Lady Muskies' senior trio provides solid foundation for softball success

NEW CONCORD — John Glenn High has put the Ohio softball world on notice over the last two seasons, as the Lady Muskies are a team to keep your eye on come tournament time.

The Muskies carried an impressive 32-game winning streak entering last year's Ohio High School Athletic Association's softball Division II Final Four. But, it ended with a tough 5-0 loss to a powerful Keystone LaGrange team in the state semifinals, falling one game shy of the championship game.

With everyone returning, except last season's lone senior Layni Gillespie, the Lady Muskies under the guidance of JG veteran head coach Randy Larrick have not skipped a beat. And they look to be poised to make yet another postseason run.

Following last week's 10-0 win over Meadowbrook in the sectional title game, the top-seeded Lady Muskies improved to 20-4 and are ready to open district action against No. 9 seed Minerva at 5 p.m. Monday, at Indian Valley High School.

Don't let those four losses fool you, in an effort to beef up the schedule to see stronger pitching, John Glenn AD Michael Dunlap granted Larrick's request by scheduling four Division I teams to better prepare the Lady Muskies.

"We just needed to see stronger pitching this year," Larrick explained. "We just didn't see any real top level pitching until late in the tournament. So I wanted us to be better prepared by seeing some better pitching during the season."

Dunlap honored Larrick's request. Despite coming up short in competitive games with Watkins Memorial (1-0), New Philadelphia (2-1 in 8 innings) and Lancaster (7-4, 3-1), the end result was a huge success.

"We got exactly what we wanted," Larrick offered. "We got to see better pitching, which I hope will pay off during the tournament this season. Even though we came up short, we played against some talented teams which only makes us better in the end."

Playing a key role in that success has been the steadying, veteran influence of the Lady Muskies' talented senior trio of Brynna Wolford, Abby Buchtel and Sydney Johnson. They are each 4-year lettermen minus a lost year due to COVID and served as the backbone of the Lady Muskies' success.

"Our seniors have kept us focused this year," John Glenn veteran head coach Randy Larrick explained. "With all the success we had last year, it would have been easy to look too far ahead. But they have helped drive the goal of just taking it one game at a time.

"They realize they want to get back to the Final Four and know what it takes," Larrick added. "Brynna, Sydney and Abby would have been four-year varsity starters if we had not had the COVID year. And just the progression they have made for their freshman year has been tremendous."

Larrick explained it's almost like having three additional coaches with the leadership they have provided along with their stellar play on the diamond.

Larrick gave an example of that leadership the senior trio provided following last week's sectional championship victory over Meadowbrook.

"After the Meadowbrook game, I was telling our young pups (players) they needed to wear game pants to practice the next day to work on some sliding drills," Larrick explained. "I meant it for just the young kids, but Abby (Buchtel) spoke up and told the team if they are wearing game pants, we all are wearing pants tomorrow.

"Now that's just impressive, to have those type of leaders on your team gives you a tremendous edge over your competition," Larrick said. "And that's what those three young ladies have given us all year. I can't say enough about the three of them and the job they do every day for this team."

In addition to their growth as leaders, their skill set on the field has also improved during their careers.

"They have just continued to get stronger, heck I think Brynna is even faster now. She can flat out fly," Larrick added. "They are all very coachable, hard-working kids who have been a joy to coach and see develop over the years."

Another impressive accomplishment by the senior trio is each will be continuing their academic and athletic careers next season at the collegiate level.

Wolford, the daughter of Brian and Amy Wolford, signed with Ashland University where she will play softball and enter the nursing program. Wolford also considered Ohio Dominican, Walsh, Muskingum, Otterbein before settling on Ashland.

Johnson, the daughter of Jason and Abby Johnson, will be playing at West Liberty University next fall and majoring in dental hygiene. Johnson also considered Muskingum and Marietta as possible college destinations.

Buchtel, the daughter of Shawn and Heather Buchtel, will be switching to her first love of volleyball at college. Next year Buchtel will be attending Muskingum and plans to double major in Early Childhood and Special Education. Buchtel also considered Kent State University and Ohio Northern.

Each of the girls expressed feeling very confident their time at John Glenn has prepared them well as they will begin life at college next fall.

"I feel 100% comfortable and confident that John Glenn has helped prepare me for college," Wolford said. "Academically the teachers push you to be your very best. I have had some teachers in my four years that taught like college professors and have helped me learn the pace and grading of a college class.

"At the time, I wasn’t so happy about it, but now, prepping for college, I am extremely grateful they pushed me to that limit and showed me I am capable of doing it.," Wolford added. "Our teachers are some of the most caring people out there. They work day in and day out to make sure us as students have what we need in every way."

Buchtel expressed appreciation for all the help she has received during her days at John Glenn.

"I feel like my time at John Glenn has prepared me tremendously for both athletics and academics in college because of my amazing coaches and teachers I have had along the way," Buchtel explained. "My coaches made me a better athlete both physically and mentally. My teachers have prepared me for college academics in every subject. I'm just so thankful for everything my coaches and teachers have done for me to help me be successful."

The friendship among the three senior standouts, like their game, has grown stronger over their four years together, according to Wolford.

"We started to click because we were the “babies” of the team in 2019," Wolford explained. "Our bond just got stronger during our freshman year. When COVID hit, it was tough because we lost a season. Junior year, our bond became even closer because the three of us decided to take leadership to help our lone senior Layni.

"Here we are now as seniors, four year lettermen, and we know the leadership roles we have and we relish them," Wolford added. "We mesh well together. I’d say I’m the vocal leader. I like to lead through being loud, cheering, hyping everyone up. Abby is the planner, she’s got uniforms decided and makes sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to. Syd is the kind leader, the one to pick you up when you’re down. We just compliment each other so well, and have fun around each other which creates a good atmosphere for the team."

With juniors Wolford, Buchtel and Johnson, along with another talented piece in sophomore Hannah Bendle already in place last season, the addition of a pair of dynamic freshmen, Sydney Marshall and Alivia Boothe, helped complete the puzzle.

Johnson explained the chemistry was seamless with the talented new additions and the rest was nearly a perfect season of softball.

"It really did click right away," Johnson explained. "We had played with Sydney, Alivia and Hannah our whole life almost. I think as a result of that, it became really easy to form a solid, tight team chemistry because most of us had already played together in the past."

Buchtel agreed with her teammates assessment that the transition seemed natural and took off right away.

"It was a pretty easy fit with most of us already having played together. In fact, we were excited because we knew how good Syndey and Alivia were," Buchtel explained. "We played together through middle school and were around them so we knew we were getting some very talented players.

"The bond our whole team has is awesome because it makes the game so much easier," Buchtel continued. "Being able to play the game with girls you get along with is so much fun. We really enjoy being around each other."

Another topic the senior trio agreed upon is the impact Larrick, or as they fondly refer to him 'Big Coach,' has had on their softball careers.

"Big Coach came to watch my game in middle school and has been our main supporter ever since," Johnson said. "I feel that he has had a positive influence on us by cheering us on and supporting us. He had us all in the infield our freshman year, but moving me and Brynna into the outfield our junior year had a big impact on us as players I feel."

One thing for sure, the senior trio will surely have a big impact on helping the Lady Muskies as they aim for a return trip to the Final Four and possibly going a bit further this time around.

KSutton1@gannett.com

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Twitter: @KevinDJsports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: John Glenn softball looks for another long OHSAA postseason run