RSS Feed
|
|
Links: |
 |
Bee Home Page |
|
WNY Events |
|
Classifieds |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Plimpton, South want another state title
Plimpton, the reigning New York State Class "A" Player of the Year, was the winning pitcher on South's 2004 and 2006 state championship teams and has already signed a National Letter of Intent to play in the Big East with St. John's University on a full academic and athletic scholarship. South coach Gerry Gentner calls Plimpton "a once in a lifetime pitcher" and looking at her incredible statistics, it's easy to see why. She holds every South pitching record by a landslide including 1,020 strikeouts ('02 graduate Hilary South is second with 377), 60 shutouts (closest is '01 grad Kara Eyre with 17), 12 no-hitters (Eyre and '98 grad Elisa Brinkworth each had three) and nine perfect games ('01 grad Kara Eye had one). Plimpton has a career record of 83-5, which included a 50-game winning streak through her freshman and sophomore seasons. Last season, Plimpton set a single season state record for most strikeouts in a season with 411 and came one strikeout short of tying her 2005 record for most strikeouts in a single game of 23 with 22. In total, she is in the state record books in 11 different categories, including career shutouts, perfect games, no-hitters, strikeouts, ERA, and wins, and should break most of them this season, if not place in the top three. She's also twice been named a National Louisville Slugger All-American (second team in 2006, third team in 2004), as well as a three-time All-State first team, Western New York Pitcher of the Year, All-Western New York first team and All-ECIC first team selection. With these kinds of mind-boggling stats, what does Plimpton have left to prove? "Probably win states again," said Plimpton. "If we go again and we don't win, I'll be devastated. The personal awards don't really mean anything." Plimpton doesn't over power batters but what makes her stand out is unbelievable control. She's only walked 33 out of 2,053 batters. "She blows them away without overpowering," said Gentner. "There are a reasonable number of girls around Western New York who are as fast as her but she has the best movement of anybody around and a total command of her change, drop, screw, curve, and rise ball in any particular situation." Plimpton can't explain her mental toughness other than saying she's a very competitive person. But once she gets on the mound and her competitive juices flow, she transforms from a sweet 5-foot-7 happy-go-lucky high school senior into a feared pitcher. "If I do lose, I get very upset," said Plimpton. "I want to win. I could be friends with players on other teams but when we play them, I don't like them. Winning is the only option." She's also improved her game the last three years through her travel team, TC Tremors Gold, out of Binghamton, which have gone to showcases for college scouts all over the country. St. John's picked Plimpton after seeing her play in Colorado. Gentner also said Plimpton will probable be the team's top hitter as well. Plimpton is one three South captains. The other two captains are senior shortstop/catcher Lisa Fronczak, a four-year starter, and junior second baseman Lauren Falzone, a three-year starter, who Gentner thinks have All-WNY potential. Fronczak, the team's co-defensive player of the year, was second in batting average (.409) and was named to the All-ECIC first team. Gentner thinks Fronczak, the team's unsung hero, is a quiet leader with outstanding offensive skills. Falzone, a lefty slap hitter with great speed, batted .327 and was an All-ECIC first team selection. Other returning players include seniors Claire Gerlach (outfield), Nicolette Neenos (outfielder/infielder), Robin Donovan (catcher/ outfield), Elena Hozdic (outfielder/ infielder), junior Carolyn Schaus (third base), and sophomores Sam Strapason (first base) and Devon Powers (infield/outfield). Gerlach, an ECIC Division III all-star, set a career South record last season with nine RBIs in one game which is second all-time in the state. She's also a strong defensive player. "I'm looking for her to have an outstanding senior year," said Gentner. Neenos, who batted .298 last year, has the ability to make a major contribution as a starter, said Gentner. Donovan, an ECIC III second team selection, batted .286. Hozdic hit. 229. Schaus, a two-year starter, hit .318 and was named an ECIC III all-star. "She has the talent to be All-Western New York," said Gentner of Schaus. "She plays third base with great courage. She's a brick wall on defense." Strapason, an ECIC III second team selection, has great vision at first base and is a smart, aggressive player, said Gentner. Powers, a callup from the JV for the playoffs, will compete for a starting position, stated Gentner. Senior Ashley Aurilio and junior Stephanie Shahin make their varsity debuts. Aurilio and Shahin will vie for starting positions in the outfield and infield, respectively. "Ashley's strong point is her hitting," said Gentner. "Stephanie has a strong arm with above average speed." South finished 27-3 last year and won its ninth straight league and fourth consecutive Depew Tournament and Section VI titles. They gave up the least number of runs in a season in school history with 15 and head into this season on a 47-game win streak in league play. South won its 48th straight after beating Hamburg, 11-0, on Monday. Highlights will appear in the April 11 edition.
The team will also have its entire coaching staff back for its ninth straight season. They are Gerry Gentner, Al Monaco, Bob Gentner and Roy Ciarmella. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
News
)