CHERRY TWP — Gabby Stewart's legs have carried her to prodigious spring.

In not one sport, but two.

Stewart, a junior, is batting .667 with 24 stolen bases at the top of the order for the 19-1 Moniteau softball team.

But that may not be her biggest accomplishment.

Stewart is also the only athlete in the state, boy or girl, who will be competing in four individual events at the PIAA Track and Field Championships this weekend at Shippensburg University.

Stewart qualified in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter run and the triple jump at the District 9 championship meet last week.

“It means a lot to me,” Stewart said. “It's very special.”

Stewart decided to compete in all four — another rarity.

Often, athletes decide to focus on one event at the state level.

But for Stewart, it's a chance for her to get noticed — something that, to her befuddlement hasn't happened yet for her on the softball field.

“It's a chance for colleges to look at me,” Stewart said.

Moniteau softball coach Dan Beebe is also confused as to why Stewart has not drawn more attention for softball.

Stewart learned how to bat left-handed six years ago and has turned into a potent force at the plate from that side, which allows her to use her blazing speed.

“She's a nightmare as far as defense is concerned,” Beebe said. “If you play up, she'll just hit it past you. If you play back, she'll lay one down and beat it out. She plays center field and has the strongest arm on the team. She's a real dual threat.

“Some schools may still come,” Beebe added. “She's a perfect fit at the Division II level and she was able to carry the load of playing two sports at an elite level. That's unique.”

At the state meet, Stewart certainly wants to put her name on the map. But that's not her only goal.

“I'm celebrating at this point,” Stewart said. “Before the season, I never would have imagined this. I'm basically celebrating (the Moniteau girls track and field team's first ever District 9 championship) and I just want to do my best in all four events.”

While she is seeded low in the running events, she sits ninth in the state in the triple jump with a season-best leap of 36 feet, ¾ inches.

Not too shabby for an athlete who just began competing in the event two weeks into this season.

“We lost basically all our jumpers from last season,” Stewart said. “And (girls track and field coach Sue Scialabba) was trying everyone out at jumps.”

Stewart impressed immediately.

In her first meet, she jumped 35-8.

It wasn't all smooth sailing, though.

“There were some growing pains at the beginning,” Stewart said. “Once I started to relax, I started to do better.”

Stewart is most proud of the way she was able to balance two sports and schoolwork during a hectic spring.

“It was a challenge, especially this year,” Stewart said. “I was starting to look at colleges, keeping my SAT score up, doing my schoolwork and running track meets and playing softball games. I couldn't lose sight of school being the most important.”

When it comes to colleges, Stewart is playing that by ear.

Softball or track? It's a complex question.

“It would be a tough decision,” she said. “It will come down to what schools have an engineering program, what kind of scholarship opportunities, practice schedule, study time. That'll all go into the decision.”