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Successful players aren't built the same way.
They can be loud and boisterous. They can also be the type that treat the routine and difficult plays as no big thing and move straight on to the next situation without showing a great deal of emotion.
Both work in the scheme of delivering success to a team, particularly if a team needs a balance of one quality or the other.
Throughout her softball career, the consistency and next-play mentality of Wheelersburg-turned-Shawnee State standout and infielder Sydney Skiver has helped the Lady Pirates establish one of the greatest sports dynasties in the history of high school sports not only in this area or the State of Ohio, but in the Midwest and Appalachian regions, as a whole.
Skiver is looking to help springboard Shawnee State to similar success as the Bears make the transition to NCAA Division II competition, and following a year where No. 21 raised her batting average by 120 points and finished the season raised inside Shawnee State's top-three in six different offensive categories, the junior appears to be well-positioned to do just that as one of the team's defacto leaders coming back for the 2027 campaign, which will be SSU softball's foray against its Mountain East Conference counterparts.
"It’s hard to put into words what it means to play softball at the college level in my home county," Skiver said. "My community has given me so much beyond softball that staying home and playing in my backyard only felt right. Most importantly, I did this for my parents (Amanda and Chris). They have given up so much for me to be able to continue playing softball and I wouldn’t want them to miss me playing the game I grew to love."
Skiver, who began playing tee ball at five years of age, quickly moved on to softball in the following two years. Travel ball, and the dreams of playing college softball, quickly followed in the future.
Those dreams, however, were greatly enhanced by a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In 2018, Skiver, after being a part of an All-Star group that won a state title and advanced to the Central Region Tournament the season prior, was a vital piece to a Wheelersburg 11-12 All-Stars group that made history.
Breezing past its district competition by outscoring it 39-1, the 11-12s won a state title by outscoring its opposition — Tallmadge and Canfield — 10-0 en route to returning to the Central Region Tournament once again. Skiver went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Wheelersburg's two victories over Canfield — 6-0 and 3-0 — to seal the state title.
Then, after outscoring its Central Region opposition by a 35-1 count to advance to the Little League Softball World Series, the 11-12s survived all comers in pool play to win the LLWS, avenging a defeat to Louisiana earlier in the tournament by grabbing a 5-1 victory in the semifinals and following that up with a 3-0 victory over Pennsylvania in the 2018 Little League World Series Championship Game.
It was the first group to ever win a Little League World Series from the State of Ohio in either baseball or softball. National attention followed. Crowds packed Gene Bennett Park well into the Southern Ohio night to welcome the 11-12s home.
It was only the beginning for Skiver, who, after winning that World Series with familiar faces that she would do big things with later — including Haley Myers, Catie Boggs, Emma Smith, AndiJo Howard, Rileigh Lang and Jaelin Thomas — set her sights on playing college softball from that point on.
Additional teammates who played large roles on that group included Ashlee Spence, Alexis Gilliland, Maddi Kotcamp, Mia Mowery, Shelby Hammond and Sydney Salyers. Salyers' father, Dusty, was the team's head coach.
"It’s truly incredible to think back on," Skiver said. "Being able to win something of that caliber at 11 and 12 years old is something I’ll never forget. At the time, we were just a bunch of little girls who loved the game of softball, but now it’s incredible to see how many of us continued our softball careers into college. Being able to win a LLSWS and two State titles with some of these teammates, goes to show the time and dedication we all put into the game. Looking back on it, I don’t think any of us would be half the ball player we are now if it weren’t for our coach, Dusty Salyers. Dusty had us doing drills in practice that most high school players would struggle with. We practice everyday and Dusty would tear into us, but I know it was all out of love. Dusty is like a second dad and I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for me."
The early success that Skiver had would only continue.
As a freshman, Skiver saw early time as the team's designated player and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in her very first game at Akron's Firestone Stadium in a OHSAA Division III State Semifinal against Sherwood Fairview in 2021. The Lady Pirates were tied at seven with the Lady Apaches after four innings of work before the eventual state champions grinded out a 10-8 triumph in that affair.
Losing key pieces to its 2021 OHSAA State Final Four run in senior infielders Boo Sturgell and Rylie Hughes in the program's first appearance at Firestone Stadium since finishing as the OHSAA Division III State Runner-Up in 2017, Wheelersburg simply reloaded.
