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Mt. Lebanon catcher named POTY in softball

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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Deidre Flaherty of Mt. Lebanon headlines the all-state team as Player of the Year for girls softball

The rising senior earned the distinction as overall Pennsylvania position POTY by the Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association. In addition, she gained first-team all-state accolades for her performance this past spring.

A catcher, Flaherty helped lead the Blue Devils to a section championship and a playoff appearance. Lebo was 7-1 in its division and finished 12-5 overall after falling to North Allegheny in the WPIAL playoffs.

A power hitter, Flaherty batted .592 with six doubles. She drove in 33 runs and maintained .686 on-base and 1.449 slugging percentages. She struck out only once and was walked 16 times.

“Deirdre is a pretty dynamic hitter,” Lebo coach Casey Phillips said. “One of the best power hitter I have ever seen.”

As a sophomore last year, Flaherty led the WPIAL with 12 home runs while batting .650 with 37 RBI. As a junior this year, she socked 12 homers, including 10 in the span of two weeks.

Two of Flaherty’s teammates joined her on the Class 6A all-state list. Named to the second team were first baseman Brooke Boehmer and designated player Sammi Phillips.

Two other area standouts gained first-team all-state laurels at the 6A level.

Ali Sniegocki of Bethel Park gained acclaim as an outfielder while Sami Bewick took the honors at shortstop.

Second-team all-state members in 6A included BP’s Sandra Soltes and Abby Quickel. Soltes excelled behind the plate while Quickel was an outfielder. The duo, along with Sniegocki, helped the Lady Hawks win their first WPIAL title in school history last spring. This year, they finished runner-up to Lebo in the section and posted a 9-9 overall record.

Soltes, Quickel and Sniegocki are continuing their playing careers in college at Pitt, Robert Morris and Holy Cross, respectively.

At the Class 5A level, three Chartiers Valley players gained all-state, first-team recognition — shortstop Gianna Welsh, shortstop Madison Crump and designated player Marie Kinchington.

The threesome helped the Lady Colts finish fourth in the WPIAL and reach the PIAA playoffs. CV lost to Armstrong in the state tournament, posting a 15-7 record.

This all-state team was selected from more than 400 nominations by high school coaches and media members statewide.

A first team and second team was then voted on and chosen for each of the six classifications by the PaHSSBCA committee. In addition, the committee expanded its awards this year to include an overall Pennsylvania Pitcher of the Year, an overall Pennsylvania Player of the Year as well as a Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year in each of the six PIAA Classifications.

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