Mar 26, 2017 3 min read

In his first two seasons as the head softball coach for McGuffey High School, Jason Kern has led the Highlanders to great regular season success.

Two years ago, the Highlanders finished second in Section 2-AA with only three losses, only to follow it up with the exact same record last year to earn them a section championship.

The style in which McGuffey’s success came in those consecutive seasons was exactly the same, as well. The Highlanders used an impressive offensive attack to overwhelm opponents.

The Highlanders used a lineup that was one of the most balanced in Washington County to average 9.5 runs per game a year ago.

However, similar to 2015 where McGuffey lost to Burrell in the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs, Freeport handed Kern and the Highlanders a similar, early first-round exit again last year, 8-4.

“We let it get away from us,” Kern said about a disappointing performance to end the season. “We were losing 2-1 in the fourth or fifth inning but our pitcher still had a no-hitter. We just had self-inflicted mistakes and errors. Freeport was able to pull away from us after that.”

With that in mind – and to help compensate for losing six starters to graduation – Kern is trying to implement a different strategy this season.

“It’s going to take a little more work this year,” Kern said. “Our lineup, from No. 1 to No. 9, could pop the ball over the fence in any ballpark. We lost some of that power. We’re going to have to play a little more small-ball, use our speed and possibly do some more bunting.”

Perhaps the biggest loss was 2016 O-R All-District, second-team center fielder Meghan Shultz.

Shultz, who played the final part of the season on an injured foot, hit .531 and drove in 22 runs. She also scored 24 runs and had an OPS of 1.311 in 17 games.

“Those seniors led by example both on and off the field,” Kern said of the group that inlcuded Schultz.

One player who might not be tasked with too much with the small-ball concept is sophomore Brin Hunter. She led the team with five home runs while scoring 28 runs out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup last season. Hunter also recorded eight doubles, which was good for second on the team.

Hunter, along with other sophomore pitchers Emily Vinski and Ella Brookman, are three players Kern plans to lean on.

“Not only do I think those are three are some of the best sophomores in our section but in the entire WPIAL,” Kern said. “We’re going to have much closer games than we had last season. We are going to rely more on our pitching and playing good defense.”

McGuffey also returns four-year starting outfielder Julie Wise and junior Emily Irey, who is making the transition from second base to center field.

“The one thing I really like about this group of girls is they hate to lose more than they love to win,” Kern said. “That’s what I’ve tried to instill in my third year. It’s about finding out what drives you to be successful. It’s not about settling for anything less than you deserve.”