Valley News Dispatch softball all-stars: Sophomore Emersyn Jones a power player for Knoch
Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year
Emersyn Jones
So., SS/P, Knoch
The Knoch softball team suffered a rare shutout loss on the final day of March.
The Knights collected just five hits that day and fell 6-0 to Section 1-4A rival Indiana.
But sophomore shortstop Emersyn Jones and the rest of the Knoch players knew they still had a chance to avenge that loss and keep their section title hopes alive.
When April 17 arrived, Knoch responded in a big way, and the 4-2 victory - part of a 13-game winning streak to close out the regular season - helped Knoch clinch a second straight section title.
Jones hit one of her team-best eight home runs that day.
"That win really showed our determination and hard work would pay off," Jones said. "We took so much from that first game and learned so much from it. We didn't let it bother us, but we certainly didn't forget it."
Jones again made her mark in a big way for the Knights who went 11-1 in the section to improve to 39-5 over the past four years.
She batted .508 (33 for 65) with a .562 on-base percentage and a 1.046 slugging percentage.
Of her 33 hits, 18 went for extra bases as she doubled nine times in addition to her eight hits that sailed over the fence.
Jones drove in 22 runs and scored 24 more.
In the pitching circle, she recorded an 0.70 ERA over 36 innings and finished 3-0.
With all that she accomplished on the field and her impact both on and off the diamond, Jones is this year's Valley News Dispatch Softball Player of the Year. She was selected from a strong group of area talent that produced many big moments throughout the 2026 season.
"I definitely put in a lot of work in the offseason," Jones said. "The mental part also had a lot to do with it, just being the most confident I could be when I stepped onto the field. I didn't let any outside noise get to me. No matter how I would do in one game, I approached the next game with a fresh and positive outlook."
Jones was named to the VND first team last year when she batted .509 with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs.
She said unity helped fuel the Knights throughout this season.
"We were such a close team," Jones said. "We all had the same goals right from the start and worked so well together. We had a great group of seniors who provided great leadership and guidance."
Knoch earned the No. 2 seed to the WPIAL Class 4A tournament. It was expected to be a deep and challenging field of teams, and the Knights found that out in a quarterfinal slugfest against North Catholic.
The teams combined for 23 runs on 25 hits - Knoch had 11 of the 25 with Jones hitting her final home run of the season - but the Trojans prevailed 13-10.
"That one hurt really bad because of what we knew we had and how far we knew we could go," Jones said.
"I don't think anyone will be fully over it, but I think that us returning players will use it as motivation going into next year."
Jones said she appreciated the opportunity to share the pitching circle with senior Marlee Fraser and junior Kaila Purcell. They spent nearly an equal amount of innings in the circle.
"We knew that whoever (coach Chris Gardner) sent out there that day, she would work her hardest with the support of the other two and the defense behind her," Jones said.
"We all just trusted in each other and trusted the defense. That really helped a lot."
Though Jones said she will miss greatly the core group of seniors - Fraser, Liz Danik, Lindsey Wise, Alena Tekely and Kaylee Bachman - she also is excited for the returning group and the younger talent who will be ready to step in next year.
"We will probably have to make some adjustments to how we do some things, but I think there are a lot of players ready to come in and work to keep this (winning) going," said Jones who is in the middle of a busy summer of softball with her Pittsburgh Passion club team.
Despite two full years of high school softball remaining, Jones is getting more and more into the college recruiting process with reaching out to as many colleges as she can, hearing back from schools and attending camps such as Robert Morris and Penn State.
"It can be stressful at times, but it also is exciting to see where this leads me," Jones said. "I am sure the fall will be fun, too. It is a reminder for me to always be at my best. I can't rest on past accomplishments. There is so much more work to do."
First Team
Addyson Caruso
Sr., 3B/C, Freeport
Caruso was a big part of the Yellowjackets' late-season fight to clinch a spot in the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs. A dependable hitter in the middle of the Freeport lineup, Caruso batted .354 (23 of 65) over 19 games. She collected eight extra-base hits, including three home runs, drove in a team-best 21 runs and scored 16 times.
Mikaila Ditty
So., P/INF, Apollo-Ridge
A VND honorable-mention selection last year as a freshman, Ditty didn't come close to experiencing a sophomore slump as she stepped up her game for the playoff-qualifying Vikings. She led the Apollo-Ridge offense with a .520 average (26 of 50) with 22 RBIs, five doubles, three triples, five home runs and 21 runs scored. She also was 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 52 1/3 innings.