Finshing 26-2 in Skiver's freshman season, the infielder played a much larger role for the remainder of her career, becoming a rock at third base as many Lady Pirate softball fans began enjoying Skiver-to-Macee Eaton putouts.
Leading Wheelersburg back to the OHSAA State Final Four as a sophomore in 2022, Skiver enjoyed a terrific postseason that was capped with a big effort on the biggest stages, going 4-for-7 at Firestone Stadium.
In Wheelersburg's 5-2 state semifinal win over Cardington-Lincoln, Skiver drew a full count walk that helped set up the Lady Pirates' first run, helped tack on a second run after a base hit that ultimately allowed to score Eaton, and posted a big seventh-inning insurance run with an RBI double.
Then, in the state championship game against Massillon Tuslaw, Skiver posted base knocks in the first and third innings of play, with her third inning hit scoring a run as the Lady Pirates took a 4-0 lead. Wheelersburg won that affair by a 5-2 margin as well, and won its second state title in six years as a result.
More success would follow.
In the 2023 OHSAA Final Four, the defense by No. 21 during that particular postseason was as rock solid as ever. Skiver ultimately recorded three putouts and two assists from her third base spot without committing an error, helping lead a Wheelersburg defense that committed just one error in all between its 6-1 win over Canfield South Range and its 6-0 win over Lewistown Indian Lake en route to repeating as OHSAA Division III State Champions.
Skiver didn't commit a single error at third base throughout both final four stretches, helping the Lady Pirates cap off a two-year run where Wheelersburg went 59-1 overall — and 32-0 in Skiver's junior season.
"Winning back-to-back State Championships and playing at Firestone Stadium is something I will cherish for a lifetime," Skiver said. "Playing at Firestone is a dream of every high school girl in the State of Ohio and being able to play on that field and take home two titles is truly incredible. Being able to share those memories with my teammates makes it even more meaningful."
The four-year starter in the batting order and the three-year starter in the field ultimately went 106-6 in her career as a Lady Pirate, and, alongside fellow senior starters in Howard, Myers and Lang, won four SOC Championships, four district championships and made three OHSAA Final Four appearances with two state titles.
"Playing for Coach Ruby and alongside my teammates at Wheelersburg showed me what it takes to be part of a successful program," Skiver said. "Every day, we were surrounded by players who were committed to getting better and competing at a high level. Being part of teams that had so much success made me realize how much I loved not only playing the game but also being part of something bigger than myself. The friendships, the competition, and the pursuit of common goals made me want to keep playing for as long as possible. You really don’t know Wheelersburg Softball until you’ve had the pleasure of being a part of it."
Supported by another big softball figure across Scioto County and the entire region in Shawnee State head coach Kristen Bradshaw, Skiver has continued to blossom.
A Day One starter for the Bears in the infield, Skiver hit .269 with 10 extra base hits, 27 RBI and 16 walks to 14 strikeouts as a freshman in 2025.
This past spring, Skiver improved dramatically, rising to .389 at the plate with 19 extra base hits — including five home runs — to go along with 42 RBI to boot.
One of five players on the Shawnee State roster to play and start in all 51 games in 2026, Skiver's 14 doubles ranked second on the Bears' roster while her .389 batting average, 42 RBI, .590 slugging percentage, 1.045 .OPS and 18 walks to nine strikeouts, the latter stat amounting to a two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio, all ranked third on the team.
"(Kristen) Bradshaw continually challenges me to improve my game and not stay comfortable with where I am," Skiver said. "She has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and improve my leadership skills. Bradshaw truly sees us as more than just athletes. She pushes us hard, but takes the time to invest in us as people. You can tell she genuinely cares more about who we are off the field, then who we are on the field. This makes you want to compete that much harder for her. I am grateful for everything Coach Bradshaw and her staff has done for me."
The move to NCAA Division II will only offer greater opportunities to grow for Skiver. A perennially tough conference in every sport that it fields, the Mountain East Conference sent both Charleston and Glenville State to a NCAA Division II Regional, with Glenville State advancing to Super Regionals.
Along with those two powers, Fairmont State and Frostburg State also finished with at least 35 or more victories.
"This is an exciting time for our program and the community as a whole," Skiver said. "This field isn’t just for the current athletes, but for every softball player who came before us and for generations to come. Shawnee State softball has come a long way and to be a small part of it is very special. The transition from NAIA to NCAA Division ll is a huge milestone for this small town. This creates new opportunities for our student-athletes and every student who steps foot on campus."
