VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' HILEY TOPS ALL-VALLEY SOFTBALL SUPER 7 AS 'PLAYER OF YEAR;" TIOGA'S FEEKO, KITHCART, WAVERLY'S DOUGLAS, ATHENS' FINAN, WENDELA ALSO RECIEVE TOP HONORS (June 24, 2025)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Sophomore Gretchan Hiley had a season for ages, and led Athens to its first-ever District 4 title. She headlines the 2025 Valley Sports Report All-Valley Super 7 as the "Softball Player of the Year."

Tioga junior RaeAnne Feeko is the "Offensive Player of the Year," while Tioga 8th-grader Kate Kithcart is the "Newcomer of the Year," Waverly sophomore Lecksie Douglas is the "Defensive Player of the Year," Athens junior Savannah Finan is the "Breakout Player of the Year," and Athens' Brian Wendela is the "Coach of the Year."

Hiley was simply dominant in the pitcher's circle, posting a 19-2 record with a 1.11 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP, 266 strikeouts and just 43 walks in 133 innings. She allowed 65 hits, and opposing batters his .127 against her on the season.

Hiley tossed six shutouts, including three in a row, and a pair of combined shutouts (both with her sister, junior Maddie Hiley). She threw five complete-game one-hitters, including a 1-0 loss to North Penn-Liberty, and five two-hitters.

Offensively, Hiley hit .400 (28 hits in 70 ABs) with nine doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, 28 runs scored, and six stolen bases. 

Hiley drew nine walks, and was hit by two pitches for a .470 on-base percentage. She also had a .557 slugging percentage for an OPS of 1.027.

Feeko hit .647, with 43 hits in 67 at-bats, including 13 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs. She also had 37 RBI, 40 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases.

Feeko walked six times and hit by pitches five times for an on-base percentage of .692. She had a slugging percentage of 1.209 for an OPS of 1.901.

Douglas has very good range, and a strong arm at shortstop to anchor Waverly's infield defense. She made a number of athletic plays on the season, and almost made the routine play.

Kithcart was a standout on both sides of the ball for the Tigers in her first varsity season.

Kithcart took over the pitching duties early in the season and posted a 9-3 record with a 2.46 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. She struck out 71 and walked 12, while allowing 68 hits in 74 innings.

At the plate, Kithcart hit .469 (30 hits in 64 ABs) with six doubles, two triples, 21 RBI, 21 runs scored, and four stolen bases. She worked eight eight walks for a .469 on-base percentage, to go along with a .625 slugging percentage for a 1.153 OPS.

As a sophomore, Finan hit .261 with seven RBI. This season, Finan, who began the season hitting eighth and finished it in the clean-up spot, hit .382 (21 hits in 55 ABs) with four doubles, one home run, 19 RBI, 12 runs scored, and one steal. She walked nine times and was hit by a pitch four times for a .392 on-base percentage.

Wendela directed the Wildcats to a 21-2 record, its first outright NTL title since 2019 and just the second in program history, and the program's first-ever District 4 title. He also directed Waverly to a Section IV title in 2019.

SOFTBALL
Player of the Year — Gretchan Hiley, sophomore, Athens;
Offensive Player of the Year — RaeAnne Feeko, junior, Tioga;
Defensive Player of the Year  — Lecksie Douglas, sophomore, Waverly
Newcomer of the Year  — Kate Kithcart, freshman, Tioga;
Breakout Player of the Year  — Savannah Finan, junior, Athens;
Coach of the Year — Brian Wendela, Athens.

ALL-VALLEY SOFTBALL SUPER 7
Gretchan Hiley, sophomore, Athens: See above.

RaeAnne Feeko, junior, Tioga: Feeko had a monster offensive season (see above), but was also one of the best defensive shortstop in the area with great range and a strong arm. She also had a 1-0 record in the pitcher's circle with 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings pitched.

Kate Kithcart, 8th-grader, Tioga: See above.

Maddie Cron, junior, Waverly: A strong defender at third base, Cron hit .415 (27 hits in 65 ABs) with eight doubles, three home runs, 28 RBI, and 31 runs scored. She walked 10 times and was hit by pitches six times for a .531 on-base percentage, to go along with a .677 slugging percentage for a 1.208 OPS. 

Hannah Carpenter, sophomore, Waverly: An excellent defensive catcher, Carpenter hit .375 (27 hits in 72 ABs) with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 29 RBI, 20 runs scored, and one stolen base. She had a .430 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage of .597 for an OPS of 1.027.

McKenzie Williams, senior, Tioga: A very good defensive catcher, she was relegated to DH due to a knee injury that cost her the fall and winter seasons, until late in the season. Williams hit .556 (30 hits in 54 ABs) with two doubles, three home runs, 26 RBI, 18 runs scored and two stole baes. She walked nine times and was hit by one pitch for a .625 on-base percentage, to go along with a .759 slugging percentage for a 1.384 OPS.

Maddie Hiley, junior, Athens: A good defender at third base, Hiley hit .320 (24 hits in 75 ABs) with six doubles, one triple, 20 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases. She walked five times and was hit by pitches four times for a .393 on-base percentage.

