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HAMILTON — The early signs are familiar.
So is the standard.
Nearly a decade after one of the most dominant starts in program history, the Badin High School softball team is again setting the pace — and doing it with a different kind of edge.
The Rams are 8-0, their best start since the 2017 team opened 14-0 and finished 26-3 before falling to Springfield Northwestern in a regional semifinal. But this year’s group, by its own admission, is built as much on connection as it is on talent.
“We’ve really come together this year as a team,” junior Emily O’Brien said. “Not even just on the field, but off the field. We’ve all bonded with each other, and that’s helped us grow and push each other.”
That chemistry has translated into production — and plenty of it.
Badin has outscored opponents 85-13 through eight games, showcasing a deep lineup that features multiple hitters near the top of the Greater Catholic League Coed statistical leaderboards. Sophomore shortstop Kendall Ponatoski is batting .636 with four home runs and 17 RBIs, while junior Jessie Giuliano (.519), O’Brien (.500) and sophomore Emily Albrinck (.500) have helped power a lineup hitting .447 as a team.
In the circle, junior Phebe Kiefer has anchored the staff with a 7-0 record, a 1.11 ERA and 57 strikeouts, giving the Rams balance to match their explosive offense.
Still, longtime Badin coach Greg Stitzel points to something less tangible as the difference.
“It’s just like everybody’s got everybody’s back,” Stitzel said. “They’re picking each other up. It starts in the dugout — the energy. That’s been the driving force.”
That shift didn’t happen by accident.
After a first-round tournament exit last season, Stitzel spent the offseason searching for ways to reshape the team’s identity, leaning heavily into leadership and positivity concepts he studied throughout the summer.
The result, so far, has been a more connected group that plays freely and feeds off each other’s success.
That was evident in a 10-0 run-rule victory over Franklin on Monday when the Rams had seven different players score, a reflection of both depth and unselfishness.
“They know how to play,” Stitzel said. “They’re good players. We’re just trying to steer the ship.”
When Badin’s offense gets rolling, it can feel overwhelming.
O’Brien helped spark an early surge with a three-run home run Monday, while Albrinck added another blast — one that caromed off the scoreboard.
“I was getting jammed all day, so to get one down the middle was nice,” Albrinck said. “They told me it dented the scoreboard. I don’t think it actually did, but it felt good.”
Moments like that have fueled a fast start, but the Rams insist the focus hasn’t shifted.
League play looms, and with it, larger goals.
“Our goal is to win the GCL,” Albrinck said. “Those are big games, and we’ve got to stay focused.”
There’s also a sense this group may just be scratching the surface.
Badin does not have a single senior on the roster, leaving a core that expects to contend not only now, but into the future.
“We have a lot of talent on this team,” O’Brien said. “I was confident we could be good this year — and I’m excited for what we can do next year, too.”
For now, though, the Rams are leaning into the present — stacking wins, building momentum and quietly echoing a standard set years ago.
Different team. Same kind of start. And maybe, if the chemistry holds, a chance to go even further.
Continue reading...
So is the standard.
Nearly a decade after one of the most dominant starts in program history, the Badin High School softball team is again setting the pace — and doing it with a different kind of edge.
The Rams are 8-0, their best start since the 2017 team opened 14-0 and finished 26-3 before falling to Springfield Northwestern in a regional semifinal. But this year’s group, by its own admission, is built as much on connection as it is on talent.
“We’ve really come together this year as a team,” junior Emily O’Brien said. “Not even just on the field, but off the field. We’ve all bonded with each other, and that’s helped us grow and push each other.”
That chemistry has translated into production — and plenty of it.
Badin has outscored opponents 85-13 through eight games, showcasing a deep lineup that features multiple hitters near the top of the Greater Catholic League Coed statistical leaderboards. Sophomore shortstop Kendall Ponatoski is batting .636 with four home runs and 17 RBIs, while junior Jessie Giuliano (.519), O’Brien (.500) and sophomore Emily Albrinck (.500) have helped power a lineup hitting .447 as a team.
In the circle, junior Phebe Kiefer has anchored the staff with a 7-0 record, a 1.11 ERA and 57 strikeouts, giving the Rams balance to match their explosive offense.
Still, longtime Badin coach Greg Stitzel points to something less tangible as the difference.
“It’s just like everybody’s got everybody’s back,” Stitzel said. “They’re picking each other up. It starts in the dugout — the energy. That’s been the driving force.”
That shift didn’t happen by accident.
After a first-round tournament exit last season, Stitzel spent the offseason searching for ways to reshape the team’s identity, leaning heavily into leadership and positivity concepts he studied throughout the summer.
The result, so far, has been a more connected group that plays freely and feeds off each other’s success.
That was evident in a 10-0 run-rule victory over Franklin on Monday when the Rams had seven different players score, a reflection of both depth and unselfishness.
“They know how to play,” Stitzel said. “They’re good players. We’re just trying to steer the ship.”
When Badin’s offense gets rolling, it can feel overwhelming.
O’Brien helped spark an early surge with a three-run home run Monday, while Albrinck added another blast — one that caromed off the scoreboard.
“I was getting jammed all day, so to get one down the middle was nice,” Albrinck said. “They told me it dented the scoreboard. I don’t think it actually did, but it felt good.”
Moments like that have fueled a fast start, but the Rams insist the focus hasn’t shifted.
League play looms, and with it, larger goals.
“Our goal is to win the GCL,” Albrinck said. “Those are big games, and we’ve got to stay focused.”
There’s also a sense this group may just be scratching the surface.
Badin does not have a single senior on the roster, leaving a core that expects to contend not only now, but into the future.
“We have a lot of talent on this team,” O’Brien said. “I was confident we could be good this year — and I’m excited for what we can do next year, too.”
For now, though, the Rams are leaning into the present — stacking wins, building momentum and quietly echoing a standard set years ago.
Different team. Same kind of start. And maybe, if the chemistry holds, a chance to go even further.
Continue reading...
