THE SPORTS REPORTS: CORNING'S RIJO TABBED AS ALL-REGION SOFTBALL 'PLAYER OF YEAR;' ATHENS' MACIK, S-VE'S LAWRENCE, CV'S WOODRING, HORSEHEADS' GRYSKA ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2022-07-01)
The Sports ReportsWhile the Twin Tiers may not be quite the
hotbed for high school and travel softball that, say, Southern
California has come to be known for,
The Sports Reports’ coverage
areas boasted some outstanding season-long performances and team
accomplishments in 2022, leading to a number of high-profile college
commitments and numerous underclassmen firmly placing their names on
college watch lists.
Leading the way is
The Sports Reports’ 2022 All-Region “
Softball Player of the Year,”
Atalyia Rijo from Corning. The senior shortstop will play Division 1 softball for Arkansas, and is also the "
Defensive Player of the Year."
Caydence Macik from Athens is the “
Offensive Player of the Year,” while Spencer-VanEtten’s
Rhianna Lawrence is the “
Pitcher of the Year,” Cowanesque Valley freshman
Ashley Woodring is the “Newcomer of the Year,” and Horseheads skipper
Rick Gryska is the “
Coach of the Year.”
Rijo
capped her fantastic career by being named the Gatorade New York
Softball Player of the Year. She hit .585 and reached base nearly seven
out of every 10 times she stepped to the plate (.675), while hitting
seven home runs, five triples and eight doubles, stealing 10 bases,
driving in 21 runs and scoring 43 more.
Rijo’s incredible
offensive numbers and her proficiency at short — one of the best gloves
one will ever see at short — made her a top-eight national recruit as
she heads to play in the SEC.
Macik, who primarily batted
lead-off, had an offensive year for the ages at Athens, batting .578
with an on-base-percentage of .649. She had 37 hits, including 10 home
runs, eight doubles and a triple, and had 24 RBI, 37 runs scored, nine
stolen bases, 13 walks, a 1.078 slugging percentage.
Lawrence
posted a 16-5 record with a 0.24 ERA, and pitched S-VE tot he Section
IV, Class C title game, where it lost to eventual state champ Greene..
She struck out 169 in 116 innings in the circle. At the plate, she hit
.368.
Woodring burst onto the NTL softball scene quickly in her
inaugural season, racking up hits (36) and batting .578, while getting
on base at a .670-clip. She equaled her 18 singles on the year with 18
extra-base hits (nine doubles, three triples, and six home runs) to
compile a 1.078 slugging percentage. She also had 36 runs scored, 21 RBI
and just four strikeouts.
Horseheads rallied in the
sectional final to top Corning, who was ranked third in the state, and
win the Section 4 crown. With that success Rick Gryska is the “Coach of
the Year.” Horseheads ended the regular season on a five-game win
streak, and stretched that win streak to seven as they beat Elmira and
Corning to claim the sectional crown.
___________
PLAYER OF YEAR: Atalyia Rijo, Corning, senior
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR: Cadence Macik, Athens, senior
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR: Atalyia Rijo, Corning, senior
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Rhianna Lawrence, S-VE, senior
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Ashley Woodring, Cowanesque Valley, freshman
COACH OF THE YEAR: Rick Gryska, Horseheads
——————
2022 ALL-REGION SOFTBALL
FIRST TEAM
Catcher
Emily Susanj, NEB, senior:
Susanj hit .574 with 27 hits, including four doubles, and five home
runs, and 32 RBI. She did not strike out this season, and walked 10
times for a .649 on-base percentage. She also had a .993 fielding
percentage.
First Base
Kelsey Booker, Corning, senior: Booker hit .413 with six doubles, eight home runs, and 29 RBI.
Second Base
Ava Mustico, ND, junior:
Mustico hit .405 with 30 hits, including four doubles, one triple, one
home run, 21 RBI, 31 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. She had an OPS of
1.003.
Shortstop
Atalyia Rijo, Corning, senior: See above.
Third Base
Kellie Zoerb, Corning, senior: Zoerb hit .507 with five doubles, 18 RBI, and 36 runs scored. She is committed to Division I Towson.
Infield
Cadence Macik, Athens, senior: See above.
Outfield
Ashley Woodring, CV, freshman: See above.
Ellie DeRosa, Corning, senior: DeRosa
hit .551 and had a .610 on-base percentage. She had five doubles, six
triples, nine home runs, 40 RBI, and 40 runs scored. She is committed to
Division I George Mason.
Maddie Bordas, Wellsboro, junior: Bordas hit .508 with 33 hits, including 10 doubles and three home runs, and had 25 RBI and 27 runs scored.
