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Here is a story on freshmen Michelle Fridey from her hometown fishwrap in Western New York:

SOFTBALL: Fridey, Plimpton continues to ride Billies title wave

Will South battery parlays state championship into second-team All-America honors
By Jonah Bronstein
TheAmherstRecord.com


Michelle Fridey

AMHERST — Michelle Fridey and Chelsea Plimpton gave all they could to help Williamsville South win the state softball title this spring. Now, that championship is paying back the Billies’ star battery.

Fridey, a graduated catcher, and Plimpton, a pitcher entering her senior year, recently earned second-team Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America honors.

“When you win, you get the chance for recognition,” South coach Gerry Gentner said. “Michelle and Chelsea carried us the whole way. They’re both maybe once-in-a-lifetime players.”

The Billies went 27-3 this season and won their third state championship since 2000.

Gentner said he was thrilled to see his players selected to the second team, though, he allowed, both players might have deserved first-team recognition based on their statistics.

“I think they’re numbers stacked up quite favorably with the first-team players,” Gentner said. “It’s very difficult ... for somebody from the East Coast to make the first team.”

Fridey, who will continue her career at Liberty University in Virginia, batted .571 this year with a state-record 64 hits. She also had a .991 fielding percentage.

Stacie Chambers (Cactus, Ariz.), the Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year, hit .473 with a .989 fielding percentage.

In nominating Fridey for the All-America team, Gentner called her Western New York’s “best player ever.”


Contact Jonah Bronstein at 693-1000 ext. 111, or at bronsteinj@gnnewspaper.com

http://www.theamherstrecord.com/local/l ... 23756.html