Top ballplayers honored with Dirty Dozen awards
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
The votes have been counted and the 2021 Mon Valley Independent-BeeGraphix Dirty Dozen baseball and softball all-star teams are ready for release for the first time in two seasons.
This year brought many challenges to MVI sports staff, players, coaches and fans alike, but the best part of it was that our spring sport athletes got a chance to play the games they love. After COVID-19 shut down the 2020 season, a whole new group of players entered the game. Sophomores that made their debut were a little behind the proverbial 8-ball after missing those important freshman seasons with their teams.
Teams suffered mass losses to graduations as the Class of 2020 faded away without the chance to take part in what could have been promising seasons. Teams missed out on the chance to defend PIAA and WPIAL titles, but still, they perservered.
As a staff, there were so many new players we weren’t quite familiar with right away because of the lost 2020 season. As hard as it was for the media, it was just as hard for coaches.
Congratulations go out to all of our spring sports teams and coaching staffs for battling and grinding through the pandemic, all the regulations and managing to put it all together for a memorable season. All of us here with Team MVI and MVI Live salute you.
Let’s get to the award winners!
Baseball Player of the Year
Payton Conte, California
Conte was a force for the Trojans, serving as their top pitcher and their top run producer in the lineup. The senior finished with a .449 batting average. He led the team with 22 hits, slugging five doubles and a home run to go along with 19 RBIs. On the mound, Conte led the team with a 3.55 earned run average. He led the team in innings pitched and strikeouts with 39.
Honorable mention: Ethan Rendulic (South Allegheny), Matt Bisceglia (Serra Catholic), Dom DeMoss (Serra Catholic).
Softball Players of the Year
Rylee Evans, Frazier
Anna Resnik, Eliz. Forward
Evans, a Class 2A All-State selection, led the Commodores with a .500 average while hammering five home runs. She led the Commodores with 31 RBIs. A third of her 33 hits went for extra bases. She only struck out four times in 74 plate appearances. Evans was the consummate leader for a young, but talented, Commoodores squad both vocally and with her play. She’ll continue playing in college at St. Francis University.
Resnik was the model of consistency at the top of the Warriors lineup. She hit a blazing .569 through 22 games with five home runs and 24 RBIs. She also scored 31 runs to lead the team. In 83 plate appearances, she only struck out three times. Playing shortstop is no easy task, but the Robert Morris recruit finished the season with a .926 fielding percentage.
Honorable mention: Madison Pikula (South Allegheny), Kaylyn Odelli (Yough), Jensyn Hartman (Frazier).
Breakthrough Player of the Year
Baseball – Joey Campbell, Charleroi
Softball – Nicole Palmer, Frazier
Missing his freshman season didn’t seem like a bother to Campbell. The Charleroi product hit a scorching .481 in his sophomore season and led the Cougars with 26 hits. While most of his hits were singles, Campbell was arguably the most consistent performer for head coach Luke Mollis’ squad.
Palmer was a question mark coming into the Commodores lineup in her freshman season. But as head coach Don Hartman said, “She’s not a freshman, she’s a pitcher.” Palmer quickly won the trust of her head coach and became the No. 1 arm for Frazier. She won her first 12 starts before finishing the season 12-3 overall. The losses were against Laurel (2) and one against Ligonier Valley. She tossed 87 innings and struck out 110 hitters this season with a 2.08 ERA.
Honorable mention: Emma Augustine (Yough), Caroline Malandra (Serra Catholic), Lexi Daniels (Belle Vernon), McKenna DeUnger (Charleroi).
Coach of the Year
Baseball – Brian Dzurenda, Serra Catholic
Softball – Don Hartman, Frazier
Both coaches overcame significant losses due to graduation, but were able to rally young teams to make long playoff runs.
Serra Catholic finished the season 21-5 overall with a 9-1 mark in Section 3-2A. The Eagles beat Carmichaels in the WPIAL consolation game to reach the PIAA state playoffs where they reached the semifinals, losing to WPIAL champion Shenango.
Honorable mention: Dennis Reist, South Allegheny
Frazier overcame massive losses due to graduation and managed to run the table in Section 3-2A under Hartman’s guidance. Young talent sprinkled in with key senior leadership proved to be a winning formula. The Commodores reached the WPIAL semifinals and advanced to the state playoffs in a season that is among the best in Hartman’s storied coaching career.
Honorable mention: Jenn Stockett (South Allegheny), Trey Tilghman (Charleroi), Harry Rutherford (Elizabeth Forward.)
Pitcher of the Year
Baseball – Zach Karp, Serra Catholic
Softball – Kailey Larcinese, Elizabeth Forward
Karp was the arm that led Serra Catholic in its run. His best performance of the season came as the Eagles avenged a 12-0 loss to Seton LaSalle in the WPIAL semifinals, beating the Rebels by a 4-1 margin in the state quarterfinals. While he struggled a bit early in the season, he pitched all the big games for Serra and teamed with Max Rocco to provide a 1-2 punch that was tough to beat. His spin and command were instrumental in the Eagles’ success this season. He struck out 61 batters compared to only 10 walks in 55 innings pitched.
Honorable mention: Payton Conte (California), Jacob Piktel (California), Jorden Rhodes (South Allegheny).
Larcinese was 17-3 for Elizabeth Forward, despite battling a back injury late in the season. The Towson recruit struck out 188 batters in her senior season and surpassed the 500 career strikeout mark. She allowed only 26 runs, 52 hits and only 15 earned runs in over 120 innings. Her ERA was a staggering 0.87.
Honorable mention: Nicole Palmer (Frazier), Kylie Quigley (Charleroi), Emma Augustine (Yough).
Excellence in Leadership
Baseball – Garrett Greco, Belle Vernon
Softball – Kaylyn Odelli, Yough
Greco battled through a back injury most of the season for the Leopards, finishing with only 34 plate appearances. But that didn’t stop the Gardner Webb recruit from making an impact for BVA. In his limited time, he finished with a .448 batting average, but it was off the field where he shined. Even though he was injured, he was on the bench, serving as another member of head coach Tony Watson’s staff. He talked strategy with his teammates and could often be seen discussing the game he was seeing with his coaches.
Honorable mention: Chase Hazelbaker (Frazier), Preston Zandier (Thomas Jefferson), Donovan Von Fradenburgh (Belle Vernon), Zach Usher (Charleroi).
Odelli was the battery that made Yough’s softball team go. She did it on the field and off the field. She goes by the nickname “Dirt” because she often had the dirtiest uniform on the squad. The Cougars’ catcher excelled on the field and in the classroom, tutoring any classmate that needed it. Yough head coach Dutch Harvey put it best. “She’s the type of player that runs through fences, walls … she never lacks hustle, passion or the will to win. You don’t get a nickname like “Dirt” without that factor. She never missed a practice, game or any other event in her career.”
Honorable mention: Rylee Evans (Frazier), Kailey Larcinese (Elizabeth Forward).
Team of the Year
Baseball – Serra Catholic (21-5, 9-1) WPIAL semifinalist, PIAA semifinalist.
Softball – South Allegheny (12-6, 7-3) WPIAL quarterfinalist. Top to bottom, one of the toughest lineups in the WPIAL in arguably the toughest section joining Mt. Pleasant, Waynesburg Central and Southmoreland.
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