For Westminster Softball, this school year marks the first time that 8th graders are able to compete on not only the Middle School team but also the JV team. This year they make up the majority of both teams, leading the Middle School team to a 6–2–1 record at this point in the season.
This year’s 8th graders are especially strong. Head coach Lauren Carter says that the team, along with better skill as batters, has improved tremendously on their other skills. “Individually those that were pitchers have definitely gotten more speed. Those that are catchers have gotten better at just blocking the ball,” she says.
The team has had a successful season because of the experience that the coaches have.
Carter, along with coaching P.E., coached varsity softball for five years, and moved to coaching middle school softball, where she now has been a coach for two years. She loves the game and played in high school, and she was an athletic trainer prior to coaching and teaching. Carter currently coaches with art teacher and softball coach Cybil Sather.
Sather has been coaching middle school softball for two years and has coached rec leagues prior. She has played softball for 12 years and loves the game. Both her daughters played softball as well. Sather enjoys coaching with Carter, saying “she is very knowledgeable about the sport and is very organized!”
Carter credits players Joy Stallworth and Madeline Gilfedder for their leadership and skills. In particular, Carter complements Stallworth’s defensive skills. “Joy’s been very strong behind the plate, and she’s having to basically take over the entire catching position,” she says. Gilfedder brings many different strengths. “Madeline is a very strong center fielder, where she sees the outfield very well. When it comes to speed, she can catch a lot of fly balls that others can’t get to,” says Carter.
8th grader Stallworth has been playing softball for six years. She enjoys facing more difficult competition as part of playing on the JV team. 8th grader Gilfedder has been playing softball for three years. She enjoys being able to play with the 9th grade girls who were on her middle school team last year.
Both Carter and Sather see the team having an extremely successful season. Carter says that she sees them being in the top four in the middle school league. One of her concerns, however, is that after the 2025-2026 school year they will have to rebuild the middle school team with the current 8th graders moving on. Sather hopes the girls continue in high school and sees them winning a lot this season.