Utility
Mackenzi Tice, NP-Liberty, sophomore: Tice
hit.453 with 34 hits, including four doubles and one triple, 13 RBI,
and 31 runs scored. She had a .518 on-base percentage. ... In the
pitcher's circle, Tice posted a 7-3 record and a 2.00 ERA with 102
strikeouts.
Designated Hitter
Lawson Bigelow, ND, junior:
Bigelow hit .542 with 39 hits, including six doubles and eight home
runs, to go along with 47 RBI, and 26 runs scored. She also had a .589
on-base percentage.
Pitchers
Rhiana Lawrence, S-VE, senior: See above.
Olivia Switzer, ND, junior:
Switzer led the Lady Crusaders to the Section IV, Class C title game.
She posted a 1.95 ERA, and struck out 174 on the season. … She hit .519
with 41 hits, including 11 doubles, one triple, 37 RBI, 27 runs scored,
and 10 stolen bases.
——————
SECOND TEAM
Catcher
M.J. Thetga, Tioga, junior:
Thetga hit .528 with 38 hits, including, seven doubles, four triples,
three home runs, and had 39 RBI and 10 runs scored. She had a slugging
percentage of .861 for a 1.436 OPS.
First Base
Eva Koratsis, Horseheads, senior: Koratsis hit .521 with six doubles, one triple, four home runs, and 17 runs scored.
Second Base
Maddie Millard, Cowanesque Valley, sophomore:
Millard hit .394 with 26 hits, 23 runs scored, 13 RBI, and eight stolen
bases. She had a .474 on-base percentage, and was an incredible fielder
who turned three double-plays in CV’s District semifinal win over NEB.
Shortstop
Emmi Ward, Canton, senior: Ward hit .457 with 38 hits, 37 runs scored, 20 RBI, and 28 stolen bases. She had a .639 on-base percentage.
Third Base
Abbey Foley, Tioga, senior: Foley,
a skilled slap-hitter, hit .479 with 35 hits, nine RBI, 36 runs
scored, and 16 stolen bases. She had a .548 on-base percentage, and a
1.027 OPS.
Outfield
Emma Coolidge, Wellsboro, senior: Coolidge hit .510 with 25 hits, including three doubles and five home runs, along with 18 RBI and 21 runs scored.
Jules Pack, Athens, freshman:
One of the best first-year hitters in the region, Pack hit .462 (31
hits in 67 ABs) with 19 runs scored, four doubles, 15 RBI, and two
stolen bases.
Rachel Kingsley, Troy, junior: Kingsley hit
.436 with 24 hits, including five doubles, three home runs, seven RBI,
and 18 runs scored. She had a .538 on-base percentage.
Utility
Ruby Sherman, Cowanesque Valley, sophomore:
Sherman hit .391 with 25 hits, including six doubles and one home run,
and had 15 RBI, and 18 runs scored. … In the circle, Sherman was 7-1
with a 2.15 ERA, and 69 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings.
Designated Hitter
Raegan Sudnikovich, S-VE, sophomore:
Sudnikovich hit .563 with eight home runs, 11 doubles, three triples,
32 RBI, and 44 runs scored. She also had a .788 on-base percentage.
Pitchers
Thailey Franklin, NEB, junior: Franklin posted a 13-3 record with a 1.90 ERA, and 132 strikeouts. She hit .556 with 30 hits, 22 RBI, and 27 runs scored.
Lauren Gilbert, Owego, senior:
Gilbert posted an 11-6 record with a 1.85 ERA, and 134 strikeouts in
102 innings. She hit .485 with six doubles, two triples, six home runs,
and 27 RBI.
——————
THIRD TEAM
Catcher
Olivia Packard, Horseheads, senior: Packard hit .344 with five doubles, and 10 runs sored. She also had a .463 on-base percentage. She is a UMass commit.
First Base
Julia Bellis, Tioga, senior: Bellis hit .303 with two doubles, one home run, 17 RBI, 20 runs scored, and five stolen bases.
Second Base
Molly Bombard, Tioga, senior:
Bombard hit .395 (17 hits in 43 ABs) with two doubles, 12 RBI, 19 runs
scored, and five stolen bases. She also walked 11 times, and had a .536
on-base percentage.
Shortstop
Peyton Miller, Notre Dame, junior: Miller hit .468, with 36 hits, including three doubles, one triple, one home run, 18 RBI, 43 runs scored, and 10 runs scored.
