York's Kortes is Western Maine Conference Softball Player of Year for 3rd straight season

YORK, Maine — For the third straight season, the Western Maine Conference Softball Player of the Year award is heading to York.

York High School's McKayla Kortes first won the award after her sophomore season. She won again last year as a junior, and she completed the three-peat by winning it in her senior season.

"It's definitely pretty cool, it's a big accomplishment and an honor," said Kortes, who will continue her academic and softball careers at Division I Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. "I don't take that lightly. It was a goal of mine coming into the year, and it was a huge accomplishment to get it done. I know Player of the Year three times is a pretty special thing and not many people do that."

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Kortes, who led the Wildcats to the Class B state championship last year, will go for a second consecutive championship Saturday when top-seeded York faces Nokomis in the Class B title game. Game time is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine.

"She wasn't only acknowledged by people who see her play every day, but (other) coaches as well," York head coach Kevin Giannino said. "So that's a big honor for her to be nominated and (winning). I am really happy about that, very impressive."

Giannino said there were a number of other players in the Western Maine Conference who put together nice seasons, but "McKayla is McKayla", he said.

"She's committed and the way she was hitting and pitching early on, I think that cleared the path for her," Giannino said. "I congratulate the coaches that recognized her."

Giannino said a third straight Player of the Year award "meant a lot" to Kortes.

"It's something that she really wanted to do," Giannino said. "Winning it in her senior year was very important for her to do. There's pressure that comes along with that, but she handled it well and she finished strong."

Kortes felt she had to "prove" she should win the award, and worked to achieve it. She said her versatility is what separates her from other players.

"I can do both, in the (circle) and at (at the plate)," she said. "A lot of players are just one-sided, but that's what makes me special, I think."

Impressive stats - both from pitcher's circle and batter's box

Kortes went 15-0 with an ERA of 0.90 this season, striking out 134 batters in 87 1/3 innings.

She opened the season with a five-inning, 10-strikeout, no-hitter against Wells, a 10-0 win. She also struck out 10 against Poland; had 12 strikeouts over Falmouth; eight strikeouts in a one-hit win over Fryeburg; 10 strikeouts against Freeport; and a one-hit, 11-strikeout performance against Greely.

She was just as dominant in the batter's box, hitting .606 with five home runs and 40 RBIs.

She had a home run and three RBIs against Greely; she had a grand slam against Cape Elizabeth; four hits (three doubles) against Gray-New Gloucester; three hits and two RBIs against Morse; two home runs and nine RBIs in another game against Cape Elizabeth; and three hits and three RBIs against Poland.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York's Kortes earns third straight WMC Softball Player of the Year