East Hardy Softball has a clean slate with new leadership at the helm this season and a renewed focus and passion to succeed.
The Cougars have promoted Noah Orndorff to be the head coach this year and he looks to develop a positive culture and unity as the team strives to improve.
East Hardy finished last season with an overall record of 2-17.
Coach Orndorff has the team moving in the right direction with a season opening win against Luray (VA).
Coach Orndorff served the past two seasons as an assistant coach for the program.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to serve our team as head coach, and I’m looking forward to what the season has in store. My goals consist of creating a foundation for a positive culture that grows our teamship and unity. We want to show growth as a team through our culture and our performance. For our culture, we have identified 3 core covenants that we want to guide our season. They are confidence, positive attitude, and improvement. We will strive to build our confidence, have a positive attitude, and strive for improvement each day. Our team chemistry is growing everyday. Overall we have players that are supportive of each other. We want to continue growing our chemistry and be united as a team,” East Hardy Softball coach Noah Orndorff remarked.
East Hardy Softball will be led by five seniors: Addison Armentrout (infielder/pitcher), Hannah Bennett (outfielder), Ginger Combs (pitcher/infielder), April Dove (infielder) and Chelsea Mills (outfielder).
The Cougars juniors are: Chloe D’Amico (infielder), Adyson Crider (catcher/outfielder), Madison Strosnider (pitcher/infielder) and Gracie Heishman (catcher).
East Hardy’s sophomore class will be: Bella Bauserman (pitcher/infielder), Taylor McReynolds (outfielder), Jaylynn Combs (pitcher/outfielder) and Paylynn Rexrode (infielder).
The Cougars freshmen include: Aubrey Roof (infielder), Leah Nicholson (infielder), Jaiden Gordon (outfielder), Brooke Moyers (pitcher/infielder), Danielle Funkhouser (outfielder) and Taylor Tillotson (infielder).
Armentrout returns as an All-Potomac Valley Conference second team member and Class A All-State honorable mention selection.
Strosnider returns as an All-Potomac Valley Conference first team member and Class A All-State honorable mention selection.
East Hardy hosted Tucker County yesterday, greets Petersburg tomorrow and travels to Martinsburg on Saturday.
The Cougars will play the following teams this season: Southern Garrett (MD), Northern Garrett (MD), Hampshire, Berkeley Springs, Pendleton County and Broadway (VA).
East Hardy has been practicing hard to prepare for each challenge this year with a positive focus.
“We improve on last year by being intentional about how we practice and developing good habits. We have to have the confidence and the attitude toward improving everyday and keeping our chin up when things go wrong. We also talk about the mental game and how we cannot get too high with the highs, and not get too low with the lows. We want to take one day at a time and control what is in our circle of control. My coaching philosophy is centered around serving our team and athletes. I want to do whatever will be best for our team in order to put us in the best position to be successful. I focus on creating and maintaining positive relationships with each athlete and keeping their best interest in mind. I want to instill a love for the game, and teach our athletes to be their own coach, with the possibility of one day becoming a coach and growing the game. I want to influence each of our athletes to be model members of their community and make a positive impact,” Coach Orndorff noted.
The East Hardy Softball motto this season is: ‘We play with confidence and attitude to improve everyday’.
