Doubling up: AC stars sweep Big 30 awards | Newsletter

The elite company of a Big 30 Softball Player or Pitcher of the Year became a bit more crowded this year.

Over the course of the year, three Big 30 teams — all in Allegany County — looked primed to go far in their postseasons. And sure enough, Wellsville, Bolivar-Richburg and Friendship/Scio all did that in Section 5’s Class B, C and D, respectively.

The leaders of all three dominant teams earned an honor from the Big 30 All-Star committee, with four different players taking home a major award in 2023.

Since 2021, the Times Herald has recognized both a Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year in baseball and softball. But this year, both distinctions proved too difficult to recognize just one player each.

Out of a field of three pitching nominees — Wellsville’s Makenzie Cowburn, Friendship/Scio’s Nevaeh Ross and Otto-Eldred’s Bri Heller — Cowburn and Ross earned Co-Pitcher of the Year honors.

And among three players nominated for the…