Madison Renner voice of the Lady Pioneers
Anyone that蘑菇视频 been around the West Greene softball program over the past four years would hear one clear voice, outside of head coach Billy Simms.
The voice is heard in the infield, in the pitching circle, on the base paths, in the dugout and, yes, even singing, occasionally, on the bus.
That one clear and unmistakable voice belongs to senior shortstop Madison Renner.
鈥淚 guess that蘑菇视频 just who I am,鈥� Renner said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very loud and I鈥檓 very loose when it comes to games. You have to play loose and make sure everyone else is up. You play better when you are loose. Everyone has a part in the game and my goal is to make sure everyone is involved with the game.鈥�
Renner has been a critical part of the Lady Pioneers鈥� success over the last three years, which includes an overall record of 62-11, two section titles, two WPIAL titles and last year蘑菇视频 PIAA championship.
鈥淪he gets her enthusiasm from her dad, I think,鈥� said Simms. 鈥淪he蘑菇视频 a great vocal leader and knows what to say and how to say it on the field. Her passion and energy is not generic. That蘑菇视频 who she is and I love what she brings to the table for us.鈥�
Earlier this spring, Renner choose Muskingum University (Ohio) to continue both her academic and softball careers.
鈥淢uskingum is a lot like Waynesburg,鈥� Renner said. 鈥淚 wanted to go to somewhere small because obviously West Greene isn鈥檛 that big. I was looking at a lot of different colleges, but as soon as I visited the campus I knew it was the right fit for me.
鈥淭he coach was super cool and her husband蘑菇视频 family is actually around this area. She told me that her father-in-law was reading a lot about me in the newspapers. I just knew it was the right fit.鈥�
She is still undecided on a major and on what position she will be playing for the Lady Muskies next spring.
Renner蘑菇视频 offensive numbers over the past three seasons look like statistics a player might put up on the video game 鈥淢LB The Show鈥� on rookie difficulty, as she has carried a .522 batting average, a .668 on-base percentage and a 1.017 slugging percentage.
She has collected 62 singles, 28 doubles, four triples and 26 home runs for 158 RBI and 57 runs scored.
鈥淚 like to attack first strike,鈥� Renner said. 鈥淚 have always felt like that first pitch in an at-bat is usually the best pitch you are going to see. I always try to be aggressive and get ahead of the count so the pitcher can鈥檛 throw any junk pitches and get me off-balanced.
鈥淚 get really close to the plate because I鈥檓 pretty decent at hitting the inside pitch. Since I鈥檓 so close to the plate, that can sometimes take away the outside pitch for the pitcher. I鈥檓 also a pitcher, so that helps me with identifying good pitches and how to attack the zone.鈥�
According to Simms, the main statistic that caught his eye is her strikeout total (just 15 in three seasons). In 2016, she only struck out once in 92 at-bats.
鈥淪he has great vision at the plate,鈥� praised Simms. 鈥淵ou look at her stat line and you see the average and the power numbers, but what gets lost in the shuffle is how many walks she has worked for and her lack of strikeouts. Most power hitters have high strikeout numbers. That蘑菇视频 definitely a rarity. She蘑菇视频 been blessed with a lot of skills and a lot of good players around her in the lineup.鈥�
Simms also pointed out Madison蘑菇视频 defensive skills on the diamond.
鈥淪he is a phenomenal defender,鈥� Simms said. 鈥淪he can bring the leather and has excellent range for an infielder. There were a couple of defensive plays she made in the state playoffs last year that were game-changers. She has an impact in every phase of the game.鈥�
During her first two years at the varsity level Renner was West Greene蘑菇视频 primary pitcher. Through three seasons, she has an overall record of 29-4 with a 1.76 ERA with 217 strikeouts. Opponents were hitting just .196 against her at the plate.
Last year Madison gave most of the pitching duties over to her younger sister and then freshman Jade. Just like her older sister, Jade was stellar on the rubber and pitched her best in big games.
鈥淪he has been a big influence on me, both on and off the field,鈥� Jade said of Madison. 鈥淪he蘑菇视频 a great role model and if I have any questions at all I go to her. She蘑菇视频 like having another coach out there for me. Her passion and energy she brings to the sport and to the team is really awesome to watch.鈥�
As of Monday, Madison Renners蘑菇视频 statistics in the 2018 season are on par with her career numbers (.607 batting average with four doubles and 16 RBI).
In limited action on the rubber, Renner is 2-0 and has allowed one run in 12 innings with 16 strikeouts and no walks. Defensively, she has a .941 fielding percentage.
鈥淗ow can you not love this sport,鈥� expressed Madison Renner. 鈥淓very time I step out on that field I鈥檓 out there with my best friends and it蘑菇视频 just fun. These four years have been unbelievable. I really can鈥檛 describe it with words. We have gotten a ton of support from the school and the community. That has really driven us, and I think we just want to win more and more for them.鈥�
No matter the song or how long the trip is, you will definitely hear Renner and the Lady Pioneers softball squad coming as they look to make even more history on the softball diamond this spring.