LebCo Female Athlete of the Week: Chloe Shirk (Week Ending May 5, 2024)

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Chloe Shirk

During the Week of April 29th, ELCO Softball went 3-1, part of their best season since 1997. In those games, Chloe Shirk went a combined 9-15 with nine RBI. She had four doubles, a triple, and a home run. This string of performances led the LebCoSports.com voters to choose Shirk as the LebCo Female Athlete of the Week. 

The sophomore Shirk has been solid for the Raiders since arriving at the varsity level last season. This year, she is batting .384 with an on-base percentage of .459. Through twenty games, she has 24 hits and 17 RBI. Being a dynamic offensive player is not something that has happened this season. As a freshman, she actually set the ELCO single-season record for RBI when she drove home 32 runs. 

In terms of her evolution as a player, Coach Allen Phillips said, “I’m very excited for Chloe to get this recognition. Last season, her freshman year, she had several big, towering home runs. However, this season, her swing developed into more of a line drive swing. However, they are crazy hard-line drives. There’s nobody more dangerous in the four-hole.”

Shirk’s contributions to the Raiders do not stop with her ability to hit. Phillips praised Shirk, saying, “Chloe is the most unselfish young lady I’ve coached in 30 years. She’s truly a humble superstar who has earned the right to play wherever she wants, and she prefers 1B. However, she is the very first to volunteer wherever else she is needed and often volunteers long before being asked.”

Earlier this season, she stepped up to play catcher when there was a need at the position. She learned the position on the fly. She has now played the position for fourteen games. In those contests, the Raiders were 12-2.

The Raiders finished the regular season with a 15-5 record. That win total is the most for ELCO Softball in a season since 1997. They are currently the #4 seed in 4A, as the District 3 Championship is set to begin next week. 

Shirk finished the regular season as a First Team Section III All-Star for the 2nd straight year. She will also receive her 2nd All-State nomination when the ballot applications come out. Coach Phillips said, “Hopefully, the All-State powers recognize her talent as much as we do here at ELCO.”

Even once this season ends (hopefully not for a while), she will still be busy as a year-round athlete. In addition to playing travel softball for the Vikings Softball Club, Shirk is a very serious volleyball player, playing both for ELCO and at the club level. The time management aspect of juggling two travel sports, in addition to school sports, is something that Shirk has learned to manage. 

When it comes to which sport she likes more, Volleyball or Softball, Shirk has her sights set on playing Volleyball at the collegiate level. Given the talent level she has shown thus far, it seems like she could have her pick. When it comes to a career, she is already leaning toward radiology. 

While she has a solid plan for the future, Shirk’s more immediate goal is to make a run at the District 3 Championship. However, she expressed that she just wants to have fun with her teammates.

We wish her and all of her Raider teammates the best of luck in in just having a lot of fun in their journey together as they look to extend their season as long as possible.

Photos provided by ELCO Softball

Click to read about the LebCo Male Athletes of the Week: Adrian Gonzalez & Colten Shaffer

FFor a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting: April 29 – May 5

Previous Winners

Katelyn Brenner (Weeks of March 11th, 18th)

Abby Hassler (Week of March 25th)

Danika Setlock (Week of March 25th)

Abby Palkovic (Week of April 1st)

Addison Hollenbach (Week of April 8th)

Zariyah Whigham (Week of April 15th)

Abby Berarducci (Week of April 22nd)

Gabby Smith (Week of April 22nd)

Alivia Kline (Week of April 29th)