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VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S HENDERSHOT HEADLINES 'SUPER 7' AS "BASEBALL PLAYER OF YEAR" — SAYRE'S HANAFIN, HORTON, WAVERLY'S HOLLYWOOD, SINDONI, TIOGA'S EVANEK ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2019-06-14)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY "” Tioga senior Pierce Hendershot capped a brilliant career with a strong run in the postseason, leading the Tigers to their third Section IV title in five years, and earning Valley Sports Report's 2019 Baseball "Player of the Year" honors.

Sayre junior Quinn Hanafin is the "Offensive Player of the Year," while Sayre freshman Brayden Horton is the "Offensive Newcomer of the Year," Waverly freshman Caden Hollywood is the "Pitching Newcomer of the Year," Tioga's Kevin Evanek is "Coach of the Year," and Waverly senior Colby Sindoni is the "Defensive Player of the Year."

Hendershot, who is also the 2019 "Pitcher of the Year," had a tremendous season on the mound, including three wins in five days in the postseason, capped by a complete-game victory over Deposit-Hancock in the Class C title game.

Hendershot posted a 9-3 record with a 1.12 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP (walks plus hits divided by innings pitched). He fanned 95, walked just 18, and allowed 42 hits.

A tremendous fielder at the hot corner, Hendershot hit .548 (34 hits in 62 ABs) with 13 doubles, one home run, 18 RBI, 32 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. He walked 25 times and had an on-base percentage of .688. He also had a slugging percentage of .806, and an OPS of 1.494.

Hanafin had a tremendous season at the plate, helping the Redskins to their third consecutive appearance in the PIAA playoffs.

Hanafin hit .508 (30 hits in 59 at-bats) with six doubles, one triple, two home runs, 24 RBI, 32 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. He also walked 25 times and had an on-base percentage of .633, to go along with a .746 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.409.

A strong-armed catcher, Horton made an immediate impact on the Redskins at the plate, and behind it in his first varsity season.

Horton hit .323 (21 hits in 65 ABs) with eight doubles, three triples, 23 RBI, 17 runs scored, and four stolen bases. He walked 12 times an had a .452 on-base percentage. He also had a .538 slugging percentage, and a .991 OPS.

Hollywood also made an immediate impact on the mound for the Wolverines, and became their big-game pitcher by the end of his first varsity season.

Hollywood posted a 7-0 record with a 2.15 ERA. He struck out 44 and walked 36 in 45 2/3 innings pitched, while allowing just 27 hits.

In his first year at the helm, Evanek led Tioga to an 18-3 record, a division title, and an overall IAC Small School title, but their season ended with a loss to Unatego in the Class C quarterfinals.

This season, Tioga got off to a slow start, and missed the IAC playoffs, but peaked at the right time and reeled off four straight postseason wins to win their third Section IV title in five years.

The Tigers dropped an 8-7 decision to Cooperstown in the state quarterfinals to finish their season at 17-5. Evanek's record is 35-8.

Sindoni had great range in center field, as well as a strong arm, which accounted for four outfield assists.

The 2019 "Baseball Super 7" is:
Pierce Hendershot, senior, Tioga:
See above.

Quinn Hanafin, junior, Sayre: See above.

Ethan Witherow, senior, Athens: A solid solve at second base, Witherow had an outstanding season at the plate.

Witherow  batted .419 (26 hits in 62 ABs) with seven doubles, one triple, 11 RBI, 27 runs scored, and four stolen bases. He also walked 16 times and had a .550 on-base percentage, a 665 slugging percentage, and a 1.115 OPS.

Zach Moore, sophomore, Sayre: A key performer on Sayre's run to States, Moore shined on the mound, and at the plate.

Moore posted a 5-2 record with a 2.45 ERA. He struck out 22 and walked six in 31 1/3 innings.He hit .333 (24 hits in 72 ABs) with seven doubles, eight RBI, 18 runs scored, and six stolen bases.

Nate Kennedy, senior, Athens:
A good defender at shortstop, Kennedy had a big year at the plate, and put up solid numbers in limited innings on the mound.

Kennedy hit .384 (28 hits in 73 ABs) with six doubles, one home run, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored, and three stolen bases. He had an on-base percentage of .438 and an OPS of .944.

Caden Hollywood, freshman, Waverly: See above.

Brayden Horton, freshman, Sayre: See above.

The 2019 All-Valley Baseball team:
C   - Brayden Horton, freshman, Sayre: See above.

1B - Joe Parshall, senior, Athens: A solid glove at first base, Parshall hit .348 (23 hits in 66 ABs), with eight doubles, two home runs, 21 RBI, and 19 runs scored. He had a slugging percentage of .561 and an OPS of .982.

