The Loudonville softball team went 19-6 and made it to the Sectional Finals after winning another conference title, and Coach Serena Fenton said she is very happy and proud of their season and the big wins they had.
“I wish it wouldn’t have ended the way it did because we lost in tournaments to a tough Tuslaw team, that won our district, but that game could have easily gone the other way,” Fenton said. “This was an amazing group of girls and I’m proud to have coached them.”
Fenton retired from coaching after 11 seasons at the end of the season, saying that it is just time to slow down and make sure she is there for her eighth grade son’s sports this year. She said the team will lose a solid group to graduation as well, but she is confident in the future of the Redbirds.
“Loudonville has hired a new coach and I think she will do a great job,” she said. “They will lose four amazing seniors but have a fantastic core coming back next season.”
Payton VanSickle was the top player on the team, as she won the Mid-Buckeye Conference MVP, was second team Northeast District and first team Mid-Buckeye Conference. She hit .536 with 45 hits, 38 RBIs and only three strikeouts.
Olyvia Fenton was first team Northeast District, first team Mid-Buckeye Conference and set the single season and career stolen base records at Loudonville. She batted .436 with 38 runs and 23 steals.
Karena Burgess batted .484 with seven homers, 49 RBIs and a .978 slugging percentage. She was second team Northeast District and first team Mid-Buckeye Conference. This year she broke the school career RBI record and tied the records for most homers in a season and most in a career.
Natalee Buzzard had a 2.30 ERA and a .219 batting average against. She was honorable mention Northeast District and first team Mid-Bucket Conference.
“Coaching these seniors has been amazing,” Coach Fenton said. “They have put tons of work in individually and together for a lot of years.”
The returning core includes juniors Alesha Felix and Carlee Young, who are three year varsity letter winners. Addison Wolford is a sophomore who had an solid year at the dish and played excellent outfield. Gray and Jaiden Stitzlein, another freshman, will look to step up their game even more with a year under their belt.
A surprise was freshman Helaina Gray, who elevated the team with a .473 average, and 23 RBIs. She had only two strikeouts and hit the ball hard most at bats. She was named first team Mid-Buckeye Conference and Fenton said she looks forward to watching her have an outstanding career.
