Valley News Dispatch softball all-stars: Dani Pici packs punch for Plum

By: Michael Love
Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 5:53 PM

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Player of the Year

Dani Pici

Sr., C, Plum

Dani Pici brought the power this spring for a Plum team that made its mark with the bat.

The senior catcher fronted the Mustangs with 11 home runs among her team-leading 36 hits.

“The previous three (varsity) seasons, I had about five each year,” Pici said. “As a freshman, I had a goal of hitting at least 10 home runs as a senior, and I was very proud that I accomplished that. As a team, we did weight training during the season, and that definitely helped with our hitting. Whether it was a home run or any other hit, I just wanted to do whatever I could to help my team win.”

Pici did just that.

She batted a team-best .507 (36 for 71) with 35 RBIs and 20 runs scored. She added six doubles and two triples to her 11 home runs.

It wasn’t just her exploits with the bat that made a difference as her veteran presence behind the plate made opposing offenses wary of her arm, and her leadership helped keep her teammates focused and their heads level during the most harrowing of circumstances.

“I definitely enjoyed having that leadership role,” Pici said. “When I was younger, I always looked up to the older kids. During and after the season, I’ve had so many young kids come up to me and tell me how much they look up to me.

“When I was little, I never thought that would happen. It made me feel very special, and it helped me realize the responsibility I have to be at my best all the time as I have so many people who count on me to play well and how I work to earn people’s respect.”

Pici’s exploits on and off the field this spring earned the respect of the Plum faithful and the Mustangs’ opposition alike. With that, she has been selected the Valley News Dispatch Softball Player of the Year from a field of candidates that included Knoch freshman phenom Emersyn Jones.

“This season, and really her whole four years, Dani was that player who always was clutch for us,” Plum coach Phil DiLonardo said. “She wasn’t overly vocal, but she was one of those kids whose actions speak louder than her words. She is just an all-around good kid who dedicates herself to being at her best at all times. She puts the work in and just does all the little things. That is the reason she’s had so much success.

“We’re going to really miss her, but I know that Charleston (W.Va.) University is getting a great player who will really help their program succeed.”

Pici delivered 11 multi-hit games this season and collected three or more hits five times as the Mustangs went 14-6 overall and finished third in Section 1-5A behind Shaler and North Hills at 8-4.

She drove in Plum’s lone run with a double in the season finale, a 2-1 Mustangs loss to Chartiers Valley in a WPIAL Class 5A first-round game at West Mifflin.

A two-run homer from Colts standout Lily Duffill was the difference in the pitchers’ duel that saw the teams combine for seven hits.

“Plum definitely never gave up. We kept fighting,” Pici said. “When Lily hit the home run, I remember coming into the dugout and telling the girls that the game wasn’t over. There was still a lot of game left to play. We were down to our final out, but we kept battling and had a chance to tie the game or take the lead.

“That was the way we were all year. We had two walk-off wins, one against North Hills and one against New Castle. Those were two really important section wins. I was proud of the way we played all season.”

Pici will get one more chance to put on her Plum No. 27 jersey and play a high school game on her home field as she takes part in the annual WPIAL all-star game for senior players Tuesday evening.

“I am super excited for this opportunity,” said Pici, who is busy this summer playing for her Gamma Storm travel team.

“Last year, I was at the (inaugural) game working the scoreboard. I had some friends who played last year, and that got me excited to want to be a part of it on the field this year. I am looking forward to playing with all of these amazing girls. I know most of them. It will be an amazing feeling and also pretty emotional to be on my home field one more time. It also will be emotional when I take off my jersey this time knowing that I will never put it on again. But I am excited to see who will wear the jersey next.”

First team

Gabby Chambers

Sr., INF, Highlands

Chambers was a tough out at the plate in her final season with the Golden Rams. She led the team with a .533 average (24 for 45) with 16 RBIs and 17 runs scored. She delivered 10 doubles, a triple and two home runs. Chambers recorded six multi-hit games with a season-best 4-for-4 effort with an RBI in a loss to Indiana.

Pyper Ferres

Sr., SS, Burrell

Now a four-time first-team VND all-star, Ferres was strong in the batter’s box for a Burrell team that remained in playoff contention through the final week of the regular season. She batted .451 with 28 hits, 20 RBIs and 27 runs scored. She also smacked six home runs and 11 doubles. Ferres will play in Tuesday’s WPIAL senior all-star softball game at Plum.

