After a 22-5 season that saw Bridgeport come up just short of a state tournament berth thanks to falling in the regionals to eventual Class AA state champion Herbert Hoover, the Indians are being rewarded for their outstanding season.

 

The Tribe, co-champions of the Big 10 Conference, walked away with two of the four top honors and multiple selections to the league’s all-conference teams that were released. Sophomore Emily Riggs, who has already committed to Pittsburgh, was named the Big 10 Player of the Year, while first-year Coach Larry “Rabbit” Snider was named “Coach of the Year.”

 

The voting for the individual honors and the teams are done by the league’s coaches. Bridgeport had four first-team selections not counting Riggs’ top honor, while the clubs landed three members on the second team.

 

Riggs’ honor may not be much of a surprise. The already-committed Division I shortstop had a banner second year for Bridgeport. She batted a blistering .496 with four home runs, 30 RBIs and managed to score 43 times.

 

The play of Riggs helped pave the way for Snider’s first year to be a successful one. Although new to the Indians, Snider was the long-time head man for Robert C. Byrd before stepping down to retire earlier to care for a family member.

 

As for the first team selections, the Indians had Abby Strait, Hannah Clark, Taylor Smith and Starr Pope as members. Strait batted .357 with eight homers and36 RBIs, while going 11-5 as a one of the team’s top hurlers.

 

Clark was also strong at the plate with a .353 batting average and 29 RBIs. Smith comes with a.370 average that included 23 RBIs and 32 runs scored.

 

Despite an injury that ended things early, Pope was dominant on the mound. She had an impressive 11-0 mark for the Indians.

 

Bridgeport’s second team selections included Peyton Merica, Kaitlyn Stanley, and Alexandria Busdeker. The honorable mention picks include Laiken Cook and Lauren Riffle.

 

Two other top individual honors were also announced. Liberty’s Logan Shanholtz was named the “Pitcher of the Year,” while East Fairmont’s Madison Corbin was chosen as the “Freshman of the Year.”

 

The rest of the first team is as follows: Tori Dewitt of Preston; Tiara Snyder or Robert C. Byrd; Bethany Keener of Grafton; Anna Runyan of Fairmont Senior; Hope Bray of Lincoln; Haley Collett of Elkins; Sam Pollock of North Marion; Jess Harris of Philip Barbour; Olivia Conway, Madison Corbin and Tori Lambert of East Fairmont; Alexis Hudson, Payton Campbell, Morgan White and Alexis Rumbarh of Lewis County; McKinney Gaudet of Buckhannon-Upshur; and Grace Rock of Liberty.

 

The rest of the second team is as follows: Gracie Lamm of Lincoln; Shay Swiger, Saylor Atha and Kinsey Harshberger of East Fairmont; Sydney Keary of Elkins; Haley Livengood of Preston; Mikayla Moore of Fairmont Senior; Aston Malnick and Hannah Harker of North Marion; Eric Simon of Philip Barbour; Paige Bragg and Bella Posey and Kaeyle Crook of Lewis County; Ginny Suder of Buckhannon-Upshur; Ashley Hawkins of Robert C. Byrd; Lita Shockey of Grafton; and Mariah Wilson of Liberty.

 

The rest of the honorable mention selections are as follows: Sydney Filzes and Tiffany Curtis of Lewis County; Madison Andrick and Shadee Hawkins of Lincoln; McKinley Ashcraft and Makayla Heater of East Fairmont; Lauren Louk of Buckhannon-Upshur; Matti Poling of North Marion; Grace Favro of Preston; Sarah Jones of Philip Barbour; Lily Gibbons and Allie McAllister of Liberty; Lydia Runyan of Fairmont Senior; Korri Evans of Elkins; Presley Caplinger of Robert C. Byrd; and Liza Grossman of Grafton.

 

Editor’s Note: Pictured above are Emily Riggs and Coach Larry Snider. Names for article were provided by a representative of the Big 10 Conference.