Corning's Atalyia Rijo named Gatorade New York Softball Player of the Year
Corning-Painted Post senior Atalyia Rijo has been named Gatorade New York Softball Player of the Year for the 2022 season.
Rijo, who will attend the University of Arkansas on a softball scholarship, is the second Section 4 player to earn the honor in the last three years. Deposit pitcher Makenzie Stiles was the 2019 winner.
Rijo is now eligible to be selected Gatorade National Player of the Year, which will be announced later in June. State and national winners are chosen by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee.
Sterling senior season for Rijo
Rijo, a 5-foot-7 shortstop, closed a varsity softball career that began in eighth grade by batting .585 with seven home runs, five triples, 21 RBIs and 43 runs this season. She helped the Hawks to an 18-2 record that included the Southern Tier Athletic Conference tournament title and a berth in the Section 4 Class AA championship game.
She was a first-team Class AA all-state selection as a freshman and junior by the New York State Sports Writers and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports after earning sixth-team honors in eighth grade. This year's all-state team has not been announced yet.
Feature from 2020: Rijo among nation's top-rated sophomore softball players
Rijo helped Corning to the 2019 Class AA state title and a repeat sectional championship last year after the 2020 season was canceled because of the pandemic. She has been named to the Dominic Republic national team and is Extra Inning Softball's eighth-ranked prospect in the Class of 2022.
Her father, Fernando, is a native of the Dominican Republic who played professional baseball. Her mom, Audrey, is a former softball standout and an assistant coach for Corning.
High standards on and off the field
The Gatorade honor takes into consideration athletic excellence, academic achievements and character displayed on and off the field.
Rijo maintains an A average and is a member of the student council. Volunteer activities include helping at a food bank and with elementary school initiatives.
Quotable
"I have never seen a player, boy or girl, with the skill set of Atalyia Rijo," Ithaca coach Gordon Bergent said in a press release from Gatorade. "She has a cannon for an arm and I can't tell you how many times I've watched her make a play that I thought was impossible. She also has one of the most impressive offensive games in the country."
Said Corning coach Mike Johnston this season: "She just makes plays that aren't normal. They're routine for her. Any other kid in high school it's a difficult one, but she makes things look easy."
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Atalyia Rijo of Corning named Gatorade NY Softball Player of the Year
