If you attended any Southern Cayuga softball game this season, it was the player in the circle that immediately grabbed your attention.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Southern Cayuga pitchers Julie Hewitt (11) and Lianna May (12) are The Citizen's softball players of the year. The duo led the Chiefs to an 18-3 record this season.
Southern Cayuga pitchers Julie Hewitt (11) and Lianna May (12) are The Citizen's softball players of the year. The duo led the Chiefs to an 18-3 record this season.
The composure, the speed, the accuracy - there were several aspects of the Chiefs' pitching game that would steal the spotlight away from anything else.
Which is why Southern Cayuga hurlers Julie Hewitt and Lianna May are this season's The Citizen softball players of the year. The only two pitchers to toe the rubber for the Chiefs over the last two seasons were a key reason why the team excelled to an 18-3 overall record in addition to a state ranking for most of the year.
Junior May started most games this season, while the senior Hewitt manned third base in an effort to overcome a series of injuries.
May racked up a 14-1 record against 308 batters in 85 innings on the mound, earning a .329 ERA. She allowed just 13 runs (four earned), 16 walks and totaled 129 strikeouts.
Hewitt, on the other hand, put together a 4-2 record in 49 innings in the circle, allowing 17 hits, 14 runs (six earned) and 83 strikeouts for an .857 ERA.
Neither hurler allowed a home run and Hewitt was 27-for-27 on put outs at third, with no errors.
The duo also combined for an eye-popping 10 shutouts, three no-hitters, 8 one-hitters, 2 two-hitters and 6 one-run games.
Not too bad for a team that many didn't think would amount to much this season.
The modest May and the vocal Hewitt also solidified the 1-2 spots in the batting order all season.
Hewitt led the team with 23 RBIs and eight doubles. She also mounted 24 hits, three triples and one home run.
May scored the most runs on the team (30), led the team with 70 at-bats, tied for second with 13 RBIs and was second on the team with 25 hits.
She also took the most walks (11), leading to one of the best on base percentages on the team, .451, in addition to hitting two home runs, five triples and four doubles.
While Hewitt's leadership, power hitting and solid pitching will be missed next season, its become evident that the Chiefs' circle is securely May's - at least for one more season.
Which is why Southern Cayuga hurlers Julie Hewitt and Lianna May are this season's The Citizen softball players of the year. The only two pitchers to toe the rubber for the Chiefs over the last two seasons were a key reason why the team excelled to an 18-3 overall record in addition to a state ranking for most of the year.
Junior May started most games this season, while the senior Hewitt manned third base in an effort to overcome a series of injuries.
May racked up a 14-1 record against 308 batters in 85 innings on the mound, earning a .329 ERA. She allowed just 13 runs (four earned), 16 walks and totaled 129 strikeouts.
Hewitt, on the other hand, put together a 4-2 record in 49 innings in the circle, allowing 17 hits, 14 runs (six earned) and 83 strikeouts for an .857 ERA.
Neither hurler allowed a home run and Hewitt was 27-for-27 on put outs at third, with no errors.
The duo also combined for an eye-popping 10 shutouts, three no-hitters, 8 one-hitters, 2 two-hitters and 6 one-run games.
Not too bad for a team that many didn't think would amount to much this season.
The modest May and the vocal Hewitt also solidified the 1-2 spots in the batting order all season.
Hewitt led the team with 23 RBIs and eight doubles. She also mounted 24 hits, three triples and one home run.
May scored the most runs on the team (30), led the team with 70 at-bats, tied for second with 13 RBIs and was second on the team with 25 hits.
She also took the most walks (11), leading to one of the best on base percentages on the team, .451, in addition to hitting two home runs, five triples and four doubles.
While Hewitt's leadership, power hitting and solid pitching will be missed next season, its become evident that the Chiefs' circle is securely May's - at least for one more season.
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