Mar 29, 2017 3 min read

When the winter weather began to break last March, it served as a welcome sign for the beginning of a new challenge for Nicole Davis.

After spending six seasons as an assistant softball coach at Baldwin High School, Davis embraced the task of revitalizing a dormant Sto-Rox program that had been shut down for years.

Many of her players in that group had never worn a softball glove.

Her eventual pitcher had never held a ball prior to Davis beginning her tutoring.

“I’m a person who likes a challenge,” Davis said. “I don’t like to shy away.”

The results were what one might have thought as the Vikings, lacking any form of experience, lost their first 12 games while being outscored 228-2. However, they earned a 14-12 win in their final game of the year against Fort Cherry.

Davis accepted a much more manageable task this year. She accepted the head coaching position in August for a Peters Township team that returns every player from last year’s roster.

But there are new challenges.

Davis is pregnant and due in the coming month. But stop by a practice and you would see a woman hitting infield practice to her group.

“When I make a commitment, I stick to it,” Davis said about being nine months pregnant. “When my baby comes, I’m not taking any – or as little – time off of softball before jumping back in. These players made a commitment and it’s my responsibility to be there.”

The challenge Davis has this year for the Indians, who finished with an 11-7 overall record, starts with providing stability to a head coaching spot that has recently resembled a revolving door.

PT has had four head coaches – Bob Bowers, Jay Krull, Jessica Weigold and Davis – over the last five seasons.

Davis is hopeful that stability will eliminate streaky performances displayed by the youthful group that once hovered at the top of Section 4-AAAA, before a three-game losing streak had them fighting for the fourth and final WPIAL playoff position.

The Indians won its first-round playoff game, 8-7, over Franklin Regional, before being bounced from the postseason by WPIAL runner-up Baldwin, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.

“That probably came from being young,” Davis said, referring to using six freshmen starters last year. “That leadership, along with building a stable environment, to where they know what their job is, will go a long way. If they all do their job, and know exactly what those jobs are, it’s not as overwhelming. As a young player, if they feel like they have to do everything, there is a tendency to get worried about what’s ahead of them rather than the right now.”

That group of returning starters for their sophomore seasons are Anna Zierden, Lindsey Thomas, Kate Hondru, Jill Yeates, Alex Bondi and Mirjana Hutnik. Hondru finished an outstanding season last year, batting .381 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

That group will join starting pitcher Kylie Hartbauer, who returns from a 10-win season, and senior outfielder Olivia Castellone.

“I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen,” Davis said about her group that started this year with a 10-8 win over Blackhawk Friday.

“We have a pretty solid lineup all around. I don’t see many weaknesses and I’ve had players step up and impress me on different days. These girls are willing to learn, willing to work and willing to put in the time. The sky is the limit when it comes to a team like that.”