Knoch’s Gourley earns POY honors from state coaches association
By:
Monday, July 1, 2019 | 8:41 PM
Knoch senior shortstop Monica Gourley has been selected the state’s Class 4A Softball Player of the Year by the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association.
Gourley was the only WPIAL player to earn the player of the year recognition in the six PIAA classifications.
Each candidate for the player-of-the-year designation and all-state teams was nominated, and from those nominations, the committee made their selections.
Gourley, a Saint Vincent commit, helped the Knights go undefeated in Section 3, finish third in the WPIAL playoffs and earn a trip to states.
Often in the leadoff spot in the batting order, Gourley hit .602 with 33 runs scored and 15 RBIs. She aided Knoch’s 7-2 win over Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL third-place game with a triple and two RBIs.
Knoch, which saw its season come to an end with a loss to District 10 champion Grove City in the PIAA first round, finished 18-3 overall.
Gourley’s Knights teammate, junior pitcher Amanda Fischer, was selected to the Class 4A all-star squad.
WPIAL All-State selections
Class 6A
First Team
Emma Hoffner, senior, catcher, Hempfield
Lindsay Schmidt, junior, third base, Canon-McMillan
Gianna Sciullo, sophomore, outfield, Bethel Park
Laura Fox, senior, outfield, Hempfield
Kearson Wagner, junior, outfield, Seneca Valley
Grace Swigart, junior, outfield, Upper St. Clair
Kayla Miehl, junior, designated hitter, Bethel Park
Second Team
Karli Hacker, senior, catcher, Seneca Valley
Zoe Malone, junior, second base, Upper St. Clair
Reagan Milliken, sophomore, shortstop, Bethel Park
Salena Jaquay, junior, designated hitter, Baldwin
Claire Zimmerman, senior, pitcher, Seneca Valley
Addie Tagg, senior, pitcher, Baldwin
Class 5A
First Team
Britney Wilson, junior, catcher, West Allegheny
Maddie Flowers, senior, second base, Albert Gallatin
Brooke Cleland, sophomore, outfield, Penn-Trafford
Maddy Hershberger, junior, utility, Albert Gallatin
Second Team
Emma Armstrong, senior, first base, Penn-Trafford
Lindsey Penz, senior, shortstop, Montour
Annalise Paoli, junior, shortstop, Albert Gallatin
Bailey Bell, senior, outfield, Trinity
Class 4A
First Team
POY – Monica Gourley, senior, shortstop, Knoch
Kim Kuzma, senior, catcher, Ambridge
Haleigh Karcher, senior, catcher, Thomas Jefferson
Mary Smithnosky, sophomore, outfield, Mt. Pleasant
Alex Bupp, senior, outfield, Ambridge
Carolyn Alincic, senior, pitcher, Mt. Pleasant
Kierra Waywood, senior, pitcher, Yough
Second Team
Haylee Holman, junior, first base, Ambridge
Mackenzie Zang, junior, third base, Thomas Jefferson
Taylor Ludwick, senior, outfield, Elizabeth Forward
Kailey Larcinese, sophomore, pitcher, Elizabeth Forward
Amanda Fischer, junior, pitcher, Knoch
Class 3A
First Team
Lea Coffman, senior, catcher, Burrell
Kayla Santucci, senior, second base, Burrell
Sarah Helffrich, senior, utility, Avonworth
Second Team
Maya Kozup, senior, outfield, Avonworth
Class 2A
First Team
Trisha Speicher, senior, catcher, Freedom
Lauren Lober, senior, second base, Chartiers-Houston
Kaci Alderson, junior, shortstop, Chartiers-Houston
Nina Gradey, junior, shortstop, Serra Catholic
Kathryn Barch, junior, third base, Frazier
Bella Hess, freshman, outfield, Chartiers-Houston
Neleh Nogay, freshman, outfield, Neshannock
Elizabeth Arnold, senior, pitcher, Vincentian
Logan Hartman, junior, pitcher, Frazier
Second Team
Brin Hunter, senior, catcher, McGuffey
Hannah Calderaro, freshman, second base, Vincentian
Karlyn Bayer, junior, third base, Chartiers-Houston
Kayla Ruperto, senior, pitcher, Laurel
Kylie Sinn, junior, pitcher, Carmichaels
Class A
First Team
Kaitlyn Rizor, senior, shortstop, West Greene
Madison Lampe, senior, third base, West Greene
McKenna Lampe, senior, outfield, West Greene
Madison Telegraphis, senior, outfield, Monessen
Jade Renner, junior, pitcher, West Greene
Second Team
Mackenzie Carpenter, senior, outfield, West Greene
Jersey Wise, sophomore, outfield, West Greene
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
Tags: Albert Gallatin, Ambridge, Avonworth, Baldwin, Bethel Park, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Elizabeth Forward, Frazier, Freedom, Hempfield, Knoch, Laurel, McGuffey, Monessen, Montour, Mt. Pleasant, Neshannock, Penn-Trafford, Seneca Valley, Serra Catholic, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity, Upper St. Clair, Vincentian Academy, West Allegheny, West Greene, Yough
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