Hickory's Gniadek is All-Tidewater Softball Player of the Year

Posted to: High Schools Sports

Hickory pitcher Jenn Gniadek, the All-Tidewater Player of the Year, pitched four no-hitters, including two in the state tournament, and posted 18 shutouts this spring. (Delores Johnson / The Virginian-Pilot)

By Mike Keech
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 18, 2008

CHESAPEAKE

If the video for the Tom Petty hit “I Won’t Back Down” were remade, it would be fitting to give Hickory pitcher Jennifer Gniadek a major role.

“The thing that impressed me most about Gniadek was that regardless of the count, she never gives in to the batter,’’ Deep Run coach Stu Brown said after Gniadek no-hit his team in the Group AAA state softball semifinals. “She keeps coming at you. That’s what makes her so tough.”

Added Hickory coach Ryan Wieck: “Facing Jenn is like having someone step on your throat. She is relentless.”

Hickory catcher Michelle Lighton, who called all of Gniadek’s pitches, raved about her battery mate’s unflappable demeanor.

“Jenn is always in control,” Lighton said. “She knows when to throw what pitch and where to throw it.”

Gniadek, who will take her talents to Florida International in Miami this fall, went 23-1 with a 0.30 earned run average for the state champion Hawks.

She recorded 269 strikeouts in 184 innings. A 5-foot-11 righthander, Gniadek tossed four no-hitters, including two in the state tournament, and posted 18 shutouts.

Gniadek was nearly as dominant offensively, batting in the No. 3 hole. She hit .418 with 23 RBIs, five home runs and 38 hits.

That overall productivity made her a runaway selection as this year’s All-Tidewater softball Player of the Year. Already the Eastern Region Player of the Year, Gniadek is a strong bet to receive state Group AAA Player of the Year recognition as well.

She worked on pitching four days a week for more than a year and opened the season in peak condition.

The premier conditioning was evident in her continued success despite the intense heat at the state tournament.

“I had something left at the end of the game,” she said after the championship victory. “This is what all the hard work was geared for.

“There was never any doubt that we had the talent to win a state championship. We developed the right mind-set early, took no opponent lightly and maintained confidence.”

Quite a run for a player who opened her sophomore year as the Hawks’ leftfielder.

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