Senior outfielder makes impact on North Hills softball with bounce-back season

By: Josh Rowntree
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

While taking a step back, Alexa Edmunds has been able to bounce back.

A year ago, Edmunds — a standout outfielder for North Hills’ softball team — had her junior season derailed when she tore her labrum in a freak collision while stealing a base.

The injury was not only costly for her, but for her team, which was upset in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, having its season ended far too abruptly.

“When I first heard that I tore my labrum, I was so devastated,” Edmunds said. “I broke down crying. It was a part of my life that got taken away from me. I told myself that I would never play again or be the same again. I wasn’t in the best mental state.

“Going through recovery and physical therapy — and having coach (Libby) Gasior by my side — that was kind of nice.”

The time off brought with it a multitude of lessons for Edmunds, who was the Indians’ primary pitcher as a sophomore in 2023.

First, she was replaced in the primary pitching role by Abby Sutton, who has thrived for North Hills and allowed Edmunds to tailor her attention to other areas of the sport.

“It definitely made me look at the game a little differently and took weight off my shoulders,” she said. “It allowed me to focus more on hitting. Sometimes I miss pitching, but it would’ve been different if I was still pitching. I’d have a different mindset.”

Her coach has seen a player who has found her role without the burden of trying to do too much.

“She missed a full year, pretty much,” said Gasior, who has led the Indians for 18 years. “Her bat and her overall presence as a senior has been good. She’s been able to play a lot looser for us as well.”

It also helped her figure out what she wanted to do following her senior season. Edmunds committed to Cal (Pa.) and will play softball.

“My junior year, being out, I saw how my life would look without sports,” she said. “My parents have always wanted me to be a college athlete. While I was recovering, I pushed it.

“I wanted to be able to play again in high school, travel ball and then in college. My passion for the game and love for it made me think about what life would be like as a college softball player.”

North Hills finished its season 15-4 and 10-2 in Section 1-5A, earning the No. 4 seed in the Class 5A playoffs.

A year after having similar success but falling to underdog Thomas Jefferson in the quarterfinals, the Indians hope for a deeper run thanks to a tough lesson learned in 2024.

“Not pulling through, it changed us,” Edmunds said. “I was out and just watching. It was hard because I wanted to be in the game and help my team. I tried to do everything I could to push them and motivate them. I think that brought us to where we are this year.”

The Indians brought with them an elite offense, having scored nine or more runs in 13 games.

“We get a lot of hitting done at practices,” said Edmunds, who had a double and scored a run in North Hills’ 4-3 win over Baldwin in the first round of the Class 5A tournament on May 12. “It’s really all coach (Gasior). She pushes us. Every time we get down on ourselves, she says, ‘Who cares? Get out of your head. You’re OK.’

“She has us stay positive and be who we are. It’s OK if you strike out because you’ll have another at bat. I love her. She’s pushed me to where I am today.”

Resiliency has been a catalyst for the Indians, as has camaraderie and focus. And now, Edmunds and her teammates are hoping that the calluses formed over the last year make them tough enough to win the ultimate prize.

“We get along super well, so I think that helps,” Edmunds said. “Our chemistry is good on and off the field. Having that, it’s kind of our backbone. When we’re not doing good, we go back to the basics and remember who we are as a team. It helps us win games.

“As individuals, we all want to win the championship. We want to go to states and win states. But, as a whole, we take it one game at a time, one at-bat at a time, to really focus on the game we’re in.”

Tags: North Hills