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2007 Post-Gazette's All-Area Softball team
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Selected by the Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff, based on voting by WPIAL and City League coaches

Related links
Boys' All-Section team | Boys' teams | Girls' teams

Alexa Bryson
 Latrobe
Pitcher
Junior
 Small in stature, big on the mound, Latrobe junior right-handed fireballer Alexa Bryson was a driving force behind the Wildcats' magnificent run to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship and to the PIAA title game and, as a result, is the Post-Gazette's softball player of the year. At 5 feet 1, with her cap pulled low casting a shadow across her face, Bryson looked every bit of a bulldog out there on the mound -- and she didn't just look the part, but lived it. She posted an 18-3 record -- 13 of those wins coming by shutout -- with 277 strikeouts in 151 innings of work. In those 151 innings, she yielded just 59 hits and, even more impressive, just seven earned runs. Bryson also proved a multi-tasker, as she hit .311 (23 for 74) with 15 RBIs.

Natalie FERRARI
 Latrobe
First baseman
Senior

One of the finest corner infielders in the WPIAL, Ferrari showed deft glovework at first base and was also a tremendous offensive threat as Latrobe won its first WPIAL crown. She hit a team high .370 (27 for 73) with nine doubles, and 15 RBIs while accumulating a .562 slugging percentage.

Bethany NEALER
 Valley
Pitcher
Senior
A St. Francis (Pa.) recruit, this right-hander accumulated a 20-2 record and tossed four no-hitters. She struck out 10 or more hitters in a game 17 times and had a 0.66 ERA in 137 innings. Nealer also hit .400 (28 for 70) with 12 extra-base hits.

Jessica BURANOVSKY
Sto-Rox
Shortstop
Senior
 A four-year starter, two-time WPIAL champion and class valedictorian, Buranovsky will head to Carnegie Mellon on an academic scholarship. She is in the top 10 in Sto-Rox history in seven different offensive categories. Hit .470 (31 for 66) this season with four home runs, 37 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

Trish MELVIN
 Vincentian
Pitcher
Junior
In her first season as a pitcher, Melvin dominated with a 0.56 ERA and 313 strikeouts as she posted a 19-4 record. Also solid with the bat, she hit .509 (29 for 57) and was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Pennsylvania. Led her team to the WPIAL Class A title game.

Sarah SPIERING
 Burrell
Catcher
Senior
 A four-year starter, she is headed to Indian River Community College in Florida. A physical presence at a solid 5 feet 8, she had a .797 on-base percentage while hitting .605 (23 for 38) with 26 walks and 20 RBIs. Said Burrell coach Brian Eshbaugh, "I've never seen a female hit a ball as hard as she does."

Monica GLOMB
 Mars
Pitcher
Senior
A Kutztown recruit, Glomb was a four-year starter and finished her career with a 49-18 record, including 12-6 this season. Struck out 27 batters in a 14-inning regular season win vs. Hampton. Fanned 253 hitters and issued just 25 walks this season as she posted a 0.39 ERA.

Jenn SIMILE
 Shaler
Outfielder
Senior Shaler coach Skip Palmer calls Simile "the complete player." She hit .433 (26 for 60) this year with six doubles and five home runs. She also made just two errors, posting a .900 fielding average and drove in 14 runs. A University of Chicago recruit, she struck out just seven times all year.

Shaylee IANNO
 Peters Township
Pitcher
Junior
 One of the top pitchers in the WPIAL, Ianno had a 15-5 record and tossed four no-hitters and nine shutouts. In 134 innings, she yielded 60 hits and walked 14 while striking out 257. Handy with the bat, she also belted five doubles and hit .322 with a .508 slugging percentage.

Jaci TIMKO
 Chartiers-Houston
Shortstop
Junior
 In three years as a starter, Timko has helped Chartiers-Houston to three WPIAL championships. She hit .584 (45 for 77) to lead her team this year with eight home runs, 37 runs scored and 18 RBIs. The leadoff hitter, she did her job tremendously, with a .671 on-base percentage.
First published on June 23, 2007 at 11:36 pm