Bollinger Credits Her Team

On the day Tia Bollinger was recognized as the best high school softball player in the country, she talked about her teammates.

Acknowledging the contributions of the often forgotten catcher and other teammates, the Mater Dei pitcher accepted the Gatorade National High School Softball Player of the Year award on the Mater Dei campus Thursday in front of about 400 students and fans.

“Catchers are the unsung heroes,” said Bollinger, whose 30-2 record and 0.03 earned-run average helped the Monarchs win the first Serra League title and reach the Southern Section championship game. “Softball is a team sport, and my coaches and teammates share in this honor.”

Bollinger spoke fondly of former catchers Sabrina Smith and Courtney Ryan, and current catchers Michelle Hoffmann and Jessica Gonzalez, for going “beyond the call of duty” by attending her private pitching lessons and helping in her growth.

Bollinger is the third consecutive player from the Southern Section player named the top player nationally. At her side Thursday was 1998 winner Amanda Freed, who attended Pacifica and now pitches at UCLA, and ’99 winner Maureen LeCocq of West Hills Chaminade, a pitcher at Stanford.

The award factored in academic achievement and overall character. She has a 3.7 grade-point average, scored 1,170 on the SAT, and also volunteered with the Special Olympics.