Helena — Helena High senior Faith Howard has been recognized as the 2025 Gatorade Montana Softball Player of the Year following a standout season on the mound and at the plate. Howard finished the season 15–2 with a 1.42 earned run average and 225 strikeouts in 123.2 innings, while batting .323, helping the Bengals win the Western AA championship and earn a berth in the state tournament.

The statewide award marks a milestone for Helena High — Howard is the school’s first recipient of the Gatorade Montana Softball honor. She follows in the wake of a strong regional showing by local athletes, coming a year after a Capital High player won the statewide award in 2024. Howard is also a 3.8 GPA student and a community volunteer, and she has committed to continue her athletic and academic career at Montana State University Billings.

The recognition matters beyond individual acclaim. For Lewis and Clark County, Howard’s achievement highlights the role high school athletics play in fostering physical fitness, teamwork and mental wellbeing among young people. Local coaches and school administrators note that competitive sports programs can provide consistent physical activity, structure and social support at a time when adolescent health — both physical and mental — is a public health priority.

Howard’s decision to play at MSU Billings keeps emerging local talent within the state system and underscores the value of college pathways that balance athletics and academics. Her combination of on-field success and academic achievement exemplifies how sports can help students access higher education without forfeiting scholastic goals, an important equity consideration for families seeking affordable postsecondary options.

The award also spotlights systemic issues in school sports funding and access. Sustaining high-quality coaching, training facilities and medical support for student-athletes requires reliable investment from districts and communities. Ensuring equitable opportunities for girls’ athletics remains a policy priority under Title IX principles; local advocates say continued attention is needed to guarantee that schools across Lewis and Clark County provide comparable resources for female and male athletes, including injury prevention and mental health services.

Community response in Helena has been one of pride, with teammates and residents viewing Howard’s recognition as reflective of broader community support for youth development. Her volunteer work reinforces the reciprocal relationship between athletes and the neighborhoods that support them: local investment in youth sports can yield civic engagement and role models for younger children.

As Howard heads to MSU Billings, her season offers a reminder of the concrete health and social benefits high school athletics can deliver, as well as the policy choices communities face in maintaining those programs. For Lewis and Clark County, her award is both a celebration of individual excellence and a prompt to sustain equitable, health-oriented opportunities for the next generation of student-athletes.