NTL SOFTBALL: CANTON'S WARD THE BC ALL-STARS PLAYER OF THE YEAR (June 17, 2022)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It was a crazy season for softball in Bradford County, with tight battles for both NTL titles. In Division-II NEB pulled out three big 1-run wins to get another championship, while Wyalusing used a few big rallies late in the season to reclaim the Division-II championship.

And there’s plenty of recognition to go around.

The Bradford County All-Stars Player of the Year is Canton’s Emmi Ward. Ward was the best lead-off hitter in the league, and helped the Warriors win their final nine games of the regular season, including wins over NEB and Montgomery. 

The Pitcher of the Year is NEB’s Thailey Franklin. Franklin went 13-3 in the circle, with 132 strikeouts, and a 1.902 ERA as the Panthers claimed another NTL Division-II title.

Athens’ Caydence Macik led a potent Wildcat offense with a .578 average, 37 runs scored, eight doubles, 10 home runs, and 24-RBI, making her the Offensive Player of the Year.

Wyalusing’s Laci Norton is the Defensive Player of the Year, taking over the shortstop position this season. She had a .919 fielding percentage, with 29 put outs as the Rams won the NTL Division-I title.

There were a lot of good newcomers this year in the county, but Troy’s Olivia Champluvier was strong in the batter’s box and the circle. She had a .389 average with 13 runs scored, and 7-RBI to go with three doubles. In the circle she struck out 29 in 40 2/3-innings of work to be named the Newcomer of the Year.

Wyalusing looked to be headed for a rebuilding season after losing much of their starting line-up, but they retooled, and won their second straight NTL Division-I title. That makes John Loomis and his staff the Coaches of the Year.

The first team consists of Ward, Macik, Norton, Franklin, Champluvier, NEB’s Emily Susanj, Canton’s Keri Wesneski and Molly Ward, Troy’s Tyra Williams, Wyalusing’s Jenelle Johns, and Towanda’s Aleah Johnson.

On the second team are Troy’s Kali Ayres, Amber James, and Caitlyn Knapp, Wyalusing’s London Edwards, and Rachael Wilson, Towanda’s Brea Overpeck, and Shay Greenland, NEB’s Melanie Shumway, and Kelsea Moore, Athens’ Jules Pack, Canton’s Taryn Acla, and Sayre’s Meghan Flynn.

The All-Rookie team are Troy’s Champluvier, Ayres, James, Madi Palmer, and Lauren Ridall, Towanda’s Johnson, Wyalusing’s Wilson, Kylie Pickett, and Ashlyn Neiley, NEB’s Moore and Toni Herb, Athens’ Pack and Ella Coyle, and Sayre’s Abbie McGaughey.

Player of the Year: Canton’s Emmi Ward

Offensive Player of the Year: Athens’ Caydence Macik

Defensive Player fo the Year: Wyalusing’s Laci Norton

Pitcher of the Year: NEB’s Thailey Franklin

Newcomer of the Year: Troy’s Olivia Champluvier

Coach of the Year: Wyalusing’s John Loomis

First Team

Canton’s Emmi Ward

Athens’ Caydence Macik

Wyalusing’s Laci Norton

NEB’s Thailey Franklin

NEB’s Emily Susanj

Canton’s Keri Wesneski

Canton’s Molly Ward

Troy’s Tyra Williams

Troy’s Olivia Champluvier

Wyalusing’s Jenelle Johns

Towanda’s Aleah Johnson

Second Team

Troy’s Kali Ayres

Wyalusing’s London Edwards

Towanda’s Brea Overpeck

NEB’s Melanie Shumway

Athens’ Jules Pack

Canton’s Taryn Acla

Troy’s Amber James

Troy’s Caitlyn Knapp

Wyalusing’s Rachel Wilson

Towanda’s Shay Greenland

Sayre’s Megan Flynn

NEB’s Kelsea Moore

Newcomers

Troy’s Olivia Champluvier

Troy’s Kali Ayres

Towanda’s Aleah Johnson

Troy’s Amber James

Wyalusing’s Rachel Wilson

NEB’s Kelsea Moore

NEB’s Toni Herb

Troy’s’ Madi Palmer

Troy’s Lauren Ridall

Wyalusing’s Kylie Pickett

Wyalusing’s Ashlyn Neiley

Athens’ Jules Pack

Athens’ Ella Coyle

Sayre’s Abbie McGaughey