Marlee Fraser

Jr., P/INF, Knoch

Fraser again was a dependable player at the plate and in the pitching circle for the Section 1-4A champion Knights. Also a first-team VND all-star last year, Fraser batted .348 with 13 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 46 at-bats and went 5-1 with a 1.00 ERA and 53 strikeouts against 10 walks in 42 innings pitched.

Jillian Haigh

Soph., P/INF, Fox Chapel

Haigh batted .593, drove in 31 runs and collected 19 extra base hits for a Foxes team that finished 13-7 overall and upset No. 5 Franklin Regional in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. Haigh struck out eight Panthers in the complete-game win. She fashioned a 14-6 record and a 2.52 ERA with 95 strikeouts against just 20 walks in 108 2/3 innings. Haigh was selected to the Section 1-5A all-star first team. She earned VND second-team laurels last year as a freshman.

Emersyn Jones

Fr., SS, Knoch

Jones had a huge breakout varsity debut for the Knights, who won 17 of their 21 games this season. She helped solidify a strong Knights infield while batting a team-best .509 (29 of 57) with 37 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Jones also showed power at the plate with 17 extra base hits, including six doubles and 10 home runs.

Siena Plummer

Jr., OF, Deer Lakes

A rock in center field and at the top of the Lancers lineup, Plummer was at the heart of her team’s run to a WPIAL playoff spot from a competitive Section 1-3A. Plummer batted .388 with a team-leading 16 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Her 26 total hits also were a team best. Plummer added five doubles, two triples and five home runs.

Jocelyn Snyder

Jr., P/1B, Apollo-Ridge

The multi-faceted Vikings varsity veteran got it done at the plate and in the pitching circle. She batted .513 with a team-leading 26 RBIs to go along with 17 runs scored for an Apollo-Ridge team that finished runner-up to South Allegheny in Section 2-2A and topped OLSH in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. Snyder, who battled through back issues this season, also finished with a 3.07 ERA and 72 strikeouts against 29 walks over 43 1/3 innings of work.

Bella Tavella

Sr., OF, Plum

Tavella was a dependable part of a talented outfield unit for the Mustangs and also a dangerous hitter in a lineup that averaged nine runs a game this past spring. The Section 1-5A first-team all-star selection hit for a .379 average (22 of 58) with 17 RBIs and 15 runs scored. She added two home runs and three doubles.

Liana Yusko

Jr., 2B, Plum

Yusko was part of the Plum power company as she doubled eight times and hit eight home runs. The sharp-fielding second baseman batted .429 (33 of 77) with 28 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Yusko recorded five games with three or more hits with a season-best 5-for-5, five-RBI performance in a win over Mars. She also collected five RBIs and hit two home runs in a high-scoring win over Class 4A power Knoch.

Addie Zanotto

Jr., P/INF, Leechburg

The Blue Devils reached the postseason for a WPIAL-record 38th consecutive season, and Zanotto was at the core of her team’s run to the Class A tournament. She finished the season with a .521 average (25 for 48), 24 RBIs and 29 runs scored in 19 games. Fifteen of her 25 hits went for extra bases as she tallied eight doubles, four triples and three home runs. Zanotto was 9-8 in the pitching circle with 110 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings of work.

Second team

Madison Butler, Sr., 3B, Apollo-Ridge

Elizabeth Danik, Jr., OF, Knoch

Laney Dineff, Jr., OF/P, Deer Lakes

Ella Eisner, Soph., INF, Fox Chapel

Madison Gorney, Sr., INF/P, Highlands

Sophia Laurenza, Sr., INF, Deer Lakes

Mackenzie Marotta, Jr., INF/P, Plum

Danica Sopcak, Sr., INF, Leechburg

Riley Stephans, Jr., INF/P, Plum

Bella Stewart, Sr., C, Burrell

Honorable mention

Leah Clark, Soph., OF/P, Freeport

Lily DeLuca, Fr., INF/C, Plum

Mikaila Ditty, Fr., P/Utility, Apollo-Ridge

Grace Hensch, Sr., C, Knoch

Brianna Hnatow, Sr., OF, Fox Chapel

Kyla Hutcherson, Fr., INF, Kiski Area

Brae Jones, Sr., 3B, Burrell

Alyssa Perona, Jr., INF, Kiski Area

Adina Rosen, Sr., OF, Fox Chapel

Carrah Scardina, Sr., INF/OF, Highlands

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.