Freeport softball ready to take next step

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, March 14, 2018 | 5:39 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

With five seniors and eight starters returning from a team that belted 30 homers and 40 doubles on its way to a second consecutive appearance in the WPIAL quarterfinals, Freeport softball boasts a wealth of experience it hasn't seen in a long time.

The past success has been enjoyable, but the Yellowjackets aren't resting on their laurels.

With the talent returning, there's a yearning within the team to elevate the program by competing for a section title and making a deeper run in the postseason.

“There's a different vibe this year,” second baseman Ashleigh Schmidt said.

“We want more, because we've been stuck in the same place,” shortstop Claire Crytzer said. “We kind of plateaued the last two years, but this year we are ready to take that next step.”

Schmidt and Crytzer join Jenna Manke, Jenna Hildebrand and Becca Fennell as five seniors who have logged significant playing time. They are complemented by junior Ally DeJidas and sophomore Tori Radvan, who were major contributors last season.

“We're used to having maybe one or two seniors, so this is unique,” Freeport coach Sam Ross said. “One thing about these seniors is they are experienced, and most of them are four-year letter winners. That game experience is something you can't fake. You either have it or you don't.”

The Yellowjackets hope that experience can give them a boost in a challenging Section 1-3A. Alle-Kiski rivals Burrell, Deer Lakes and Valley reside in the section, as well as East Allegheny and a formidable South Allegheny team. The Yellowjackets tied with South Allegheny for second place behind Deer Lakes last year.

They expect section games will be difficult again this year, but welcome the challenge.

“Every game you have to step up and be playing at your highest level,” Crytzer said. “As a team I think we like those battles. It keeps us pushing to be better, because we really want to beat those teams. We want to be on top.”

Not only did Freeport hit for power last year, but it also sported a .421 team batting average.

Crytzer hit six homers, including a two-run blast that propelled the Yellowjackets to a 6-4 win over Steel Valley in the first round of the playoffs. Manke and Fennell had four homers apiece. Schmidt had six doubles and a .391 average. DeJidas carried a .625 average last season with seven doubles and four homers, and Radvan hit .551 with seven doubles and four homers.

“We have the mentality that every time we step into the box that we're going to hit the ball solidly,” Crytzer said. “From hitter one through nine in the lineup the expectation is to get on base and get a hit every time.”

Added Schmidt: “We work on the little things with hitting a lot and each one helps us with the big things when we get into game situations.”

The one question mark for the Yellowjackets is pitching. Kristie Radvan, who is now at Pitt-Johnstown, pitched the bulk of Freeport's innings last year and posted a 1.85 ERA. DeJidas, Schmidt and Tori Radvan, Kristie's younger sister, are options to take over in the circle.

“It's pretty even right now between the three of them,” Ross said. “Hopefully, we get our exhibition games in so we can see them before we hit section play. If we use one of them then that's fine, but I expect to use more than one of them. Each girl has their own style and their own specialty.”

Freeport opens the season March 23 at Armstrong.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: Freeport