By Blake Chadwick
After back-to-back league championships in 2023 and 2024, senior catcher Sophia Faidley will look to get the Haven Wildcats back and make a deep state championship run.
“As a player, Sophie is very focused and determined, and she works hard to be a good catcher,” head coach Darin Ashworth said. “She’s a great student of the game and pays attention to the details of softball. She can be intense and driven during games and practices, but she is always a good teammate. In school, she is a lot of fun, always smiling and enjoying herself each and every day.”
The senior has been playing softball for over 10 years and has put a lot of hard work into getting to where she is.
“I have put in a lot of time and dedication to become the player I am today,” Faidley said. “My club coaches are very flexible with me, and I can get reps anytime I want. Like I said, I have put in a lot more time to hit and critique the little things to make me the best player I can be. I also give catching lessons on the side, which have enhanced my softball IQ and my ability to tell when I am doing something wrong. I was fortunate enough to have two catching coaches who came from higher-level softball who recognized my abilities early and pushed me to be where I am today.”
Faidley earned second-team all-league and honorable mention all-county honors as a catcher last season. This year, she aims to become a better leader, add even more accolades and continue to help the team continue its winning tradition.
“As a leader, I think it’s important we all get together as a team to work hard and to make sure the underclassmen know while the sport is fun to play, it’s important that we put in maximum effort and focus in practice right from the start, so we are ready for the hard games ahead,” Faidley said.
