The 2026 softball season was really solid for Section 1. Two teams made it to state finals. Even though both Pearl River and Dobbs Ferry came up short, Section 1 shined in the postseason awards. Thirty players garnered All-State Honors and Section 1 had a coach named New York State Coach of the Year.
Behind that will be the Journal News/lohud All-Stars, which we’ll release soon. But, with an argument to be made for a handful of stars who shined brightest, we’re having a readers’ choice poll for the lohud Softball Player of the Year, presented by White Plains Hospital.
This poll will not determine which athletes are eventually named our Westchester/Putnam and Rockland players of the year, but the poll winner will be recognized in our All-Star segment. It’s also an opportunity for our readers to share their opinions on who had the most impressive season.
The poll is open until 3 p.m. on July 5. Read below about the candidates and place your votes.
Katie Attwood, Tuckahoe
The junior led the Tigers to their fifth straight Section 1 Class C championship. She had another stellar season in the circle with a 14-5 record with 110 innings pitched. Attwood had a 0.82 ERA with 13 earned runs allowed and she struck out 240 batters. Trying to face her as an opponent batting was tough, as the opponents had a .119 average against her. And as a hitter, Attwood raked. She had a .563 batting average with 40 hits, 39 RBI, 12 doubles, six triples and five home runs. She hit safely in 18 of 21 games. She hit 100 hit and 100 RBI career milestones. Attwood garnered first team all-state in Class C.
Victoria Baron, Dobbs Ferry
The Eagles eighth-grade ace had a breakout season for the Section 1 Class B champions. In 20 games, Baron had a 16-4 record leading the team to their first ever NYSPHSAA Class B final appearance. She pitched 120 innings, allowing 41 earned runs for a 2.40 ERA. She issued 35 walks and struck out 151 batters. At the plate in 24 games, she had a .385 batting average, 25 hits, and 19 RBI. Baron earned third-team all-state honors.
Sophia Gutierrez, Eastchester
The junior catcher was a key player in the Eagles getting a Section 1 Class AA championship for the first time since 1991. The Binghamton commit finished the year with a .457 batting average. She had 37 hits in 81 at bats, 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 33 runs scored and 40 RBI. Gutierrez earned first team all-state in Class AA.
Tara Murphy, North Rockland
Murphy was one of the leaders of the Red Raiders this season. The Mercy-bound senior was great at the plate as she batted .507 with a .581 on base percentage, a .945 slugging percentage and a 1.526 OPS. She had 37 hits, six doubles, four triples, six home runs, six stolen bases, 31 runs scored and 39 RBI. Murphy was the ace of the staff with a 15-3 record. In 121 2/3 innings pitched, she allowed 27 earned runs for a 2.00 ERA. She gave up 84 hits, issued 36 walks and struck out 153. Defensively, she had a 97.14 fielding percentage. Murphy picked up first team all-state honors in Class AAA.
Ava Papaleo, Ursuline
Papaleo concluded her high school career in style. She finished the season with a .548 batting average, a .685 on-base percentage, a 1.177 slugging percentage, and a 1.862 OPS. She had 34 hits, 13 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 37 runs scored, 21 walks (13 of which were intentional), 19 stolen bases and 31 RBI. The University of Virginia bound senior only struck out three times in 89 plate appearances. To add to her storybook resume, Papaleo earned New York State Gatorade Player of the Year and NYS Class AA player of the year and first team all-state honors.
Ashlyn Ryan, Pearl River
The freshman ace was a driving force behind the Pirates’ run to the team’s first NYSPHSAA Class A appearance since 2010. Ryan finished her season with a 20-4 record. In 152 innings pitched, he had a 1.06 ERA, a .74 WHIP, 18 walks and struck out 162. Opponents had a hard time against Ryan in the circle. They only hit .165 against her. She picked up first team all-state honors in Class A.
Carley Voce, Clarkstown South
The Lafayette-bound senior for basketball finished her Vikings softball career leading the team to a Class AAA Section 1 title in a thriller of a game. In the run to the Section 1 title game, Voce hit for the cycle in a Section 1 semifinal against Arlington. The team MVP finished the season with a .443 batting average. She was third on the team in doubles (14), second on the team in triples (two) and led the Vikings in home runs (10) and RBI (35). Voce finished her Vikings career with 116 hits and 109 RBI. She garnered second team all-state honors in Class AAA.
Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie; @LoHudSoftball
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Softball 2026 readers choice vote, presented by White Plains Hospital
Reporting by Debbie Schechter, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Debbie Schechter, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
