SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
(Presented by Center City Print)
BELLA GIARDINA, Pittston Area senior second baseman
Time period: May 1-7
Game One: Giardina broke a scoreless tie with a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning May 3 to help Pittston Area avenge its only loss and hand Tunkhannock its only defeat, 5-1, in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 game. Giardina finished 2-for-4.
Game Two: Giardina was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI in an 11-0 victory over Wilkes-Barre Area Friday.
Season batting: Including Monday’s 11-0 shutout of Crestwood (after the time period of this honor), Giardina is batting .366 with 6 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 9 runs scored and 15 RBI in 13 games.
About Bella: The second-team Class 5A all-state selection as a utility player last season has gained momentum after a slow start to her senior season offensively. Giardina has driven in at least a run in 8 straight games, picking up 14 of her 15 RBI during that time. Giardina has hits in 7 of those 8 games and is 10-for-16 (.625) during her five-game hitting streak to raise her season average 166 points. The three-year starter has a .386 career average with 13 doubles and 5 homers. She scored 32 runs and drove in 26 in 25 games during Pittston Area’s unbeaten, state championship season in 2022.
About the Lady Patriots: Pittston Area, which has lost just once in the last two seasons, is back in a tie for first place in Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 with the help of the win over Tunkhannock. The Lady Patriots lead the race for the top seed in the District 2 Class 5A playoffs where they will need to produce another title in order to get a chance to defend their Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state championship. Pittston Area has outscored opponents, 88-5, in a nine-game winning streak to reach 13-1 overall.
