Some players make an impact on offense, and some on defense. A few players make an impact on both offense and defense. Mt. Shasta Lady Bear catcher Tori Weatherford is one of those “few.”

The Lady Bears had a solid showing in the Lady Miner Softball Tourney last weekend, finishing third. Tori was one of their standout players, especially in the first two games.

In game-one against Corning, Tori did well with the bat, going 1/3 with a double, but her biggest impact on her team’s success came in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Mt. Shasta went into the inning up 3-1. Corning scored to make it 3-2, and had a runner on first with two outs. The runner attempted to steal second, but Tori came up firing to shortstop Donnetta Young for the tag to end the game. The play wasn’t even close.

In game-two, an 11-6 win over Yreka, Tori pulverized the ball. She went 3/3 with two homeruns and a double, driving in five runs and scoring a pair herself.

To put hitting two taters in a single game into perspective, no one in the Shasta Cascade League has more than two homeruns this season. Tori and teammate Kayla Spini each have two. In the North Section, four players have two homeruns for the season, and one has three. None have more than one in a game, except Tori. You just don’t see double-dingers very often in softball.

Tori has been excellent at the plate all year. She’s hitting .465 (2nd on the team), with 16 RBI (tied for 1st), and 14 runs scored (2nd). Her on base percentage is tops on the Lady Bears at .767.

And oh yeah, Tori just happens to be half of one of the best pitcher/catcher duos in the area (With Spini, who is also great at the plate).

So Tori, your offensive/defensive showing has earned you an Impact Player Award.

Note: some of you may be wondering why Tori is wearing a mask in her picture, while all the other Impact Players have had a simple mug shot.

First, she’s a catcher. And like hockey goalies, catchers just aren’t the same without the mask.

Second (the real reason), once all the local teams were eliminated from the tourney, the weather no longer felt the need to cooperate and it started raining, blowing, and getting really cold.

That led to us hurrying to get the photo. When I got to my computer and looked at the photo, I decided it really didn’t measure up. So, I contacted one of SiskiyouYouth’s frequent photo contributors, Suzzanne Lunney, who happened to have a great shot of Tori, with the mask on.

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The Impact Player Award is given on a monthly basis and goes to Siskiyou County high school athletes, male or female, that have had a significant impact on the success of their team. I select the players based on my own observations, often in consultation with the player’s coaches.

A total of four awards may be given each month and are not school specific; they can go to a player at any school that Siskiyou Youth covers. Winners receive Impact T-shirts that were designed by Golden Grotto. The T-shirts and award are cosponsored by Siskiyou Youth and NorCal Classic Hits radio 102.3/101.7.