2B - Ethan Witherow, senior, Athens: See above.

SS - Quinn Hanafin, junior, Sayre: See above.

3B - Pierce Hendershot, junior, Tioga: See above.

IF - Jalen McCarty, junior, Waverly: A dynamic offensive player, McCarty batted .356 (26 hits in 73 ABs), with five doubles, six RBI, 28 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. He also walked 15 times, and had an on-base percentage of .466.

OF - Nic Ficarro, sophomore, Sayre: Ficarro earned more playing time as the season progressed, and he delivered.

Ficarro hit .364 (16 hits in 44 at-bats), with one double, nine RBI, six runs scored, and one stolen base.

OF "”Zach Moore, sophomore, Sayre: See above.

OF - Ethan Stotler, junior, Waverly: A solid glove in the outfield, Stotler hit 318 (21 hits in 66 ABs), with four doubles, two triples, 13 RBI, 16 runs scored, and eight stolen bases.

DH - Nate Kennedy, senior, Athens: See above.

UT "”  Brady Worthing, junior, Tioga: Brady Worthing had a good season at the plate, and turned in some very good pitching performances late in the season.

A strong glove at shortstop, Brady Worthing hit .358 (24 hits in 67 ABs), with three doubles, one triple, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. He also posted a 3-0 record, and did not allow an earned run in 19 innings pitched with 31 strike outs, and just one walk and seven hits allowed.

P - Pierce Hendershot, senior, Tioga: See above.

P - Keegan Rude, junior, Athens: Rude had an outstanding season on the mound for the Wildcats.

Rude was 6-4 with a 0.23 ERA, and a 1.02 WHIP. He struck out 32 and walked 13, while allowing just 18 hits in 30 1/3 innings. Opponents hit just .155 against him.

P - Caden Hollywood, freshman, Waverly: See above.

P - Colby Sindoni, senior, Waverly:
Sindoni enjoyed a strong season on the mound for the Wolverines, and pitched in some of their biggest games.

Sindoni posted a 7-2 record with a 1.72 ERA. He struck out 25 and walked 18 in 36 2/3 innings, and allowed 33 hits.

P - Aaron Lane, junior, Athens: Lane enjoyed a strong season on the mound for the Wildcats, posting a 5-1 record with a 0.43 ERA. He struck out 12 and walked 14, while allowing 12 hits in 29 2/3 innings pitched. Opponents hit .200 against him this season.

"Super 7 Newcomers of the Year"
Caden Hollywood, freshman, Waverly:
See above.

Brayden Horton, freshman, Sayre: See above.

John Worthing, senior, Tioga: A good defender in center field and at first base, John Worthing enjoyed a solid season at the plate in his first varsity season after two years away from the program.

John Worthing hit .290 (20 hits in 69 ABs), with four doubles, 16 RBI, 20 runs scored, and eight stolen bases.

Nick Ficarro, sophomore, Sayre: See above.

David Northrup, freshman, Sayre: Northrup hit .236 (13 hits in 55 ABs) with two doubles, three triples, one HR, 18 RBI, eight runs scored, and two stolen bases.

Christian Weaver, senior, Tioga: Weaver played his best ball at the end of the season, and ended the season with a .323 (10 hits in 31 ABs) batting average, with one double, 10 RBI, eight runs scored, and three stolen bases. He also walked nine times and had a .488 on-base percentage.

All-Valley Defensive Team
GOLD GLOVES

OF - Colby Sindoni, senior, Waverly.
1B - Jon Cron, senior, Sayre.
C - Montana Davis, senior, Waverly.
OF - James Esposito, senior, Sayre.
SS - Quinn Hanafin, junior, Sayre.
3B - Pierce Hendershot, senior, Tioga.
SS - Nate Kennedy, senior, Athens.
OF - Aaron Lane, junior, Athens.
SS - Brady Worthing, junior, Tioga.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

IN PHOTO: Tioga's Pierce Hendershot.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

PAST WINNERS
"Baseball Player of the Year"
2010 - D.J. Kelleher, Athens and Patton Taylor, Tioga
2011 - Patton Taylor, Tioga
2012 - Patric Bronson, Waverly
2013 - Cody Marchese and Dylan Perry, Waverly
2014 - Tyler Forbes, Athens
2015 - Tyler Forbes, Athens
2016 - Parker Hendershot, Tioga
2017 - Parker Hendershot, Tioga; and Cody Jennings, Athens
2018 - Nate Sweet and Jordan Rockwell, Sayre
2019 - Pierce Hendershot, Tioga


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