SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
(Presented by Center City Print)
GIANNA ADAMS, Pittston Area junior pitcher
Time period: April 17-23
Game One: Adams threw a five-inning, no-hitter April 17 in a 13-0 Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 shutout of visiting Wilkes-Barre Area. She struck out nine and walked three. Adams also had a hit, run and RBI in three at-bats.
Game Two: Adams hit two home runs and threw a one-hitter Wednesday in a 13-2, five-inning WVC Division 1 romp at Crestwood. She allowed two unearned runs while striking out nine and walking two. Adams was 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs.
Game Three: Without walking a batter, Adams struck out 12 in a six-inning, two-hitter as Pittston Area won at Hazleton Area, 11-1, in Friday’s WVC Division 1 game. She was 2-for-3 with another home run.
Season batting: Including Monday’s 12-0, five-inning shutout of Wyoming Valley West (after the time period of this honor), Adams has homered in three straight games and has hit her five home runs in the last five games. In 9 games, she has 17 RBI and 9 runs scored while batting .467 (14-for-30).
Season pitching: Adams has pitched every inning of the season for Pittston Area, allowing two or fewer hits in seven of nine games. In addition to the no-hitter, she has tossed three one-hitters and three two-hitters. Adams has struck out 102 and walked just 15 in 52 innings. She has given up only 11 runs (5 earned) on 19 hits. She is 8-1 with an 0.67 earned run average.
About Gianna: Adams was the state Class 5A Pitcher of the Year last season on the team picked by Pennsylvania Sports Writers. … The no-hitter against Wilkes-Barre Area was the fourth of her career for Adams, who had three last season while going 21-0 with an 0.88 ERA. Monday’s game pushed Adams over 100 strikeouts for the third straight year and gave her 19 career shutouts. Adams threw 11 shutouts last season and struck out 214 in 128 innings. … Adams has increased her power after hitting just 1 home run in her first 41 career games. She went from batting .161 as a freshman to .350 as a sophomore. This year’s strong start has boosted her career average to .331.
About the Lady Patriots: Pittston Area is defending WVC Division 1, District 2 Class 5A and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state Class 5A champion. … Since suffering its only loss of the last two seasons, 3-2, to Tunkhannock, the Lady Patriots (8-1) have won five straight by a total of 58-4. … Pittston Area has a large ratings lead in the race for the top seed in the district Class 5A tournament and trails only unbeaten Tunkhannock in WVC Division 1.
