Trib HSSN softball player of the week – Toryn Fulton
School: Franklin Regional
Class: Senior
Position: Shortstop
#Earned: This past week was a microcosm of the already dominant season that Toryn Fulton is having. On Tuesday at McKeesport, Franklin Regional had to rally twice to win 6-4 in eight innings. Fulton finished 2 for 4 with a run scored, a double, a home run and three RBIs. The next day in a section home game against Kiski Area, Fulton nearly repeated the same line. The senior shortstop was 2 for 3 with three runs scored, a double, another home run and three RBIs as the Panthers pounded the Cavaliers, 12-2. The perfect week concluded for Franklin Regional with a third straight section triumph and the second on the road as they edged host Latrobe, 4-3. Fulton was unable to do much with her bat as she got the full ‘respect’ treatment from the Wildcats, walking four times, two of then intentional. She still helped the team with aggressive work on the basepaths and two runs scored.
Background: Fulton will continue her academic and softball career in the fall at the University of South Florida. Her offensive numbers this season are staggering. She has a .615 batting average with five doubles, two triples, five home runs, 16 runs scored and 16 RBIs. She has a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.538 slugging percentage. Toryn has an older brother Gunner who is a 6-foot-5 goaltender on the Robert Morris D-III club hockey team, and her younger brother Nathan is a junior at Franklin Regional. Their dad, Bill Fulton, was a star baseball player at Penn Hills in the 1980s and was a third-round draft pick of the New York Yankees in 1983. He pitched in three games for the Yankees in 1987 before arm problems forced him from the game. Toryn might carry a sweet stick to the plate, but she is not a big fan of sweet treats. She is a big fan of root beer, though.
What coach says: “In the McKeesport game, we fell behind early and what stood out was her calmness and the way she talks to the other girls,” Franklin Regional coach Jim Armstrong said. “We made some errors, and we were not that sharp, but she just reminds people to relax and that it is just a game.”
“The game against Kiski the following day was a bit different,” Armstrong said. “We did fall behind in the first inning, but we came right back and we put some runs up. We were out in front pretty good, and she was pretty much stealing at will. I coach first base, and she was on deck. I told her in the circle to not be stealing anymore. She says to me, ‘OK, how about if I just hit a home run.’ I told her that’s OK, and the first pitch was a homer to left field.”
“The Latrobe game was frustrating to her, but she also understands that people are going to do it,” Armstrong said of the four walks, two intentional. “Adrianna (Martz) has been doing a good job behind her, plus walking her with no one on is like giving her a triple. The walks at Latrobe were pretty much all intentional. I feel like if you are going to intentionally walk someone, you should have to pitch to them. You never know what can happen.”
“I am not sure how much physically she has improved because in my mind she has always been a great player. She does not pay attention to her stats, and I think what I am the most proud of is her academic achievements. She played basketball this year, and the team had a great run, plus she was coming to our offseason workouts and juggling working at one of the training facilities here in town. Doing all of these things she has been on the ‘Highest Honors with Distinction’ list this whole school year.”
“She is a great leader. Her personality is perfect for team. We have some young girls, and I think when they see how she and Ciara (Camacho) carry themselves. Those two are the captains, and they have two different personalities. Ciara is the high-energy, moving and grooving one, Toryn is the calm, making jokes and doing her thing one. Toryn also being a captain is learning about how to deal with players and the game in a different way than just being a player. I am sure later in life, she will be a great coach.”
A look back at the 2024 Trib HSSN Softball Players of the Week
Week 11 – Zoe Krizan, Thomas Jefferson
Week 10 – Shelby Telegdy, Elizabeth Forward
Week 9 – Gabby Perod, Neshannock
Week 8 – Emma Paul, Armstrong
Week 7 – Alivia Lantzy, Avonworth
Week 6 – Addison Deal, Laurel
Week 5 – Bailey Barnyak, Carmichaels
Week 4 – Mackenzie Reese, Hampton
Week 3 – Sydney Gonglik, Bentworth
Week 2 – Lexie Hames, Seneca Valley
Week 1 – Sydney Sekely, South Park