Each passing game will also take on greater meaning for Skiver. As part of the acceptance process and per NCAA Division II guidelines, provisionally accepted members are ineligible for national championship appearances in their first two seasons of play at the Division II level as members, which means that Skiver won't have the opportunity to compete for a national championship barring rules changes.
"The next two seasons mean more than anything to me, knowing that my career is coming to a close," Skiver said. "From a team perspective, I hope we continue to grow together, win conference championships and most importantly love one another. With the NCAA Division ll regulations, we will not be able to compete in the post season past conference tournament. Our team will have to dig deep to find a new motivation for these next two seasons. When this is all said and done, we won’t remember the wins and losses, but we should all know that there’s 20+ other girls who would do anything for us. As for a personal perspective, I want to continue to grow as a leader and make the most of every opportunity I have left in a Shawnee State jersey. As a nursing student and a student-athlete, balancing both has taught me a lot about perseverance and discipline, and I hope to end my career knowing I gave everything I had to my teammates and this program. I want to leave this program better than I found it. More than anything, I want to enjoy these last two years with the sport that has given me so much."
However, Skiver wouldn't have the journey altered any other way.
"My biggest piece of advice is to enjoy the process and never give up," Skiver said. "Talent only takes you so far, but your willingness to get dirty and grind through the hard times is what separates you from others. Stay true to yourself, be present where your feet are and as always, 'don’t waste a day.'"
That's thanks to the large and all-encompassing bubble of support that Skiver has continuously found at Wheelersburg.
"(Teresa) Ruby, there aren’t enough words to describe the love I have for her," Skiver said when asked about Ruby's impact on her life. "I have such a special bond with her and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Coach Ruby has so much knowledge about the game, but she doesn’t do it alone. Her coaching staff makes all the difference. The entire coaching staff not only challenged us to be better softball players but also better people. They taught us what it means to work hard, set goals, and work as a team to reach those goals. It truly was like one big family. (Susan) Reutzel is the one behind the scenes, who makes all the difference. She really emphasized loving us as people before softball players and I couldn’t thank her enough for that. High school wasn’t always easy for me and Reutzel was always the person I could go to."
Continue reading...
They can be loud and boisterous. They can also be the type that treat the routine and difficult plays as no big thing and move straight on to the next situation without showing a great deal of emotion.
Both work in the scheme of delivering success to a team, particularly if a team needs a balance of one quality or the other.
Throughout her softball career, the consistency and next-play mentality of Wheelersburg-turned-Shawnee State standout and infielder Sydney Skiver has helped the Lady Pirates establish one of the greatest sports dynasties in the history of high school sports not only in this area or the State of Ohio, but in the Midwest and Appalachian regions, as a whole.
Skiver is looking to help springboard Shawnee State to similar success as the Bears make the transition to NCAA Division II competition, and following a year where No. 21 raised her batting average by 120 points and finished the season raised inside Shawnee State's top-three in six different offensive categories, the junior appears to be well-positioned to do just that as one of the team's defacto leaders coming back for the 2027 campaign, which will be SSU softball's foray against its Mountain East Conference counterparts.
"It’s hard to put into words what it means to play softball at the college level in my home county," Skiver said. "My community has given me so much beyond softball that staying home and playing in my backyard only felt right. Most importantly, I did this for my parents (Amanda and Chris). They have given up so much for me to be able to continue playing softball and I wouldn’t want them to miss me playing the game I grew to love."
Skiver, who began playing tee ball at five years of age, quickly moved on to softball in the following two years. Travel ball, and the dreams of playing college softball, quickly followed in the future.
Those dreams, however, were greatly enhanced by a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In 2018, Skiver, after being a part of an All-Star group that won a state title and advanced to the Central Region Tournament the season prior, was a vital piece to a Wheelersburg 11-12 All-Stars group that made history.
Breezing past its district competition by outscoring it 39-1, the 11-12s won a state title by outscoring its opposition — Tallmadge and Canfield — 10-0 en route to returning to the Central Region Tournament once again. Skiver went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Wheelersburg's two victories over Canfield — 6-0 and 3-0 — to seal the state title.
Then, after outscoring its Central Region opposition by a 35-1 count to advance to the Little League Softball World Series, the 11-12s survived all comers in pool play to win the LLWS, avenging a defeat to Louisiana earlier in the tournament by grabbing a 5-1 victory in the semifinals and following that up with a 3-0 victory over Pennsylvania in the 2018 Little League World Series Championship Game.
