North Hills softball dealing with key injury, young roster

By: Josh Rowntree
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

North Hills’ softball team entered the 2023 WPIAL playoffs with a veteran group that appeared to be on the verge of a deep run.

But reality, as they say, comes at you quickly. And now Indians coach Libby Gasior is using the lessons of last year to fuel a much different and much more inexperienced team in 2024.

“We have a good group of very, very young kids,” said Gasior, entering her 16th season in the dugout for North Hills. “It’s been a lot of fun. They’re young, eager.

“We have two seniors. It’s a challenge in the best kind of way, making sure that (the younger players) are getting the reps they need and doing the system that we’ve put in place.”

North Hills finished last season 14-3 and, as the No. 5 seed, were upset by 12th-seeded South Fayette, 6-5, in the WPIAL Class 5A first round.

“Coaches hold onto it longer than players do, that’s for sure,” Gasior said. “But our sophomores now got to see that nothing’s automatic. South Fayette was a really good team and they outplayed us that day, for sure. It’s not a series, it’s one game.

“It energized that freshmen group, seeing that it can end as soon as it begins. The goal is to get back there. It is a different makeup of who is in the field, but they’ve seen what it takes to get there.”

Over the last two years, the Indians have seen 17 seniors depart via graduation, leaving this year’s roster without much returning experience. In addition to the two seniors, North Hills has six juniors, eight sophomores and eight freshmen.

“They’re a positive group and they’re playing for each other, supporting each other,” Gasior added. “It’s been fun to watch them grow into that.”

The team’s top hitter back from last season is junior Addyson Wrigley, who will play first base.

“If we’re going to have success, she’ll definitely be a part of it,” Gasior said.

Senior Kaylee Bischoff will anchor right field. Savannah Bodnar is new to the program, but is a senior who will play center field.

“There are going to be some moving parts in terms of hot bats, who is making contact, things like that,” Gasior said. “We’re probably not going to have the power that we’ve had the last couple of years. But I think we can produce runs.”

The biggest moving part for the Indians is in the pitcher’s circle, where all-conference junior Alexa Edmunds is out with an injury for the foreseeable future, according to Gasior.

“She’s been a leader, she’s been helpful,” Gasior said. “But I know it’s hard for her. It’s a big part of her identity and she’s a competitive kid. And she had success last year there.”

North Hills’ catcher from a year ago, sophomore Abby Sutton, will fill in the void left by Edmunds after seeing some pitching time a year ago.

“She feels very at home there in the pitching spot,” Gasior said. “She probably felt a little more uncomfortable in the role we put her in last year. But I think she’s very eager. She’s very competitive and she wants to win. Her head’s always in it in that way. ‘What can I do to help my team the most?’”

The Indians will have to find a way to conquer a challenging section with Penn Hills, Fox Chapel, Oakland Catholic, Plum and Shaler, which reached the WPIAL 5A semifinals last season and who Gasior feels should be among the favorites in the entire classification.

“We’re not going to see pitchers who don’t know what they’re doing,” she said of the section. “It’s going to be about who can grow up quick and make adjustments.

“I think Shaler is loaded. I thought that last year and I think that this year. And in 5A, with the number of teams and talented kids, it’s open to an extent. But I think Shaler is a very good team.”

Tags: North Hills