Marlee Fraser
Sr., P/3B, Knoch
An impact player for several years for the Knights offense and defense, she helped the team deliver another section championship. In an offense that produced a collective .367 average, Fraser was one of the best, hitting .407 (22 of 54) with six doubles, two triples and four home runs, driving in 19 runs and scoring 21 more. She also was 7-0 in the pitching circle and worked a team-best 38 1/3 innings. Fraser fired a one-hitter against Freeport in April.
Jillian Haigh
Jr., SS/P, Fox Chapel
Haigh was already hitting at a high level for the Foxes when she stepped back into the pitching circle midseason for injured freshman Lexi Stabile. Haigh helped Fox Chapel forge a tie for second in Section 1-5A with Plum (8-4) and secure another trip to the WPIAL playoffs. The first-team section all-star as an infielder hit .484 (30 for 62) with seven doubles, three triples and five home runs. She drove in 21 runs and drew 13 walks. She also struck out 57 and walked nine over 63 1/3 innings.
Shelby Novak
Jr., P/OF, Burrell
Pitching or hitting, Novak again was a key part of the Bucs' run to second place in Section 1-3A and a berth in the WPIAL playoffs. She hit a team-best .418 (28 for 67) with a .500 on-base percentage, collecting eight doubles, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored. Novak also went 10-6 in the pitching circle with 68 strikeouts and a 4.37 ERA over 99 1/3 innings.
Alyssa Perona
Sr., 3B/DP, Kiski Area
The Saint Vincent softball commit gave opposing pitchers and defenses a lot to think about with her versatility at the plate and on the base paths in helping Kiski Area (14-6) qualify for the postseason out of Section 2-5A. The section first-team all-star hit .415 with 22 hits, six home runs and 27 RBIs. Perona was a VND honorable-mention selection last year.
Jocelyn Snyder
Sr., P/INF, Apollo-Ridge
The three-time VND first-team pick joined Ditty at the top of the Apollo-Ridge batting order and served her team in the pitching circle. She hit .510 (25 of 49) and led the team with 29 RBIs, also one of the top marks in the A-K Valley. Her 15 extra-base hits included nine doubles and four home runs. Her 24 runs scored also was a team best. Snyder also won four games in the pitching circle and struck out 56 over 37 2/3 innings.
Riley Stephans
Sr., P, Plum
The Mustangs mainstay and team captain shared Section 1-5A first-team pitching honors with Shaler state champion standout Bria Bosiljevac as Plum finished as the section runner-up and made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals. She logged 83 1/3 innings over 17 games with 96 strikeouts in a section with many strong offensive threats. The multi-year VND all-star surpassed 300 strikeouts for her varsity career. Stephans also batted .379 with 23 RBIs, six doubles and four home runs.
Alena Tekely
Sr., OF, Knoch
Another member of the heart-and-soul senior class at Knoch, Tekely produced at the plate as the Knights collected 16 wins against just three losses. She hit .426 (23 for 54) and delivered a .516 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage. She doubled five times and also hit a pair of home runs and recorded 22 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Liana Yusko
Sr., C, Plum
A rock behind the plate for the Mustangs defense who has consistent power with a bat in her hand, Yusko helped lead a potent Plum offense. She batted .429 (27 of 63) with a .952 slugging percentage. She hit eight home runs, doubled nine times and knocked in 26 runs. She also scored 18 runs.
Second Team
Joey Adams, Fr., 1B, Deer Lakes
Lily DeLuca, So., INF, Plum
Giuliana Foley, So, C/Utility, Fox Chapel
Addi Gourley, Sr., P/OF, Freeport
Kaila Purcell, Jr., P/OF, Knoch
Lindsey Wise, Sr., 2B/P, Knoch
Gabriella Warner, Fr., P, Springdale
Aubrey West, So., P/OF, Kiski Area
Addy Wojtczak, So., INF, Burrell
Izzy Zober, Fr., P/1B, Fox Chapel
Honorable Mention
Alexis Arms, Sr., 1B/P/OF, Highlands
Julie Bertino, Sr., C/INF, Apollo-Ridge
Liz Danik, Sr., OF/SS/1B, Knoch
Jaiden Gentile, Sr, INF, Plum
Sophia Gregg, Jr., INF, Burrell
Bianca Linkes, Fr., 1B/Utility, Leechburg
Grace Palko, So., C/INF, Freeport
Siena Plummer, Sr., OF, Deer Lakes
Dakota Rainey, So., 3B/OF, Kiski Area
Lexi Stabile, Fr., P/1B, Fox Chapel
Heidi Stiger, Jr., OF/C, Fox Chapel
Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 6:04 AM.