There were plenty of outstanding performances at the 2017 Ronald J Paperniak Memorial Scholarship Softball Tournament this past Saturday. After considering standouts on both offense and defense, I put together the second annual Compass Sports All Tournament Team with players from Amsterdam, Fonda-Fultonville, Gloversville, and Johnstown.
Megan Lamont, Amsterdam – Lamont was outstanding on both offense and defense, and took home the Best Defensive Player award for the championship game after two incredible diving catches in center field. Lamont made the plays in the second and sixth innings and prevented at least two runs from scoring. At the plate, Lamont reached base a remarkable eight times in ten at bats. The versatile fielder who can play shortstop and second base, scored a total of five runs including three in the Lady Rams 9-4 championship win, and connected for four hits. Lamont earned the second straight championship game defensive MVP for a Lady Rams outfielder. Lamont’s teammate Martina Hughes won the award in 2016 for her play in right field.
Sierra Rose, Fonda-Fultonville – The Lady Braves catcher earned the Best Offensive Player award and it’s no wonder. All three of Roses’ hits were for extra bases. Rose tripled and scored a pair of runs in the championship game against Amsterdam after smacking a double and a home run, and scored two runs in the first game against Gloversville.
Jen Vickery, Gloversville – When it comes to softball, whatever Vickery does she does well. Against Fonda-Fultonville, Vickery pitched a complete game and helped provide much of the Lady Huskies offense with three hits including a double, and scored a run while driving in two during a seventh inning rally. Gloversville came up short in that game, but Vickery was back at it in the second contest against Johnstown where she connected for a single, double and scored two runs in the 16-14 slug fest.
Mallory Baldwin, Johnstown – The Lady Bills third basemen came up with the big plays late in the game against Gloversville. Baldwin was on the receiving end of a throw from center fielder Grace Giarrizzo and put the tag on a runner trying to advance in the fifth, and followed that up by cutting down the potential game-tying at the plate in the seventh. At bat, Baldwin connected for three hits including a double and scored two runs in the 16-14 win over Gloeversville.
Nicole Derose, Amsterdam – The Lady Rams first basemen reached base six times in ten plate appearances. Derose along with teammate Megan Lamont gave the tournament champs a very formidable combination at the top of the batting order. Derose scored four runs on four hits, three against Fonda- Fultonville, and drove in a pair of runs, all while playing a flawless first base recording 16 put outs.
Bri Egleston, Fonda- Fultonville – Egleston missed the 2016 tournament due to injury, but showed she has since recovered and went on to pitch six innings (five shutout) in a 7-4 Lady Braves win over Gloversville. Egelston allowed only three hits and struck out six in the first game, and batted at the top of the FFHS lineup collecting two hits and scoring two runs. Against Amsterdam, Egelston battled through four innings, shutting the Lady Rams out in the first two, and reached base twice scoring one of the Lady Braves four runs. In a short time, Egelston has become one of the most formidable pitchers in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
Jenay Douglas, Johnstown – Douglas provided the biggest bat in the middle of the Lady Bills lineup. The left fielder crushed a double and a home run among her three hits against Gloversville, scored a team high four runs and drove in a pair. Douglas got it done with her glove as well making two game saving catches from the corner outfield position.
Taylor Wadsworth, Gloversville – Wadsworth was the best second baseman in the tournament making at least a half dozen diving, lunging catches from the middle of the Lady Huskies infield. Very little managed to get past Wadsworth as she prevented at least three runs from scoring in a close game against Johnstown. Wadsworth scored a run and drove in one against the Lady Bills in limited plate appearances.
Michaela Kelly, Amsterdam – The Lady Rams outfielder was a home run short of hitting for the cycle in the 9-0 win over Johnstown. Kelly made good on the batters getting on base in front of her providing a double, triple, and single to spark the AHS offense. Kelly also scored three runs and drove in two against the Lady Bills. Kelly helped give AHS a 4-1 lead against Fonda-Fultonville with an RBI single in the four run third inning. The versatile outfielder played both left and right field positions during the tournament.
Sierra Grant, Fonda- Fultonville – The Lady Braves first basemen came through with three hits from the number four spot in the FFHS batting order. Grant smacked a double and drove in three runs during the Lady Braves two games and fielded her position well with nine putouts vs. AHS in the title game.
Michaela Rust, Amsterdam – The best pitcher for the tournament, Rust tossed a pair of complete game wins for the Lady Rams including a 9-0, four hit shutout over Johnstown in the first game of the day. Rust got stronger in the later innings, walked only six over the two game stretch, but none after the fourth inning. The AHS righty hurler struck out six against Johnstown, and four when facing the Lady Braves, while scattering ten hits total in the two games. Rust excelled at the plate as well leading Amsterdam with six hits, including four in four at bats against Fonda.
Allison Trajilnek, Johnstown – The young lefty pitcher came through when the pressure was on for the Lady Bills when she pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh innings in the Lady Bills 16-14 win over league rival Gloversville. Trajilnek used her defense well and then took care of business striking out the last batter of the game. Trajilnek also had one of the Lady Bills four hits against Amsterdam.
Honorable Mentions: Karly Power (Amsterdam), Emma Patrei (Amsterdam), Kelsey Denton (Fonda- Fultonville), Avery Cusack (Fonda-Fultonville), Grace Giarrizzo (Johnstown), Sydney Darling (Johnstown), Katelyn Kwiakala (Gloversville), Kendra Lavery (Gloversville).
