There’s a new person in charge of the Fox Chapel Area softball program, as Larry Troutman is in his first season as the Foxes’ head coach.
He brings a wealth of experience to the position. Coach Troutman served as softball commissioner of the Indiana Township Athletic Association for many years. He also coached travel softball for a number of years and spent the last two seasons as coach of the Leechburg softball team.
Now at Fox Chapel Area, the district in which he lives, he has a program that saw 27 girls try out for the team.
“We decided to make some difficult decisions and took it to 22,” the coach said. “We’re still kind of learning the girls, and they’re learning us. I think we have a solid team. We just have to clean up some of the mental mistakes.”
With the Foxes, coach Troutman has a team with some experience, especially in the center circle. Sophomore Jillian Haigh returns to be the top pitcher and is one of the team’s best hitters.
Haigh, the sister of Jeremy Haigh of the Foxes baseball team, was a second-team Big 56 all-section selection in 2024.
“She has good speed (on her pitches),” coach Troutman said of Haigh. “She also has a good curveball. She mixes pitches really well. She’s also athletic, so if a team wants to bunt on us, she comes off the mound really quick.”
There also is a quality second option to pitch with fellow sophomore Ella Eisner, who is slated to start at third base.
“With two solid pitchers, I think that definitely gives us a little bit of an advantage,” coach Troutman said.
Injury issues kept Ella from pitching last season, but the coach said she is doing much better this year.
“Ella has a little more spin to her pitches, maybe not as much of a power pitcher,” coach Troutman said. “She also has a drop, a curve, and a really good changeup.”
Returning to the lineup is three-year letter winner Adina Rosen. The senior will be the Foxes’ center fielder and is a player coach Troutman describes as a “lefty slap hitter.”
Expected to round out the outfield are senior Brianna Hnatow in left field and junior Summer Burkhart in right field. Summer was an honorable mention all-section selection last season. Senior Mare Frauenholz also could see time in the outfield.
While Ella handles the hot corner, sophomore Heidi Stiger will be at the other corner of the infield. In an early scrimmage, Heidi blasted a home run to dead center. The middle infielders are expected to be senior Josie Giguere at second base, and senior Maria Stiger (Heidi’s sister) and junior Bailey Mack are in competition for the shortstop position.
Junior Ava Walmsley returns to be the catcher after being named honorable mention all-section in 2024. She started at the position as a freshman and sophomore.
Coach Trotuman said he also expects strong contributions from senior Melisa Pietz and freshman Lily Viti.
He also will have a fine coaching staff to go along with John Linkes, who also comes over from Leechburg, and Mara Pasquale, who started for four years at Edinboro at shortstop.
The section in which the Foxes will play this season has been somewhat revamped, with Mars and New Castle joining Shaler Area, North Hills, Plum, and Penn Hills.
“It’s definitely going to be competitive,” coach Troutman said.
In 2024, the Foxes finished 7-10 overall, 4-6 in Class 5A Section 1. They qualified for the WPIAL playoffs, falling in the first round to West Allegheny.
To have a successful season this year, and perhaps even progress further in the postseason, there are a number of things coach Troutman feels the team must do, but one stands above all others.
“I think the key is we’ve got to play really solid defense,” coach Troutman said. “Our pitching is solid. In softball, hitting is inconsistent. If we can make the plays in the field, the other team can’t score. We just have to make the plays and get off the field.”