2014 MSA Sports Diamond Dolls Softball All-Star Team

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 | 12:20 PM

It doesn’t matter whether it was in the biggest classification of the WPIAL, or the smallest. There was an abundance of talent in district softball this season, evidenced by the MSA Sports Diamond Dolls all-star team.

The Diamond Dolls team is made up of the top 10 players in the WPIAL and is picked by the MSA Sports staff. This is one of the most balanced Diamond Dolls teams, in terms of talent spread out over all four classifications.

Two of the players are from Class AAAA, two from Class AAA, two from Class AA and four from Class A. Seven of the 10 players were in WPIAL title games.

Here is a look at the MSA Sports Diamond Dolls team as well as the Player of the Year.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CASEY FARKASOVSKY, BEAVER
PITCHER – SOPHOMORE

Farkasovky doesn’t cut an imposing figure on the mound. She is only 5 feet 3. But her contributions to Beaver’s team were immeasurable.

Beaver won its first WPIAL softball title in school history and Farkasovsky was the driving force, both with her pitching and with her bat. Despite being only a 10^th-grader, she turned into the leader of the Bobcats, helping the team win the Class AA crown with a perfect record.

In three WPIAL playoff games, Farkasovsky gave up only one run and she shut out Deer Lakes, 2-0, in the title game. For the season, Farkasovsky was 15-1 and had 131 strikeouts. She shut out eight opponents. Beaver didn’t lose until the PIAA quarterfinals.

Farkasovsky was also a force at the plate. She tied a school record with eight home runs. The old record that was set by … Farkasovsky as a freshman. She had a .403 batting average with 14 extra base hits and 22 RBIs. Her slugging percentage was .992.

ABBY McCARTNEY, CANON-MCMILLAN
CENTER FIELDER-JUNIOR

One of the best non-pitcher players in the WPIAL. She is a tremendous all-around player. She helped Canon-McMillan to the WPIAL Class AAAA final by batting .575. She is a terrific power hitter who had a slugging percentage of 1.191. She had 12 home runs, two triples, five doubles and 45 RBIs.

BRIANNA DOBSON, SHALER
PITCHER – SOPHOMORE

Dobson is the only sophomore pitcher on the Diamond Dolls team. She gave a Titanic effort this season, helping the Shaler Titans win the WPIAL Class AAAA championship. She was not an overpowering pitcher, but still very effective. She had a 17-4 record with 92 strikeouts and a 1.32 ERA. She also was a terrific hitter, finishing with a .514 average, nine home runs, 10 doubles and 29 RBIs.

PAIGE FLORE, WEST MIFFLIN
PITCHER – SENIOR

Flore is a good athlete. She was a starter on the West Mifflin girls basketball team that made it to the WPIAL semifinals. But she was at her best in softball and is a Slippery Rock University recruit. Flore was 15-2 with a 0.90 ERA for a team that made it to the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals. She led West Mifflin to a second consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance after not making the playoffs for 15 years. She had 153 strikeouts and batted better than .300.

RACHEL BOWERS, THOMAS JEFFERSON
SHORTSTOP – JUNIOR

What a turnaround story for the Jaguars. They won only three games a year ago, and this year won the WPIAL Class AAA championship. Bowers was a big reason for the turnaround. She led the team in hitting with a .413 average and had three hits in the WPIAL title game. She was the ultimate leadoff hitter. She struck out only three times all year. Her father, Robert, is Peters Township’s coach.

TIFFANY EDWARDS, DEER LAKES
PITCHER – JUNIOR

Edwards led the Lancers to an appearance in the WPIAL Class AA title game for the third consecutive season. They finished runner-up to Beaver. Edwards was 17-2 with an ERA of 1.87. She struck out 120. Edwards also batted .485 with three home runs and 20 RBIs.

CONNOR McGAFFIC, SOUTH SIDE BEAVER
FIRST BASEMAN, SHORTSTOP – SOPHOMORE

This should tell you how good McGaffic is. She made a verbal commitment to Pitt before her freshman year. McGaffic was one of the best hitters in the WPIAL – for average and for power. She hit .590 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs for a team that made it to the WPIAL Class A final game.

MADISON SHAFFER, NESHANNOCK
PITCHER – JUNIOR

Neshannock has won two consecutive WPIAL Class A championships and Shaffer has won 36 games in those two years. She finished with a 15-1 record this year and 80 strikeouts after going 21-3 as a sophomore. Shaffer also hit around .400 this season.

ERICA BURNS, CARMICHAELS
PITCHER-JUNIOR

Burns burned a number of hitters this season. The ace of the Mikes had a 14-3 record and struck out 160. It was hard to score on her as she had a 0.69 ERA. But Burns also was a force as a hitter, finishing with a .482 batting average.

MADISON LUDROSKY, JEFFERSON-MORGAN
PITCHER-JUNIOR

Ludrosky fueled the Rockets to a highly successful season as they made it to the WPIAL Class A semifinals. She was 14-2 with 146 strikeouts and had a 1.52 ERA.

Tags: Beaver, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Deer Lakes, Jefferson-Morgan, West Mifflin