OBSERVER File Photo by Matt Spielman Falconer's Emily Rhinehart went 14-3 with a 1.54 earned run average while striking out 189 batters in 118 innings this spring.

Although Ellicottville won the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 4 softball title this spring, the Eagles split their regular-season matchups with second-place Falconer.

Now the teams are splitting the league’s top postseason awards.

Falconer senior Emily Rhinehart has been named the league’s Player of the Year while Eagles sophomore Katie Lafferty was named the Pitcher of the Year.

Rhinehart went 14-3 for the Golden Falcons, striking out 189 batters in 118 innings pitched. The right-hander pitched to a 1.54 earned run average and held opposing hitters to a .181 average. At the plate, Rhinehart hit .480 with 14 doubles, two triples and a home run while driving in 21 runs and scoring 31.

Lafferty threw every pitch for Ellicottville this season, going 13-4 with four shutouts. She struck out 187 batters in 111 innings, pitching to a 1.51 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. At the plate, Lafferty hit .421 with five doubles, a triple and four home runs.

Rhinehart was joined on the First Team by senior teammates Hannah Melquist, Emily Zaranek and Mylie Zaranek. Melquist hit .493 with 10 doubles, three triples and four home runs while driving in 34 runs and scoring 34; Emily Zaranek hit .507 with nine doubles, a triple and a home run while driving in 20 runs and scoring 22; and Mylie Zaranek hit .397 with four doubles, a triple and a home run while driving in 19 runs and scoring 30.

Lafferty was joined on the First Team by senior teammates Ande Northrup and Teaghan Finn, as well as junior teammate Riley Whitmer. Northrup hit .453 with a double while scoring 18 runs; Finn hit .273 with six doubles and a triple while scoring 13 runs; and Whitmer hit .382 with 15 runs scored.

Franklinville placed a pair of players on the First Team in junior Kaelyann Graves-Decker and freshman Grace Cornell. North Collins also had two girls recognized on the First Team with sophomore Lily Montaldi and junior Morgan Kreinheder. Portville junior Ella Warters and senior Isabella Morales were the final two First-Team selections.

Falconer’s Emily Hair was named the league’s Coach of the Year while Portville received the Team Sportsmanship Award. Individual Sportsmanship Award winners included: Cattaraugus-Little Valley junior Riley Preston, Ellicottville senior Delaney Myers, Falconer junior Rachael Swanson, Franklinville senior Makenzie Chase, Portville junior Ella Zeigler and North Collins senior Jenna Sickau.

FIRST TEAM

Emily Rhinehart, Falconer, Senior

Katie Lafferty, Ellicottville, Sophomore

Ande Northrup, Ellicottville, Senior

Riley Whitmer, Ellicottville, Junior

Teaghan Finn, Ellicottville, Senior

Hannah Melquist, Falconer, Senior

Emily Zaranek, Falconer, Senior

Mylie Zaranek, Falconer, Senior

Kaelyann Graves-Decker, Franklinville, Junior

Grace Cornell, Franklinville, Freshman

Lily Montaldi, North Collins, Sophomore

Morgan Kreinheder, North Collins, Junior

Ella Warters, Portville, Junior

Isabella Morales, Portville, Senior

SECOND TEAM

Carly Preston, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Junior

Madison Rogan, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Sophomore

Izzy Coburn, Ellicottville, Senior

Nylah Sharpe, Falconer, Senior

Khloe Livengood, Falconer, Senior

Mya Sullivan, Franklinville, Sophomore

Taylor Chase, Franklinville, Junior

Kallie Emke, North Collins, 7th Grade

Payton Gabel, North Collins, Freshman

Madison Ford, Portville, Senior

Sienna Schoonover, Portville, Freshman

HONORABLE MENTION

Cattaraugus-Little Valley: Abby Terhune (Soph.)

Ellicottville: Kiera Baldwin (Sr.)

Franklinville: Kiera Knobloch (Sr.), Alayna Spittler (Jr.)

North Collins: Ciara Stevens (7th), Mya Tanis (Jr.)

Portville: Kylie Maedl (Fresh.), Alexa Schoonover (Sr.)