Each year Dr. Chris Olbrich has coached the Fox Chapel Area softball team, it has
made the playoffs.
So, the coach of the program since 2020 doesn’t expect anything to be different this
year and the Foxes have the postseason in their sights after losing in the first round to
West Allegheny in the 2023 WPIAL playoffs.
“I’m pretty excited about this team,” coach Olbrich said. “I think we will be even better
than last year. We have a bunch of younger players that are pushing to get spots on the
team.”
Coach Olbrich expects competition to be fierce for starting positions once the season
begins.
“Any position may change throughout the season depending on how the girls perform,”
he said. “I’ve got more choices than options. It will be a challenge to keep them all
involved and use their best assets. It’s a nice challenge to have to have them pushing
each other.”
Pitching is always vital to the success of a softball team and the Foxes have two
freshmen expected to play that role this season – Ella Eisner and Jillian Haigh.
“They throw hard and they throw strikes and they both have nice movement on their
ball,” coach Olbrich said. “One of the biggest things in high school softball is throw
strikes – no free passes, make them earn it, and both of them meet that criteria quite
well.”
Jillian’s brother, Jeremy, is a member of the Fox Chapel Area baseball team and
achieved all-section status in 2023.
Sophomore Ava Walmsley, second team all-section in 2023, returns as catcher to
comprise what shapes up to be a very young battery for the 2024 Foxes.
“She’s developed very nicely in that role,” coach Olbrich said. “She’s made nice strides.”
Two seniors are expected to comprise half of the infield with Mia Dunleavy returning to
play third base and Caitie Troutman coming back to play second base.
Junior Adina Rosen, a second team all-section selection in 2023, returns to the outfield.
Sophomore Bailey Mack, an honorable mention all-section selection, will hold down a
spot in the infield. Fellow juniors Josie Giguere, Melisa Pietz, Maria Stiger, and Bri
Hnatow, and sophomore Sophie Jacobs are also expected to contribute. Bri is ticketed
for the outfield, while Maria will be the team’s utility player.
“She has a nice bat and we’ll move her all over the field,” coach Olbrich said of Maria.
Coach Olbrich expects the lineup to be a nice mix of power and players that excel at
getting on base, something he said was a point of emphasis in the off season.
“I think we will have a nice mix,” he said. “I think we’re going to have a lot more at-bats
and cut down on the strikeouts. I think the middle of the lineup has the potential to be
pretty good boppers. I think we can put together a pretty nice lineup one through nine
this year. We haven’t had that option for a little bit.
Coach Olbrich said champion Shaler Area, a PIAA finalist in 2023, and North Hills
should be the Foxes toughest opponents in WPIAL Class 5A Section 3, with Plum
expecting to be a tough foe as well. The coach also said Penn Hills is improving.
We’ve got to score more runs than we did last year,” coach Olbrich said. “Our pitching
will be better. I think we’ll give up less runs. Our defense should be good, if not
excellent. If the bats do come alive, that’s the key.”