batting cage working on her craft.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without my parents (Ginger and Marc); they know what my dreams are,” Muhaw said. “I’m also thankful I’ve had amazing coaches, who have helped me and didn’t give up on me."

Muhaw produces in the classroom, too, where she has earned a 3.9 GPA and ranks 10th in her class. She has several schools interested in her, including one Ivy League institution, and plans to make a decision on where she will attend by the end of the summer.

Muhaw’s personality mirrors the energy she brings to the ballclub.

“It’s easy to see she loves this game and has fun playing it,” Moore said. "The only time she ain’t smiling is when we lose. And when we lose, she takes it personal.”

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: H.S. softball: Clayton's Muhaw earns South Jersey Player of the Year