Fridey, Plimpton named softball All-Americans
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

2006 Western New York Player of the year Michelle Fridey was named Third Team All-American. File photo

The efforts of catcher Michelle Fridey and pitcher Chelsea Plimpton leading the Williamsville South varsity softball team to its third New York State title since 2000 have not gone unnoticed.

Both were recently named to the Second Team Louisville Slugger/ National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School All-American team. Both also earned All-East Region First Team honors.

It's not the first time Plimpton has been named All-American. When South won a state title in 2004, Plimpton and 2005 graduate Dana Carter made the Third Team while Fridey earned Second Team All-East Coast honors.

South head coach Gerry Gentner thinks the Lady Billies are the only Western New York team to have any player named All-American. "It's a real honor for the kids,"

said Gentner. "We have a pretty nice reputation state wide and a very competitive program. It's improved the overall perception of Western New York softball too."

Fridey, who will attend Division I Liberty University this fall on a full scholarship, closed out her five-year high school career this past spring batting .571 with seven home runs, six doubles, 33 RBIs, 36 runs scored, and a .938 slugging percentage.

2006 New York State Class A Pitcher of the Year Chelsea Plimpton was named All-American for the second time in her high school career. File photo

The 2006 Western New York Player of the Year set nine South single season and career records, including a state record 64 hits.

Fridey also became the second softball player in state history to have over 200 hits, finishing with 207, good enough for second all-time. She also had a 35-game hit streak from 2005-06.

Fridey was named East Coast All-Star in 2004 and 2005.

Locally, Fridey was named All-WNY three times and All-ECIC four times.

In his nomination form, Gentner called Fridey Western New York's "best player ever."

"She is big (and) strong (with) outstanding foot speed (and is) an incredible offensive and defensive player," he added.

Plimpton, the 2006 Class A New York State Player of the Year, finished her junior year with a single season state record 411 strikeouts and three perfect games, including one over Susquehanna Valley in the James "Ace" Morabito Softball Tournament and another over Maryvale in the Section VI finals. The soon-to-be-senior went 27-3, threw four no-hitters and had a 0.14 ERA.

She currently has a 47-game league winning streak and owns the top two state records for most strikeouts in one game (23 in '05, 22 in '06). She has the fourth lowest single season ERA in state history (0.10, 2005).

In her high school career, Plimpton has faced 2,053 batters, allowed only 33 walks and amassed a 83-5 record.

In nominating her, Gentner described Plimpton as a "once in a lifetime player."

"She has five pitches that she can throw in any situation - screw, rise, drop, change, curve," he added.

Plimpton has been named Western New York Pitcher of the Year from 2004 to 2006 and has been on the All-WNY and All-ECIC teams in that same timeframe.

At the plate this spring, she hit .337 with a .480 slugging percentage and 25 RBIs.

Fridey's and Plimpton's stats match up with several All-Americans who made the first team.

Fridey's stats are close to this year's Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year, Stacie Chambers of Cactus, Ariz. (.483, 12 home runs, 10 doubles, 38 RBIs, and 43 runs scored) and Starla Guffey of St. Amant in Louisiana (.473, 15 home runs, eight doubles, 44 RBIs, 40 runs scored, and .639 on-base percentage).

Plimpton threw almost twice as many strikeouts and nine more shutouts than First Team All-American selection, Alex Hupp of Olathe East in Kansas City. Plimpton also finished all 30 games she threw while Hupp completed only 15 of 20.

Second Team selection Katie Holverson of Cactus, Ariz. had a 0.49 ERA with 344 strikeouts and completed 24 of 29 starts.

Plimpton's stats are also similar to Gatorade National Player of the Year and First Team All-American Kristen Shortridge of Keller, Texas (32-3, 0.23 ERA, 23 shutouts, eight runs allowed, 60 hits, finished all 35 games). Plimpton allowed five runs and 58 hits.

"I think their stats are certainly competitive with the top players out there," said Gentner. "I think the recognition with softball traditionally has been a West Coast thing, California teams. Our kids are legitimately catching up."

Gentner also said his coaching staff is up for a national award. He said five coaching staffs are selected from each region. Gentner, the Class A New York State Coach of The Year, said he will find out Sept. 1 if South has won. It is the first time South's coaching

staff has been nominated. e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com