SOFTBALL: WAVERLY'S HAMMOND NAMED TIOGA COUNTY SPORTS REPORT 'PLAYER OF THE YEAR' (2019-06-23)
2019 All-Tioga County Softball Team Tioga County Sport ReportTIOGA COUNTY — It’s been a while since Tioga County has seen a pitcher who is as dominant with her bat as she is with her arm. With a powerful arm and equally powerful bat, Waverly’s Wendi Hammond, was not only the hands-down choice to become the first
Tioga County Sports Report “Softball Player of the Year,†but also the
“Offensive Player of the Year†and
“Pitcher of the Year.â€In the circle, the Division I-bound senior led the Wolverines with an 18-3 record, posting a 0.57 ERA. She registered a school-record 259 strikeouts in 123 2/3 innings, walking just 15 batters and giving up 47 hits. Opponents hit just .129. She hurled four no-hitters, also a school-record, and was also part of a combined no-hitter.
At the plate, Hammond hit .532 (33-for-62) with 21 extra-base hits, including a school-record 14 home runs. She also scored a school-record 51 runs and drove in 37 more. Hammond walked 23 times for an on-base percentage of .670, to go along with a 1.355 slugging percentage, and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 2.025. She also had 15 stolen bases.
Jennah Kareem, the
“Defensive Player of the Year,†anchored a solid infield on a Candor team that earned IAC Division I first-team honors at three of the four positions. The junior played the shortstop position as well as anyone in the IAC and led the Indians to a 12-3 division record and a 17-5 overall mark.
It is said defense wins championships, but it has also been stated that the best defense is a good offense. Kareem also contributed to that adage with a team-high .514 batting average (38-for-74). She also led the team in runs (40), RBI (32), extra-base hits (15), walks (17) and on-base percentage (.681) and tied for the team lead in hits.
There were several quality first-year players in Tioga County this season, including four on the Candor team alone. Indians catcher Addie Aman edged out the others as the
“Newcomer of the Year.†The freshman was consistent behind the plate even though she had to catch two pitchers with differing styles. Offensively, she hit .400 (38-for-85), tying for the team lead in hits. She also scored 33 runs, 26 RBI, had seven extra-base hits (including five home runs) and posted a .546 on-base percentage.
Waverly’s Brian Wendela is the
“Coach of the Year,†securing that honor after guiding his squad to a 10-0 record in IAC Division 3 and an 18-5 overall record. The Wolverines won division, league and Section IV Class B championships and advanced to the state quarterfinals, falling to the eventual state runner-up.
2019 All-Tioga County Softball TeamPlayer of the Year — Wendi Hammond, senior, Waverly
Offensive Player of the Year — Wendi Hammond, senior, Waverly
Defensive Player of the Year — Jennah Kareem, junior, Candor
Pitcher of the Year — Wendi Hammond, senior, Waverly
Newcomer of the Year — Addie Aman, freshman, Candor
Coach of the Year — Brian Wendela, Waverly
Pitcher — Wendi Hammond, senior, Waverly (IAC Division 3 first team)
Pitcher — Chelsea Sellars, senior, Owego
Pitcher — Kindra Wessels, sophomore, Tioga (IAC Division 2 first team)
Pitcher — Anna Greeno, freshman, Candor (IAC Division 1 honorable mention)
Catcher — Miki Worzel, senior, Owego (STAC Metro first team)
First Base — Shelby Swartz, freshman, Candor (IAC Division 1 first team)
Second Base — Grace Thomas, senior, Owego
Third Base — Searra Allen, senior, Candor (IAC Division 1 first team)
Shortstop — Jennah Kareem, junior, Candor (IAC Division 1 first team)
Infield — Olivia Ayres, sophomore, Tioga (IAC Division 2 first team)
Outfield — Summer Pierce, senior, Owego
Outfield — Abby Shirley, senior, Owego
Outfield — Asia Curkendall, sophomore, Candor (IAC Division 1 honorable mention)
Outfield — Austyn Vance, freshman, Tioga (IAC Division 2 honorable mention)
Designated Player — Riley Hall, senior, Waverly (IAC Division 3 first team)
Utility — Marissa Berghorn, junior, Newark Valley (IAC Division 3 first team)
Honorable MentionCatcher — Addie Aman, freshman, Candor (IAC Division 1 first team)
Second Base — Giovanna Rossi, junior, Tioga (IAC Division 2 honorable mention)
Third Base — Hannah Harmon, senior, S-VE (IAC Division 2 first team)
Shortstop — Emma Howe, senior, Owego
Infield — Allie Wandell, sophomore, Newark Valley (IAC Division 3 first team)
Outfield — Anna Felice, senior, Owego
Utility — Madison Sousa, senior, S-VE (IAC Division 2 first team)
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IAC All-stars
First Team
Division 1
Jennah Kareem, junior, Candor, shortstop
Searra Allen, senior, Candor, third base
Addie Aman, freshman, Candor, catcher
Shelby Swartz, freshman, Candor, pitcher/first base
Division 2
Kindra Wessels, sophomore, Tioga, pitcher
Olivia Ayres, sophomore, Tioga, shortstop
Michaela Webb, junior, Tioga, catcher
Madison Sousa, senior, S-VE, catcher
Division 3
Wendi Hammond, senior, Waverly, pitcher
Riley Hall, senior, Waverly, catcher
Paige Lewis, junior, Waverly, first base
Hali Jenner, sophomore, Waverly, third base
Allie Wandell, sophomore, Newark Valley, shortstop
Marissa Berghorn, junior, Newark Valley, catcher
Honorable Mention
Division 1
Asia Curkendall, sophomore, Candor, center field
Anna Greeno, freshman, Candor, pitcher
Division 2
Giovanna Rossi, sophomore, Tioga
Julia Bellis, freshman, Tioga
Austyn Vance, freshman, Tioga
Rhianna Lawrence, freshman, S-VE, pitcher
Hannah Harmon, senior, S-VE, third base
Division 3
Kari Van Allen, senior, Waverly, outfield
Morgan Adams, junior, Waverly, shortstop
Cassidy Hoffmeir, junior, Newark Valley, pitcher
April Simmons, junior, Newark Valley, second base
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IN PHOTO: Waverly’s Wendi Hammond.