TribHSSN Softball Player of the Week for games of May 13-18, 2019

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, May 19, 2019 | 11:07 PM

Payton List

School: Beaver

Class: Freshman

The Trib HSSN Softball Player of the Week is Beaver freshman Payton List, whose debut was so good, she rose up to the top of the player of the week list.

List helped the Bobcats win in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A and advance to the quarterfinals Monday to play No. 4 seed South Park.

“The girls are ready to go and have worked hard for this moment,” Beaver coach Amy Haggart said. “I have told them to leave it all on the field and that routine plays win games. This is a great group of girls that feed off the success of each other, and I know they are ready for this next game and ready to come out on top.”

The success of List on Tuesday against Derry helped Beaver come out on top.

List was 3 for 4 with two home runs and seven RBIs in her first high school softball postseason game.

“I believe there were some nerves before the game, but Payton has a way of controlling them and staying focused,” Haggart said. “She plays for a prominent travel organization, which has helped prepare and mold her for these types of situations.”

Even though she’s just wrapping up her ninth grade year, List’s success is no surprise to Haggart.

“My expectations of Payton are high as with all my players,” Haggart said. “She worked hard during conditioning and preseason practices and really proved herself as a key player on this team.”

The Bobcats, winners of five straight, are 13-4 after their playoff victory, and they finished in second place in Section 2-3A behind top-seed Avonworth.

Haggart said her young star has continued to shine over the course of the Bobcats journey.

“She has really improved her mental aspect of the game as well as her hitting. I feel confident that when she is up she will do what she needs to do to help her team. She has gained the respect of her coaches and teammates and has proven herself as a player.”

Honorable mention:

Anna Ferrucci, Ellwood City

Senior Anna Ferrucci enjoyed a perfect start to the postseason. Ferrucci was 4 for 4 with 4 RBI, including a three run homer as the Wolverines were forced to work overtime. Ellwood City won a wild 14-11 shootout over Freeport in the first round on Thursday.

Caitlin Dugan, Jefferson-Morgan

Junior Caitlin Dugan was a force in the batter’s box and in the circle for Jefferson-Morgan in the first round. Dugan had two hits, with two runs scored and two RBIs. She also pitched a one-hitter with nine strikeouts as the Rockets soared past Rochester and into the Class A second round.

Alexis Hrivnak, Springdale

Freshman Alexis Hrivnak made history in her first high school playoff game. Not only did she shutout Quigley Catholic in the first round, she no-hit the Spartans. Hrivnak’s dominant performance has allowed the Dynamos to move on to face Union in the quarterfinals on Monday.

Previous Trib HSSN Softball Players of the Week:

Izzy Farmer, West Mifflin

Madison Slowinski, Freedom

Nina Grandey, Serra Catholic

Jena Hixson, Connellsville

Sydney Calderaro, Vincentian Academy

Maddy Hershberger, Albert Gallatin

Claire Zimmerman, Seneca Valley

This Week’s Trib HSSN Team of the Week – West Allegheny Indians