Chamberlain’s Bell earns state player of the year

Posted Jun 6, 2012 by Rick Harmon

Updated Jun 6, 2012 at 12:25 PM

Bianka Bell of Chamberlain has been awarded the Gatorade Florida Softball Player of the Year. 

Now a finalist for the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award, to be announced later this month,  Bell is the first Chief to earn the Gatorade Softball Player of the Year.

The 5-foot-6 senior shortstop led the Chiefs (27-5) to the Class 7A state championship this past season. Bell batted .731 with 11 home runs, 52 runs scored, 35 RBI and a 1.366 slugging percentage. The Tampa Tribune Player of the Year, she batted .727 in the postseason with four home runs, 19 runs scored and 12 RBI in seven games — all while playing with an injured right eye as a result of an on-field collision late in the regular season.

Bell has maintained a 4.35 weighted GPA in the classroom. A member of the Chamberlain High Art Club and her local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, she helped organize a softball camp with the proceeds benefitting the family of a child with leukemia.

“Hands down, Bianka Bell is the best hitter I’ve ever seen at the high school level,” said Doug Powell, head coach of rival Bradenton Braden River High. “She’s also a very solid defensive player as well. She carried her team to a great season.”

Bell has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at LSU this fall.