PIAA SOFTBALL: ATHENS' SULLIVAN EARNS CLASS AAAA, FIRST-TEAM ALL-STATE HONORS (2021-07-06)
Valley Sports ReportATHENS "” Recent Athens graduate Harley Sullivan put an exclamation point on her stellar softball career, with her selection to the first-team all-state Class AAAA team as named by the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association.
Athens coach Mickey Farrell said Sullivan is what high school athletics are all about.
"Harley is the poster child for what a student-athlete is suppose to be.
"Her work ethic in the classroom has rivaled her work ethic on the field," said Farrell. "We had 10 open gyms before the start of the season and she made nine of them .
"She is always the first one there, and the last one to leave," added Farrell.
Sullivan, who was the NTL "Offensive Player of the Year," hit .569 (37 hits in 65 at-bats) with 10 doubles, two triples, three home run, 21 RBI, 39 runs scored, and three stolen bases.
Sullivan also drew 23 walks and had a .682 on-base percentage, to go along with a .923 slugging percentage, and a1.605 OPS.
"Her hitting numbers speak for themselves," he said. "The number one stat offensively was the fact she hit over .500 off the best pitchers in the area - (NEB's Thailey) Franklin, (Towanda's Maddie) Maynard, (Wyalusing's Hailey) Jayne, (Wellsboro's Kerrah) Clymer, (Shamokin's Annie) Hornberger, (Tioga's Kindra) Wessels, and (Waverly's Hali) Jenner.
"And defensively, she was as solid as a rock behind the plate .She called 95 percent of our pitches for our pitchers," noted Farrell.
"And defensively, I'd say throwing out the Shamokin lead-off hitter, who was 20-for-20 in stolen bases was the highlight.
"She was hands down the best player in the NTL," added Farrell. "Better yet, she is an awesome young lady, who we are gonna miss terribly."
Sullivan will continue her softball career at King's College.
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IN PHOTO: Athens' Harley Sullivan. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
