Joe Imel/Daily News Greenwood pitcher and 2006 Miss Softball winner Brittney York has been selected as the Daily News Female Athlete of the Year.

For the past three seasons, Greenwood’s Brittany York has been the most dominating softball player in the Fourth Region.

During that time York has received numerous awards – including Miss Softball. Today, she was named the first Bowling Green Daily News Female Athlete of the Year as the top Warren County prep athlete for the school year that ended last month.

York, who will play at the University of Louisville next season, was selected for the honor by the Daily News sports staff.

This past season, York helped lead the Lady Gators to their second Fourth Region championship. Greenwood advanced to the semifinals of the winners’ bracket of the KHSAA state softball tournament before being eliminated by Owensboro Catholic, who finished as state runner-up to Ryle.

In her final season, York batted .376 with two home runs, four triples and 25 RBIs. In the circle, she went 15-6 with a 1.29 ERA. She also had 137 strikeouts with only 19 walks.

&#8220She has done her part to help put and maintain Greenwood softball on the map,” Greenwood coach Penny Reece said. &#8220Her name is going to be around for a long time to come. I don’t know how you replace somebody like that, but we will find a way.”

York’s softball career started long before she ever got to Greenwood, however.

She began playing when she was 4 years old.

&#8220That was just in a little rec league,” York said. &#8220I started getting a passion for it when I was around 5 or 6 when I got put on a traveling team. Ever since then I’ve been playing softball. I can’t remember ever having a summer off.”

Early on, York was just another kid playing softball.

It wasn’t until later that she really became a standout player.

&#8220I don’t know if I was ever any better than the other kids, but I had a really good work ethic as a little kid,” York said. &#8220I would sit on the front porch and wait for my dad to come home from work so we could go throw or go hit.”

After playing a couple years of coach pitch and one year of slowpitch, York got her first taste of fastpitch.

&#8220Once I got into fastpitch, I never wanted to go back to slowpitch,” York said.

York started pitching at age 7 and has done it ever since.

&#8220It’s my favorite position on the field, but I love playing first and playing the outfield,” she said. &#8220Hitting is why I love the game so much. I just love getting up to the plate and it being just me and the pitcher.”

At Louisville, York won’t be pitching.

She was recruited for her hitting and will likely play either first base or in the outfield. This past season, York played first when not pitching for the Lady Gators, but she saw time in the outfield as an underclassman.

&#8220I’ve been pitching my whole life and I want to experience some new things,” York said. &#8220They told me that I could play the outfield and I am really excited. I love to pitch, but it’s not really something I wanted to do in college.”

Will she miss pitching, though?

&#8220I’ll probably miss it a little bit,” York said. &#8220I’ve had my share of it, though. I’ve had so many long, long, long hours of practice. I still love it, but it’s just something I feel like I need to lay down.”

The Daily News Male Athlete of the Year will be announced next Thursday.