It was the first group to ever win a Little League World Series from the State of Ohio in either baseball or softball. National attention followed. Crowds packed Gene Bennett Park well into the Southern Ohio night to welcome the 11-12s home.
It was only the beginning for Skiver, who, after winning that World Series with familiar faces that she would do big things with later — including Haley Myers, Catie Boggs, Emma Smith, AndiJo Howard, Rileigh Lang and Jaelin Thomas — set her sights on playing college softball from that point on.
Additional teammates who played large roles on that group included Ashlee Spence, Alexis Gilliland, Maddi Kotcamp, Mia Mowery, Shelby Hammond and Sydney Salyers. Salyers' father, Dusty, was the team's head coach.
"It’s truly incredible to think back on," Skiver said. "Being able to win something of that caliber at 11 and 12 years old is something I’ll never forget. At the time, we were just a bunch of little girls who loved the game of softball, but now it’s incredible to see how many of us continued our softball careers into college. Being able to win a LLSWS and two State titles with some of these teammates, goes to show the time and dedication we all put into the game. Looking back on it, I don’t think any of us would be half the ball player we are now if it weren’t for our coach, Dusty Salyers. Dusty had us doing drills in practice that most high school players would struggle with. We practice everyday and Dusty would tear into us, but I know it was all out of love. Dusty is like a second dad and I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for me."
The early success that Skiver had would only continue.
As a freshman, Skiver saw early time as the team's designated player and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in her very first game at Akron's Firestone Stadium in a OHSAA Division III State Semifinal against Sherwood Fairview in 2021. The Lady Pirates were tied at seven with the Lady Apaches after four innings of work before the eventual state champions grinded out a 10-8 triumph in that affair.
Losing key pieces to its 2021 OHSAA State Final Four run in senior infielders Boo Sturgell and Rylie Hughes in the program's first appearance at Firestone Stadium since finishing as the OHSAA Division III State Runner-Up in 2017, Wheelersburg simply reloaded.
Finshing 26-2 in Skiver's freshman season, the infielder played a much larger role for the remainder of her career, becoming a rock at third base as many Lady Pirate softball fans began enjoying Skiver-to-Macee Eaton putouts.
Leading Wheelersburg back to the OHSAA State Final Four as a sophomore in 2022, Skiver enjoyed a terrific postseason that was capped with a big effort on the biggest stages, going 4-for-7 at Firestone Stadium.
In Wheelersburg's 5-2 state semifinal win over Cardington-Lincoln, Skiver drew a full count walk that helped set up the Lady Pirates' first run, helped tack on a second run after a base hit that ultimately allowed to score Eaton, and posted a big seventh-inning insurance run with an RBI double.
Then, in the state championship game against Massillon Tuslaw, Skiver posted base knocks in the first and third innings of play, with her third inning hit scoring a run as the Lady Pirates took a 4-0 lead. Wheelersburg won that affair by a 5-2 margin as well, and won its second state title in six years as a result.
More success would follow.
In the 2023 OHSAA Final Four, the defense by No. 21 during that particular postseason was as rock solid as ever. Skiver ultimately recorded three putouts and two assists from her third base spot without committing an error, helping lead a Wheelersburg defense that committed just one error in all between its 6-1 win over Canfield South Range and its 6-0 win over Lewistown Indian Lake en route to repeating as OHSAA Division III State Champions.
Skiver didn't commit a single error at third base throughout both final four stretches, helping the Lady Pirates cap off a two-year run where Wheelersburg went 59-1 overall — and 32-0 in Skiver's junior season.
"Winning back-to-back State Championships and playing at Firestone Stadium is something I will cherish for a lifetime," Skiver said. "Playing at Firestone is a dream of every high school girl in the State of Ohio and being able to play on that field and take home two titles is truly incredible. Being able to share those memories with my teammates makes it even more meaningful."
The four-year starter in the batting order and the three-year starter in the field ultimately went 106-6 in her career as a Lady Pirate, and, alongside fellow senior starters in Howard, Myers and Lang, won four SOC Championships, four district championships and made three OHSAA Final Four appearances with two state titles.