Hiley also contributed in the circle, posting a 2-0 record with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. She fanned 21, walked nine and allowed 12 hits in 15 2/3 innings. She also threw a five-inning no-hitter.

Savannah Finan, junior, Athens: See above.

Taylin Gonzalez, 8th-grader, Waverly: Gonzalez made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball for the Wolverines. She posted a 6-5 record with a 3.86 ERA, and 60 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched.

At the plate, Gonzalez hit .424 (25 hits in 59 ABs) with six doubles, two triples, one home run, 23 RBI, and 21 runs scored. She walked 10 times and was hit by pitches twice for a .662 on-base percentage with a slugging percentage of .644 for an OPS of 1.306 OPS.

McKenna Jarvis, sophomore, Athens: A good defensive center fielder, Jarvis hit .342 (25 hits in 73 ABs) with four doubles, one home run, 18 RBI, 21 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. She had an on-base percentage of .392.

Raegan Parrish, senior, Sayre: Parrish hit .446 (25 hits in 59 ABs) with eight doubles, two triples, 14 RBI, 18 runs scored, and two stolen bases. She had a .661 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.135.

Abbie McGaughey, senior, Sayre: McGaughey hit .340 (17 hits in 50 ABs) with four doubles, one triple, three home runs, 15 RBI, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases. She had a .421 on-base percentage, and a .640 slugging percentage for a 1.061 OPS.

Emily Shiner, junior, Tioga: A good defender at second base, Shiner hit .521 (25 hits in 48 ABs) with five doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, 17 runs scored, and two stolen bases. She walked six times for a .574 on-base percentage, to go along with a .667 slugging percentage for a 1.241 OPS.

Rylee Lantz, junior, Sayre: Only played in nine games due to injury, but hit .560 (14 hits in 25 ABs) with two doubles, two triples, one home run, 10 RBI, nine runs scored, and three stolen bases.

Olivia Thompson, junior, Sayre: Thompson hit .455 (18 hits in 48 ABs) with six doubles, one triple, one home run, seven RBI, 18 runs scored, and four RBI. She had a .455 on-base percentage and a 1.059 OPS.

Erin Luther, senior, Tioga: Luther battled health issues this season, and ended up being moved from the pitcher's circle to the outfield, where she excelled defensively. She hit .377 (20 hits in 53 ABs) with six doubles, two triples, one home run, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Luther had a .623 slugging percentage and a 1.063 OPS.

ALL-VALLEY SUPER 7 NEWCOMERS
Kate Kithcart, 8th-grader, Tioga: See above.

Taylin Gonzalez, 8th-grader, Waverly: See above.

Paige Bubniak, 7th-grader, Waverly: A good defender at second base, Bubniak hit .288 (17 hits in 59 ABs) with two doubles, one home run, 15 RBI, 20 runs scored, and six stolen bases in six attempts. She walked 10 times for an on-base percentage of .391.

Memphis Paul, freshman, Athens: A good defensive catcher, Paul hit .290 (20 hits in 69 ABs) with two doubles, one triple, one home run, 14 RBI, 16 runs scored, and six stolen bases. She walked eight times and was hit by pitches twice for a .380 on-base percentage.

Bri Lounsbury, 8th-grader, Tioga: A speedster, Lounsbury hit .400 (20 hits in 50 ABs) with 10 RBI, 24 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. She walked 20 times and was hit by one pitch for a .569 on-base percentage.

Ayla Wheeler, 8th-grader, Waverly: Wheeler contributed at the plate and in the pitcher's circle. She hit .294 (10 hits in 34 ABs) with one double, five RBI, and 11 runs scored. In the circle, she was 1-3 with one save, a 5.58 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings.

McKenna Parrish, freshman, Sayre: Parrish hit .286 (14 hits in 49 ABs) with one double, six RBI, 12 runs scored, and two stolen bases. She walked seven times and was hit by one pitch for a .386 on-base percentage.

ALL-VALLEY GOLD GLOVES
Lecksie Douglas, sophoomre, Waverly: See above.
Hannah Carpenter, sophomore, Waverly
Olivia Thompson, junior, Sayre
Gretchan Hiley, sophomore, Athens
Memphis Paul, freshman, Athens
Ella Coyle, senior, Athens
Emily Shiner, junior, Tioga
Delaney Wheeler, junior, Waverly
McKenzie Williams, senior, Tioga

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PAST WINNERS
"Softball Player of the Year"
2025 — Gretchan Hiley, Athens
2024 — RaeAnne Feeko, Tioga
2023 — Olivia Robinson, Waverly
2022 — Caydence Macik, Athens
2021 — Harley Sullivan, Athens
2020 — NONE.
2019 — Wendi Hammond, Waverly
2018 — Wendi Hammond, Waverly
2017 — Shailei Kraft, Waverly
2016 — Sam Wood, Tioga
2015 — Sam Wood, Tioga
2014 — Sam Wood, Tioga
2013  — Sam Mennig, Waverly
2012 — Christin Dunkling, Athens
2011 — Sarah Wayson, Tioga
2010 — Sarah Wayson, Tioga

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