Transitioning to a new league can be tough. But freshman Madeline Sedwick, Henry Davis and Mark Gracie prove that age is just a number when it comes to the grind, talent, and the ability to handle the ball. For Sedgwick, the pitcher for West’s varsity softball team, her journey began at the age of three; long before she entered Elementary school. Sedgwick views her sport as complex due to the relentless perseverance it requires.
“You’re going to fail seven out of ten times. It’s a failing game, which is what really makes it hard,” Sedgwick said.
Despite her success, her teammates junior Sydney Flemming and senior Delaney Witkop ensure she is having fun.
“We told her it was a freshman tradition about sleeping in the bathtub,” Fleming said.
That playing confidence is well-earned. Teammate junior Kapri Wilson, Sydney Fleming, and Delaney Witkop said she attended every open gym throughout the winter and optional practice in their season.
“She’s always there to lighten up my day,” Wilson said.
Her impact was felt immediately when she hit her first career home run against rival school Central. On the baseball diamond, freshmen Henry Davis and Mark Gracie are having similar experiences. Davis, a catcher and outfielder, has already faced multiple physical setbacks. Before the season even officially began, Davis took a ball to the face and suffered a concussion.
“When you do bad, it can destroy your confidence, but you get it back,” Davis said. “It’s just a game. I’ve got four more years […] That the intensity of playing against 18-year-olds has forced him to improve rapidly.”
Gracie, pitcher and first basemen, who moved from a different school district, found that the varsity environment was the perfect antidote to the ‘new kid’ jitters. Dealing with many knee injuries, Gracie relies on the support of upperclassmen like Caleb Collins and Nick Cline to stay steady on the mound.
“It’s about not letting the moment be too big,” Gracie said. “I’ve worked hard enough, and I deserve to be there. So why would the situation make me nervous.”
However, the varsity life isn’t all home runs and highlight reels. Both Gracie and Davis highlighted the academic strain of the season. Between early dismissals for away games and late-night practices, the athletes are constantly playing catch-up in the classroom.
“It is much harder to leave school early… I’m missing so much stuff that I have to make up,” Gracie said.
Despite the heavy workload and the occasional bathtub prank, these freshmen have found a home within the varsity community. Whether it’s loading up a tee for a teammate or getting next pitch advice from a senior, Sedgwick, Davis, and Gracie are no longer just the ‘new kids’; they are the future of the program. With their first season still underway, these athletes are already setting a high bar for those who will follow in their cleats.
“Having a freshman on varsity isn’t common, but it gives the younger players a role model to look up to,” Witkop said.
