There are plenty of shortstops in Western New York with rifle arms, who hit for a high average and are smart on the base paths. So why would Alexis Wayne of Depew be singled out as the Player of the Year?

Wayne likely cemented her place in Section VI softball history with a series of games in which her timing couldn’t have been better.

The senior shortstop was responsible for four walk-off wins, two in extra innings, against Amherst, Maryvale, Grand Island and rival Lancaster. It was that kind of clutch hitting that earned her the area’s top individual honor and a spot on the 2009 All-Western New York softball team, chosen by area coaches.

She won the game against Lancaster, 3-2, with a home run blast in the bottom of the ninth that easily cleared the fence.

“Player stats are one thing, but you talk about the number of clutch hits, hits in the bottom of the seventh or extra innings, and every time she was involved,” said Depew coach Dan Seelig. “It goes beyond the numbers.”

But Wayne had those, too. She batted .489 with 31 RBIs. She ended her five-year varsity career with a .427 average and 116 RBIs. As a sophomore she broke the school record for hits in a season with 46. Wayne is taking her talents to Niagara after accepting a partial athletic-academic scholarship.

Senior Chelsea Dustin earned Western New York Pitcher of the Year honors after leading West Seneca East to the program’s first Section VI title. East also won ECIC II with a 12-0 record. Dustin was unhittable at times, finishing 17-1 with an 0.32 ERA. She had two perfect games, another no-hitter and struck out an average of 12.76 per game. Dustin has five different pitches and has been clocked between 60-62 mph.

“The great thing about Chelsea is she’s a confident pitcher. She tries to dominate every batter, even if she knows them and they’re friends, she wants to be overpowering,” said first-year East coach Sam Gioia.

She’s attending the University of Wyoming next season, but is not expected to play softball.

North finds its way

What a year it was for Williamsville North. The Spartans knocked off Clarence on the way to winning the Class AA sectional title, its first in program history. Sophomore pitcher Robin Kennery was named All-Western New York for North after batting .444. Teammate Corrin Genovese was tabbed as Player of the Year in ECIC I.

Other champions this season were: West Seneca East (Class A), Fredonia (Class B), Randolph (Class C), Forestville (Class D) and St. Mary’s (Monsignor Martin Association).

Despite reaching the state’s Class B title game, Fredonia has yet to bring home a title. This year it fell to Mechanicville, 3-1. Senior second baseman Anne Wasik represents the Hillbillies on the All-Western New York team.

“It’s certainly a big disappointment to not have won but, when you look at the accomplishments of this kids . . . [Against Mechanicville] it was like the gods were conspiring against us,” said Fredonia coach Dave Polechetti. “We just couldn’t put the right hits together.”

Fredonia finished with a school-record 25 wins against five losses.

Randolph’s Robin Maycock was named Western New York Coach of the Year. The Cardinals finished 18-2 after reaching the state’s Class C semifinals.

The title for St. Mary’s was its first since 1990. The Lancers beat Immaculata, 7-2, in the final, topping a team they had lost to twice during the regular season.

Diamond dust

The only repeat on All-Western New York is pitcher Jennifer Sansano of Clarence. She enters her senior year with 574 strikeouts. She had 247 K’s this season as the Red Devils won ECIC I with a 14-0 record.

Section VI had six players named first team All-New York State by the state Sportswriters Association: Wayne (Class A, Depew), Dustin (Class A, West Seneca East), Wasik (Class B, Fredonia), Sarah Shembeda (Class B, Olean), Stephanie Simmeth (Class C, St. Mary’s) and Anna Nietupski (Class C, Cassadaga Valley).