Bucs’ Richey named softball player of the year in Class A
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
To the victor, goes the spoils, and that was the case for many of the players on the top teams in the state who were selected to the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association (PAHSSBCA) All-State team Friday morning.
Nine area players on three teams made up the Class A squad, including Chartiers-Houston junior catcher Ella Richey, who earned player of the year status.
Richey, who batted leadoff for the WPIAL champion Bucs, hit .558 during the season, and improved upon that mark in the playoffs with a .610 average in helping to lead Chartiers-Houston to its ninth district title, and first since 2012.
Richey had two hits, scored twice and knocked in two runs in the WPIAL championship game against Union.
Richey’s battery mate, Meadow Ferri, made the first-team as a pitcher. The Bucs’ Lauren Rush earned second-team honors at shortstop.
State runner-up Carmichaels had first-team selections in pitcher Bailey Barnyak and shortstop Carys McConnell. The Mikes’ Ali Jacobs was named to the second team at first base. Teammate Kaitlyn Waggett earned second-team honors as a catcher.
West Greene’s Marissa Tharp was selected on the second team as an outfielder. The Pioneers’ Payton Gilbert was picked as a utility player on the second team.
Bentworth freshman Sydney Gonglik helped lead the Bearcats to the WPIAL championship game and the quarterfinals of the state playoffs in Class 2A, and she was rewarded for her efforts as a first-team all-state selection at pitcher.
Gonglik was also a feared hitter, and she got to be so dangerous that opposing coaches chose to intentionally walk her instead of taking a chance of allowing a big hit.
No local players were selected in Class 3A, but Belle Vernon had two first teamers in Gracie Sokol at first base and Katie Sokol at second in Class 4A.
Trinity’s Hanna Suhoski made the Class 5A team at shortstop.
Peters Township’s Emersen Gatten earned a spot on the outfield’s second team in Class 5A.
There were not any area players on the Class 6A squad.
The team was selected from nearly 600 nominations by high school coaches and media members. A first and second team was voted on and chosen for each classification.
The committee also voted on the overall player of the year, overall pitcher of the year and a player and pitcher in every classification. A special recognition courage award, which began last year, honors one player who overcame adversity during the season.