Third Base
Molly Ward, Canton, junior:
Ward hit .479 with 35 hits, including three doubles, two triples, one
home run, 28 RBI, and 26 runs scored. She also had a .671 on-base
percentage.
Outfield
Austyn Vance, Tioga, senior: Vance hit .421 ((24 hits in 57
ABs) with three doubles, seven triples, 11 RBI, 25 runs scored, and nine
stolen bases. She had a .719 slugging percentage and a 1.234 OPS.
Erin Luther, Tioga, freshman:
Luther hit .388 with two doubles, five triples, five home runs, 28 RBI,
and 22 runs scored. She had a .791 slugging percentage and a 1.252 OPS.
Lexi Urena, Wellsboro, freshman: Urena hit .393 with 24 hits,
including four doubles and seven home runs, and had 28 RBI and 26 runs
scored. She also had a .479 on-base percentage.
Utility
Michaela Lauper, Waverly, junior: Lauper,
who saw a great deal of action in the pitcher’s circle in the second
half of the season, hit .468 with one double, 13 RBI, 24 runs scored,
and 13 stolen bases. She had a 1.019 OPS.
Designated Hitter
Aubrey Ennis, Waverly, senior:
Ennis hit .484 (30 hits in 62 ABs) with six doubles, two home runs, 18
RBI, 18 runs scored, and six stolen bases. She also had a .677 slugging
percentage and a 1.220 OPS.
Pitchers
Alyssa Hine, Tioga, senior:
Hine was 11-3 with a 2.20 ERA. She fanned 71 and walked 23 in 82 2/3
innings. … At the plate, she hit .411 (23 hits in 56 ABs) with six
doubles, one triple, one home run, 22 RBI, 16 runs scored, and eight
stolen bases.
Keri Wesneski, Canton, junior: Wesneski posted a 16-5 record with a 2.98 ERA, and 124 strikeouts in 138 innings.
——————
FOURTH TEAM
CatcherLogan
Hamilton, Cowanesque Valley, sophomore: Hamilton hit .375 with two
doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI, and 17 runs scored. She also had a .516
on-base percentage.
First Base
Paige Logsdon, Wellsboro, freshman:
Logsdon hit .441 with 12 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBI,
and 17 runs scored. She also had a .507 on-base percentage.
Second Base
Taryn Acla, Canton, junior: Acla hit .394 with 28 hits, 29 runs scored, 18 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. She also had an on-base percentage of .577.
Shortstop
Laci Norton, Wyalusing, senior: Norton hit .426 with five doubles, one home run, five RBI, and 18 runs scored.
Third Base
Bella Romano, Waverly, senior:
Romano hit .365 with three doubles, three triples, four home runs, 24
RBI, 27 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. She had a .698 slugging
percentage and a 1.135 OPS.
Outfield
Olivia Robinson, Waverly, sophomore: Robinson hit .327 with three
doubles, two triples, 15 RBI, 13 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
She had 10 walks and a .438 on-base percentage.
Saige Lehman, NP-Liberty, sophomore: Lehman hit .303 with 22 hits, including six doubles and one home run, 20 RBI, and 21 runs scored.
Mariana Jones, Edison, sophomore: Jones it .382, with a .545 slugging percentage, and a 1.045 OPS.
Designated Hitter
Mikenna Buchanan, Williamson, sophomore: Buchanan hit .560 with 28 hits, including eight doubles, two triples, and one home run.
Utility
Tyra Williams, Troy, junior: Williams
hit .460 BA, with 23 hits, including four doubles and four home runs,
16 RBI, and 17 runs scored. She also had a 4.12 ERA and 31 strikeouts in
the pitcher’s circle.
Pitcher
Addie Smith, NP-Liberty, freshman: Smith posted a 5-4 record with a 2.53 ERA, and 63 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched.
Megan Wolf, Horseheads, freshman: Wolf posted a 2.71 ERA, and pitched Horseheads to a Section .
Payton Ross, Elmira, junior: Ross turned in a solid season in the circle, and hit better than .300. (No stats available.)
———————
ALL-REGION NEWCOMER TEAM Ashley Woodring, Cowanesque Valley
Paige Logsdon, Wellsboro
Lexi Urena, Wellsboro
Addie Smith, NP-Liberty
Erin Luther, Tioga
Rylin Graham, Canton
Jules Pack, Athens
RaeAnne Feeko, Tioga
Lea VanAllen, Waverly
Ella Coyle, Athens
Megan Wolf, Horseheads
Kailey Ripley, Edison
Mariana Jones, Edison
Kendall Curreri, Corning
Olivia Champluvier, Troy