Candid closeup with Seton LaSalle’s Lexi Wagner

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, May 21, 2018 | 9:09 AM

Lexi Wagner has had a brilliant four-year softball career at Seton LaSalle.

She's regarded by many as being the best player in the WPIAL this season.

Career-wise, Wagner owns a stellar .512 batting average with 108 hits in 211 at-bats in 58 games. She has accounted for 23 doubles, eight triples, 39 home runs and 128 RBIs, has been issued 28 walks, and struck out only seven times.

Since Wagner's freshman season, Seton LaSalle has posted a 52-18 record — including a 14-2 mark and 10-0 section championship this season — won three section titles, advanced to the WPIAL playoffs three times, and qualified for the PIAA playoffs twice.

Seton LaSalle socked Beth-Center, 11-1, in a WPIAL Class 2A first-round playoff game last week. The Rebels are slated to play Monday against Laurel in the WPIAL quarterfinals at North Allegheny.

Wagner, 18, is a senior shortstop and an Oregon recruit. She is leaning toward majoring in sports management in college.

The following is a candid closeup interview:

What are your thoughts on your team's performance this season?

I'm very proud of this team. We have worked extremely hard to get better and improve from last season. We did that with a perfect record in our section, and I'm excited about what we have accomplished to this point. I know we don't have nearly as many travel players as some of the other teams that are left in the Elite 8 of the playoffs, but our players have continued to get better each and every game. It's been such a fun season so far, from starting out in the Ripken (Experience) to being back in the playoffs.

How has your season gone?

I think the most satisfying part of this season is my mental game has gotten better. When I was younger, I would get frustrated and I'd waste at-bats over things I didn't have control over. Back then, starting out 0 for 1 in the game could easily be an 0 for 3 or 0 for 4 because I was letting my emotions get the best of me. I've worked hard with my hitting (Al Liberi and Andy Goff) and strength coaches (Mike Collodi and Mike Semplice) to work on these mental lapses, and I think that's something I have been successful with this season.

What are your thoughts about your softball career at Seton LaSalle?

It's been such an amazing experience here at Seton LaSalle. This was something my dad wanted for me because he went to Seton as well, even though he knew that had I stayed in South Park I'd win a state title for sure — which is exactly what they did last season. I love the fact that I've had to be in a leadership role since I was a freshman, before I was even capable of playing that role efficiently. Sometimes being thrown into a situation you aren't ready for is the best thing that can happen to you, and its definitely made me a stronger person. I'm hoping to finally get over that hump and that we make it to the (WPIAL) finals this year, for sure, but make no mistake I have absolutely loved my time playing for the Rebels and representing the school. I've made such great friends, with Jada Simon being one of my closest friends, and I'm just trying to soak in these last few games before I move on from high school.

What are some of your greatest and fondest Seton LaSalle softball memories?

My freshman year, we were tied at zero with Avonworth in the first round of the playoffs. I was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts in the fifth when I came up, I believe, with two on base and two outs. I hit a three-run homer and we took the lead. The second memory was from this year when I hit a walk-off home run against Serra Catholic. The game was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh. That was my first-ever walk-off home run, and hitting it against one of our biggest rivals made it special. Winning a state playoff game last season was special, as well. Other memories are just the friendships I have been able to create here at Seton. Those friendships will last forever, and that is something I will always cherish.

You committed to Pitt as a freshman; you re-committed to Oregon earlier this year. What was your thought process in making that switch?

Let me say this from the start. I have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Holly Aprile at Pitt, and was so happy to see how successful of a season Pitt had this year. I felt like they should have definitely made the NCAA tourney, and its unfortunate they didn't. I have a few friends there and a few more who will be there next season, so I will always be rooting for Pitt unless I'm in the other dugout. Committing as a freshman was a mistake and the NCAA finally changed some of those rules this year. I was not ready and felt pressured to make a decision quickly. That was with any program, not just Pitt, when I was a freshman. No freshman in high school can make that decision at that age with zero regret. I signed with Oregon this year. The reason behind all of this is Pitt had some coaching changes in the summer. My dad has always told me I need to chase my dreams, and that since I have put in so much time and effort into this sport I should take a look at a few other schools that I had interest in; schools that had a shot at making the college World Series every year. I reached out to a few coaches and went to a few camps, and after meeting the coaches at Oregon, especially hitting coach Jimmy Kolatis, I committed to Oregon. His hitting philosophy matched what I've been taught for years, since I started going to Bianco's when I was 7 years old. And having a great hitting coach at the next level is something I believe is very important for me to be successful. He's a baseball guy, and I've been taught by baseball instructors and former players my entire life.

What led you to Oregon, and what do you know about their softball program?

I was introduced to a few college coaches that were in need of a power-hitting grad, and I went to a camp (at Oregon) and made my decision quickly. The campus is amazing. I love the West Coast. It's a small town that loves their sports teams; in fact, they get over 3,000 fans at every home game. Just having the opportunity to play in front of those fans with such passion and having a shot to play in the College World Series made that one of the easiest decisions I have ever made in my life.

(Oregon is No. 1-ranked team in the country right now. And they have been in the college World Series four of the last six seasons. Oregon is a 295-acre campus located along the Willamette River in the city of Eugene.)

Have you been able to visit and tour the campus?

Yes, I have been on campus multiple times. I have attended multiple camps and toured all of the facilities.

Do you have any concerns about attending college so far away from home?

Haha, everyone always asks me that, but what people don't realize is I'm never home. In the summers, I am out traveling the country playing in softball tournament, usually from June 1 through the end of July when we finish up in California. I'm not a homebody. I want to see the world and experience tons of different places and environments.

Oregon is a member of the NCAA Big-12 Conference; the Ducks softball team is 50-7 overall, and as you mentioned are ranked No. 1 in the country. Oregon recruited your as an outfielder. What are your expectations for your freshman year?

I'm just focused on getting in there and competing day in and day out. There are so many great players there already. I know I'll have my work cut out for me to see the field as a freshman, but I will work as hard as I can as I have always done and see what happens. I'm just so excited to be in that environment with all of those great players so I can learn and get better and be a part of something so special.

Along with Oregon and Pitt, where there any other colleges that you were considering during your recruiting process?

Penn State made me an offer on my third day of high school, but that's it from an offer standpoint. You have to remember though, I committed to Pitt in December of my freshman year so I wasn't actively looking at schools, and schools were not actively recruiting me because I was committed. I did go to camps at Oklahoma State, the University of Florida and Robert Morris when I was younger, and Mercer down in Georgia.

Speaking of your recruiting process, how was that for you?

Horrible! I was too young to be making decisions like that as a freshman in high school. It didn't seem fair and the pressure was intense. I'm so happy the NCAA changed the rule this year to where you can no longer commit until you are a junior in high school. This should make the game fun again for girls playing 12U and 14U every year — instead of worrying if a coach is going to see you make a mistake at 13 and scratch you off their list.

Any final thoughts on your high school career?

I'm so thankful that this game has allowed me to meet so many great people and make so many great friends over the years. It's somewhat surreal that high school is coming to an end for me. I've always played up with older kids and most of my close softball friends are already in college enjoying their experiences. To be approaching that now is bittersweet for sure. I'm so excited about where I am headed next year, but at the same time I am going to miss this forever. I'd like to thank all of my coaches over the years for supporting me and making me a better player, and wish all of my other (Ohio) Outlaw teammates good luck in the playoffs.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Seton-LaSalle