Published: July 01, 2009 10:14 pm      

HS SOFTBALL: Attfield named NFL's top player

Niagara Gazette Softball Player of the Year Caitlin Attfield of Niagara-Wheatfield was also named the Niagara Frontier League’s Most Outstanding Player at its recent year-end meeting. The freshman shortstop was also recently named third team all-state in Class AA.

Also for N-W, junior hurler Kelly Bourque was named the NFL’s Co-Pitcher of the Year with reigning award winner Holly Conte of Niagara Falls. Both players were also first team all-Gazette picks. Conte’s NFHS battery-mate Nikki Kraft also garnered first team all-NFL honors.

Two other locals, pitcher Carly Knight of Lewiston-Porter and outfielder Emily Thompson of Grand Island, were named to the first team. Rounding out the squad are Kenmore West’s Danielle Frye and Jenna Rickan, North Tonawanda’s Joanna Fretthold and Shaina Bunker, Kristen Deschenes of Kenmore East and Emily Belfield of Lockport.

N-W coach Eric Belter was named the league’s Coach of the Year after helping the Falcons to a share of the NFL title with West. Lockport earned the team sportsmanship award.

Wilson catcher Elise Jancef and utility player Jessica Curry were each named to the Niagara-Orleans League’s first team. Starpoint’s Danielle Lanternier was a first team all-ECIC II selection.

ALL-NIAGARA FRONTIER LEAGUE

First Team: Danielle Frye (Senior, INF, Kenmore West), Jenna Rickan (Senior, OF, Kenmore West), Caitlin Attfield (Freshman, INF, Niagara-Wheatfield), Kelly Bourque (Junior, P, Niagara-Wheatfield), Joanna Fretthold (Senior, INF, North Tonawanda), Shaina Bunker (Sophomore, C, North Tonawanda), Holly Conte (Junior, P, Niagara Falls), Nikki Kraft (Senior, C, Niagara Falls), Kristen Deschenes (Senior, P, Kenmore East), Emily Thompson (Senior, P/OF, Grand Island), Carly Knight (Senior, P, Lewiston-Porter), Emily Belfield (Freshman, OF, Lockport).

Second Team: Lexi Santa Maria (Sophomore, P, Kenmore West), Kaley Vazquez (Junior, INF, Kenmore West), Shelly Maggard (Junior, INF, Niagara-Wheatfield), Angela Elliott (Senior, INF, Niagara-Wheatfield), Natalie Hils (Senior, OF, North Tonawanda), Caitlin Kirbis (Junior, INF, North Tonawanda), Jamie Olander (Senior, INF, Niagara Falls), Jordan Dudish (Junior, INF, Grand Island), Kasey Sumnar (Junior, C, Grand Island), Alex Dickson (Junior, INF, Kenmore East), Janeanne LePage (Senior, C, Lewiston-Porter), Megan Anderson (Senior, P, Lockport).

Third Team: Kirsty Webb (Junior, C, Kenmore West), Ashley Krier (Junior, INF, Kenmore West), Katie Gruarin (Sophomore, OF, Niagara-Wheatfield), Katie Destino (Junior, C, Niagara-Wheatfield), Allie Gibson (Junior, P, North Tonawanda), Julie Harmon (Senior, INF, North Tonawanda), Chelsea O’Laughlin (Junior, OF, Lewiston-Porter), Sam price (Senior, C, Kenmore East), Savannah Sanders (Senior, OF, Kenmore East), Sam Tilkins (Junior, P, Grand Island), Megan Cuda (Freshman, INF, Lewiston-Porter), Kelly McKeever (Freshman, INF, Lockport).

ALL-NIAGARA ORLEANS LEAGUE

First Team: Lindsey Colonna (Junior, P, Albion), Coleen Rausch (Senior, P, Royalton-Hartland), Gub Jonathan (Senior, P, Akron), Justine Daniels (Junior, C, Albion), Deb Harding (Senior, C, Medina), Elise Jancef (Sophomore, C, Wilson), Lisa Bierdeman (Senior, INF, Albion), Jessica Curry (Junior, INF, Wilson), Aileen Hinton (Junior, INF, Barker), Sam Kelly (Junior, INF, Newfane), Allysa Taborn (Senior, INF, CSAT), Amanda Werth (Sophomore, INF, Royalton-Hartland), Amanda Walker (Senior, OF, Royalton-Hartland).

Second Team: Molly Bloom (Senior, P, Wilson), Raela Wiley (Senior, P, Wilson), Alexis Moreland (Eighth Grade, P, Newfane), Megan Corriere (Sophomore, C, Royalton-Hartland), Gus Hallett-Jonathan (Sophomore, C, Akron), Rebecca Quackenbush (Junior, C, Barker), Katie Renaldo (Senior, C, CSAT), Paige Golden (Junior, INF, Albion), Jenn Knaak (Freshman, INF, Albion), Becca Wagner (Senior, INF, Royalton-Hartland), Lizzy Zacher (Senior, INF, Medina), Ashley Wyder (Sophomore, OF, Akron).

Honorable Mention: Mallory Brewer (Senior, Akron), Kierstyn Sturmer (Freshman, Akron), Emalee Soule (Sophomore, Akron), Ellie Dietz (Junior, Barker), Paige Remington (Junior, Barker), Nicole Estep (Junior, Barker), Katleyn Moore (Junior, Barker), Alishia Foss (Sophomore, Medina), Jen Werth (Junior, Newfane), Sonya Rinaldo (Sophomore, Newfane), Jordan Beutel (Eighth Grade, Newfane), Sam Smith (Senior, Royalton-Hartland).