Knoch’s Gourley earns POY honors from state coaches association

By: Michael Love
Monday, July 1, 2019 | 8:41 PM

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Knoch senior shortstop Monica Gourley has been selected the state’s Class 4A Softball Player of the Year by the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association.

Gourley was the only WPIAL player to earn the player of the year recognition in the six PIAA classifications.

Each candidate for the player-of-the-year designation and all-state teams was nominated, and from those nominations, the committee made their selections.

Gourley, a Saint Vincent commit, helped the Knights go undefeated in Section 3, finish third in the WPIAL playoffs and earn a trip to states.

Often in the leadoff spot in the batting order, Gourley hit .602 with 33 runs scored and 15 RBIs. She aided Knoch’s 7-2 win over Thomas Jefferson in the WPIAL third-place game with a triple and two RBIs.

Knoch, which saw its season come to an end with a loss to District 10 champion Grove City in the PIAA first round, finished 18-3 overall.

Gourley’s Knights teammate, junior pitcher Amanda Fischer, was selected to the Class 4A all-star squad.

WPIAL All-State selections

Class 6A

First Team

Emma Hoffner, senior, catcher, Hempfield

Lindsay Schmidt, junior, third base, Canon-McMillan

Gianna Sciullo, sophomore, outfield, Bethel Park

Laura Fox, senior, outfield, Hempfield

Kearson Wagner, junior, outfield, Seneca Valley

Grace Swigart, junior, outfield, Upper St. Clair

Kayla Miehl, junior, designated hitter, Bethel Park

Second Team

Karli Hacker, senior, catcher, Seneca Valley

Zoe Malone, junior, second base, Upper St. Clair

Reagan Milliken, sophomore, shortstop, Bethel Park

Salena Jaquay, junior, designated hitter, Baldwin

Claire Zimmerman, senior, pitcher, Seneca Valley

Addie Tagg, senior, pitcher, Baldwin

Class 5A

First Team

Britney Wilson, junior, catcher, West Allegheny

Maddie Flowers, senior, second base, Albert Gallatin

Brooke Cleland, sophomore, outfield, Penn-Trafford

Maddy Hershberger, junior, utility, Albert Gallatin

Second Team

Emma Armstrong, senior, first base, Penn-Trafford

Lindsey Penz, senior, shortstop, Montour

Annalise Paoli, junior, shortstop, Albert Gallatin

Bailey Bell, senior, outfield, Trinity

Class 4A

First Team

POY – Monica Gourley, senior, shortstop, Knoch

Kim Kuzma, senior, catcher, Ambridge

Haleigh Karcher, senior, catcher, Thomas Jefferson

Mary Smithnosky, sophomore, outfield, Mt. Pleasant

Alex Bupp, senior, outfield, Ambridge

Carolyn Alincic, senior, pitcher, Mt. Pleasant

Kierra Waywood, senior, pitcher, Yough

Second Team

Haylee Holman, junior, first base, Ambridge

Mackenzie Zang, junior, third base, Thomas Jefferson

Taylor Ludwick, senior, outfield, Elizabeth Forward

Kailey Larcinese, sophomore, pitcher, Elizabeth Forward

Amanda Fischer, junior, pitcher, Knoch

Class 3A

First Team

Lea Coffman, senior, catcher, Burrell

Kayla Santucci, senior, second base, Burrell

Sarah Helffrich, senior, utility, Avonworth

Second Team

Maya Kozup, senior, outfield, Avonworth

Class 2A

First Team

Trisha Speicher, senior, catcher, Freedom

Lauren Lober, senior, second base, Chartiers-Houston

Kaci Alderson, junior, shortstop, Chartiers-Houston

Nina Gradey, junior, shortstop, Serra Catholic

Kathryn Barch, junior, third base, Frazier

Bella Hess, freshman, outfield, Chartiers-Houston

Neleh Nogay, freshman, outfield, Neshannock

Elizabeth Arnold, senior, pitcher, Vincentian

Logan Hartman, junior, pitcher, Frazier

Second Team

Brin Hunter, senior, catcher, McGuffey

Hannah Calderaro, freshman, second base, Vincentian

Karlyn Bayer, junior, third base, Chartiers-Houston

Kayla Ruperto, senior, pitcher, Laurel

Kylie Sinn, junior, pitcher, Carmichaels

Class A

First Team

Kaitlyn Rizor, senior, shortstop, West Greene

Madison Lampe, senior, third base, West Greene

McKenna Lampe, senior, outfield, West Greene

Madison Telegraphis, senior, outfield, Monessen

Jade Renner, junior, pitcher, West Greene

Second Team

Mackenzie Carpenter, senior, outfield, West Greene

Jersey Wise, sophomore, outfield, West Greene

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Albert Gallatin, Ambridge, Avonworth, Baldwin, Bethel Park, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Elizabeth Forward, Frazier, Freedom, Hempfield, Knoch, Laurel, McGuffey, Monessen, Montour, Mt. Pleasant, Neshannock, Penn-Trafford, Seneca Valley, Serra Catholic, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity, Upper St. Clair, Vincentian Academy, West Allegheny, West Greene, Yough