Is this the National Player of the Year? (5/21)
Is this the National Player of the Year? (5/21)
You’d have to think the folks at Gatorade would rather spread the wealth after giving the National Softball Player of the Year award last year to then-junior Taylor McQuillin of FAB 50 No. 1 ranked Mission Viejo (Calif.).
Taylor is having an even better year so far in 2015: she hasn’t lost whereas last season she did have one loss, to Pacifica, in a regular season ending meaningless game.
Taylor had another strong night Thursday as the Diablos beat Newbury 12-2 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section – Div. II playoffs.
The Univ. of Arizona signee pitched a complete game (7 innings) victory with 14 K’s and gave up two late runs after Mater Dei jumped out to a 12-0 lead.
But as good as Taylor has been—and she’s been all but perfect–could Tannon Snow, the senior infielder from Chino Hills, possibly steal the National Player of the Year award away from Taylor?
You could make a strong case that, if the year were to end today, Snow would be the National Player of the Year.
Obviously, it’s going to revolve around how the rest of the playoffs go and there’s a lot of softball left to be played until the Southern Sectional finals the weekend of June 5th.
Taylor and Tannon’s teams wouldn’t even play each other if they made it to the finals as Tannon’s Chino Hills team is in Div. I (and has a very tough match-up next Tuesday against Canyon of Anaheim, which beat Hart tonight 10-0).
Tonight, though, Tannon did what she’s done all year—put up video game-like power numbers.
The Univ. of Washington signee had two home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, and eight total RBI, giving her 28 dingers for the year and 60 for her career—both California state records.
When you consider that two of the top players in college ball today, Sierra Romero of Michigan and Lauren Chamberlain of Oklahoma, both didn’t approach those numbers then you know Tannon is having a remarkable run.
The final score of 16-6, though, doesn’t indicate how Chino Hills looked to be in trouble. The Huskies trailed Vista Murrieta 6-3 in the 5th inning and 6-4 in the 6th before Snow’s two-run double tied the game.
Chino Hills exploded from there, scoring 12 runs in the inning to move on, but it may be much tougher against Canyon which is led by senior pitcher Hailey Hilburn who has signed with Utah, has 20 wins this season and is limiting opponents to a .144 batting average.
Canyon also has a slugger of its own: infielder Paulina Anasis (Northwestern) who is hitting .414 with 30 RBI.
Ironically, Paulina, Tannon, Taylor and Taylor’s standout teammate, Alyssa Palomino (Arizona), all play for the top club team in the country: the OC Batbusters-Haning/Stith team which won the PGF 18U Nationals last year.
Palomino earlier this year held the state career record when she hit her 55th career homer in April, only to see Snow go on an amazing tear that has the Chino Hills star at 60 HRs right now.
But, again, if Tannon and Chino Hills are knocked out Tuesday in the second round, Alyssa could play several more games and possibly re-take the lead… and the record.
It will be a fun few weeks to watch as right now you’d have to say a California slugger and pitcher are the leading contenders for National Player of the Year honors.
For more on Tannon Snow’s amazing year, click here on the article we recently did titled “Tannon Shattering Calif. Records.”