"Playing for Coach Ruby and alongside my teammates at Wheelersburg showed me what it takes to be part of a successful program," Skiver said. "Every day, we were surrounded by players who were committed to getting better and competing at a high level. Being part of teams that had so much success made me realize how much I loved not only playing the game but also being part of something bigger than myself. The friendships, the competition, and the pursuit of common goals made me want to keep playing for as long as possible. You really don’t know Wheelersburg Softball until you’ve had the pleasure of being a part of it."
Supported by another big softball figure across Scioto County and the entire region in Shawnee State head coach Kristen Bradshaw, Skiver has continued to blossom.
A Day One starter for the Bears in the infield, Skiver hit .269 with 10 extra base hits, 27 RBI and 16 walks to 14 strikeouts as a freshman in 2025.
This past spring, Skiver improved dramatically, rising to .389 at the plate with 19 extra base hits — including five home runs — to go along with 42 RBI to boot.
One of five players on the Shawnee State roster to play and start in all 51 games in 2026, Skiver's 14 doubles ranked second on the Bears' roster while her .389 batting average, 42 RBI, .590 slugging percentage, 1.045 .OPS and 18 walks to nine strikeouts, the latter stat amounting to a two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio, all ranked third on the team.
"(Kristen) Bradshaw continually challenges me to improve my game and not stay comfortable with where I am," Skiver said. "She has pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and improve my leadership skills. Bradshaw truly sees us as more than just athletes. She pushes us hard, but takes the time to invest in us as people. You can tell she genuinely cares more about who we are off the field, then who we are on the field. This makes you want to compete that much harder for her. I am grateful for everything Coach Bradshaw and her staff has done for me."
The move to NCAA Division II will only offer greater opportunities to grow for Skiver. A perennially tough conference in every sport that it fields, the Mountain East Conference sent both Charleston and Glenville State to a NCAA Division II Regional, with Glenville State advancing to Super Regionals.
Along with those two powers, Fairmont State and Frostburg State also finished with at least 35 or more victories.
"This is an exciting time for our program and the community as a whole," Skiver said. "This field isn’t just for the current athletes, but for every softball player who came before us and for generations to come. Shawnee State softball has come a long way and to be a small part of it is very special. The transition from NAIA to NCAA Division ll is a huge milestone for this small town. This creates new opportunities for our student-athletes and every student who steps foot on campus."
Each passing game will also take on greater meaning for Skiver. As part of the acceptance process and per NCAA Division II guidelines, provisionally accepted members are ineligible for national championship appearances in their first two seasons of play at the Division II level as members, which means that Skiver won't have the opportunity to compete for a national championship barring rules changes.
"The next two seasons mean more than anything to me, knowing that my career is coming to a close," Skiver said. "From a team perspective, I hope we continue to grow together, win conference championships and most importantly love one another. With the NCAA Division ll regulations, we will not be able to compete in the post season past conference tournament. Our team will have to dig deep to find a new motivation for these next two seasons. When this is all said and done, we won’t remember the wins and losses, but we should all know that there’s 20+ other girls who would do anything for us. As for a personal perspective, I want to continue to grow as a leader and make the most of every opportunity I have left in a Shawnee State jersey. As a nursing student and a student-athlete, balancing both has taught me a lot about perseverance and discipline, and I hope to end my career knowing I gave everything I had to my teammates and this program. I want to leave this program better than I found it. More than anything, I want to enjoy these last two years with the sport that has given me so much."
However, Skiver wouldn't have the journey altered any other way.
"My biggest piece of advice is to enjoy the process and never give up," Skiver said. "Talent only takes you so far, but your willingness to get dirty and grind through the hard times is what separates you from others. Stay true to yourself, be present where your feet are and as always, 'don’t waste a day.'"
That's thanks to the large and all-encompassing bubble of support that Skiver has continuously found at Wheelersburg.
"(Teresa) Ruby, there aren’t enough words to describe the love I have for her," Skiver said when asked about Ruby's impact on her life. "I have such a special bond with her and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Coach Ruby has so much knowledge about the game, but she doesn’t do it alone. Her coaching staff makes all the difference. The entire coaching staff not only challenged us to be better softball players but also better people. They taught us what it means to work hard, set goals, and work as a team to reach those goals. It truly was like one big family. (Susan) Reutzel is the one behind the scenes, who makes all the difference. She really emphasized loving us as people before softball players and I couldn’t thank her enough for that. High school wasn’t always easy for me and Reutzel was always the person I could go to."
Continue reading...
