It’s been a great year for Fairfield’s softball squad, as the Indians closed the regular season 18-3 overall, clinched second place in the Greater Miami Conference just behind Mason at 15-3, and started the postseason Wednesday with a 6-0 victory over Ursuline Academy.
Marking this success was Monday’s Senior Night celebration, as Fairfield honored six graduating players. The Indians defeated Lakota West, 3-0, after holding pregame ceremonies. Coach Brenda Stieger introduced each girl and their families, reading their bios as they entered the field.
The six players:
* Abby Leugers: 3-year varsity player. Plans to attend Miami University and is enlisted in the Army Reserves to study business management and hospitality. Favorite memory: Going all the way to the Regional Finals in 2023. Quote for teammates: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
* Abby Stanfield: 4-year varsity player. Plans to attend Lourdes University to study nursing and continue her softball career. Favorite memory: Winning the District Championship last year and teaching Coach new words from her generation. Quote for teammates: “It’s better to try and fail, then not try at all.”
* Izzy Saylor: 2-year varsity player. Plans to attend University of Cincinnati and study biochemistry. Favorite memory: Getting hyped up during competitive games and coming out with a good win. Quote for teammates: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
* Jillian Huey: 4-year varsity player. Plans to attend University of Rio Grande and study Allied Health and continue her softball career. Favorite memory: Beating Centerville and winning the District Championship last year. Quote for teammates: “Control what you can control.”
* Karley Clark: 4-year varsity player. Plans to attend Kent State University and major in speech pathology and ASL. Favorite memory: Her triple in the District Finals game last year against Centerville which was key in the team’s win to be District Champions. Quote for teammates: “Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
* Leanna Lawson: 3-year varsity player. Plans to attend Ohio State University and study health and rehabilitation sciences. Favorite memory: Her memorable varsity debut, face-planting into first base her sophomore year at the Mason preseason scrimmages and winning the District Championship last year. Quote for teammates: “Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best.”
Other Senior Night highlights included:
* Giant photos of the girls’ heads waved by the fans, creating some rather surreal moments.
* Athletic director Aaron Blankenship throwing out the first pitch, a strike to catcher Karley Clark.
* A postgame collecting by the players of dirt from the field to be stored in special keepsake bottles to remind them of “home.”
The Indians, who had a first-round bye before defeating Ursuline, advance to the district semifinals Monday against Ross at home.
Photos of the Senior Night festivities by journalism teacher Mark Braam can be downloaded at bit.ly/FFSoftballSeniorNight24.
