It will take a heck of an effort from an area softball player to stop Iroquois’ Becky Zill from repeating as the Times-News District 10 Player of the Year.
But Villa Maria’s Ali Grab and Cambridge Springs’ Stephanie Baer are giving it their best shot early in the season.
That’s not to say that Zill isn’t off to a hot start. She has led the Braves to a 7-1 record even though opponents are trying to pitch around her. In her latest game Wednesday, she went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in a 12-0 victory over Youngsville, as Iroquois moved to 6-1 in Region 3.
Zill hit a leadoff homer against Villa earlier this season, but Grab blasted a two-run homer and pitched a two-hitter to lead the Victors to a key 6-1 victory. Grab has pitched every game this season while leading Villa to a 9-0 start (7-0 in Region 3). She's been a force at the plate, too.
Baer is dominating Region 2 as a pitcher and hitter for Cambridge Springs. She led the Blue Devils (8-0, 8-0) to an 8-2 victory over rival Union City (7-1, 7-1) Wednesday in a battle for first place in the region. Baer struck out 10 while allowing only two seventh-inning runs.
Other area players are off to outstanding starts, too, but Zill, Grab and Baer are the early leaders for this year’s D-10 Player of the Year award.
-- Jeff Kirik