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Sussex Central head coach John Wells has always been a firm believer that success on the softball diamond begins with the battery.
Fortunately for the coach, who has won three state titles and seen several other squads reach the state’s final four, he has had his share of great players behind the dish.
Wells’ latest, senior Whitney Brittingham, is a returning All-State talent that swings a big stick, throws out runners at an amazingly high percentage and takes control of the defense when the situation calls for her to do so.
“Having her back there is a tremendous asset,” Wells said of his catcher. “Defensively she blocks balls that would get by a lot of catchers, and other teams hardly ever run against her. With the move [of the pitching mound from 40] to 43 feet, a lot of teams are having success running, but not against us.”
Against Laurel last week, in what ended as an 11-0, six-inning Central rout, it was Brittingham’s work with the stick that was most impressive. She ended the contest with three hits, including a double, drove in a run and scored once, with her courtesy runner also crossing the plate one time.
Following the win, Brittingham answered a few questions for the Sussex Countian.
Q How big was this win against a Laurel team that has lost just twice this season, especially after recent struggles?
A This was a game we wanted to come out and win big, and we did it. After losing to [Sussex] Tech and then Delmar, we were a little flat and didn’t play our game [in a win] against Cape [Henlopen]. Today we were focused and everybody came to play.
Q Do you feel this team is capable of playing this way every game?
A Yeah, we think we are one of the best teams in the state and can play with anybody. It’s just a matter of us coming to play every day, one game at a time.
Q You had three hits today, what was working at the plate?
A My bat’s kind of been picking up recently, I think I’ve been hitting pretty well. I was waiting to get the pitch I wanted and when I did I was able to put it in play.
Q This was the warmest it has been for you during a game so far. Does the heat take anything out of you as the spring progresses?
Sussex Central head coach John Wells has always been a firm believer that success on the softball diamond begins with the battery.
Fortunately for the coach, who has won three state titles and seen several other squads reach the state’s final four, he has had his share of great players behind the dish.
Wells’ latest, senior Whitney Brittingham, is a returning All-State talent that swings a big stick, throws out runners at an amazingly high percentage and takes control of the defense when the situation calls for her to do so.
“Having her back there is a tremendous asset,” Wells said of his catcher. “Defensively she blocks balls that would get by a lot of catchers, and other teams hardly ever run against her. With the move [of the pitching mound from 40] to 43 feet, a lot of teams are having success running, but not against us.”
Against Laurel last week, in what ended as an 11-0, six-inning Central rout, it was Brittingham’s work with the stick that was most impressive. She ended the contest with three hits, including a double, drove in a run and scored once, with her courtesy runner also crossing the plate one time.
Following the win, Brittingham answered a few questions for the Sussex Countian.
Q How big was this win against a Laurel team that has lost just twice this season, especially after recent struggles?
A This was a game we wanted to come out and win big, and we did it. After losing to [Sussex] Tech and then Delmar, we were a little flat and didn’t play our game [in a win] against Cape [Henlopen]. Today we were focused and everybody came to play.
Q Do you feel this team is capable of playing this way every game?
A Yeah, we think we are one of the best teams in the state and can play with anybody. It’s just a matter of us coming to play every day, one game at a time.
Q You had three hits today, what was working at the plate?
A My bat’s kind of been picking up recently, I think I’ve been hitting pretty well. I was waiting to get the pitch I wanted and when I did I was able to put it in play.
Q This was the warmest it has been for you during a game so far. Does the heat take anything out of you as the spring progresses?
A Not really, I don’t think it does. I’ve been catching for a while now, and I’ve caught travel games and things like that in really hot weather. I know what to expect, so it doesn’t bother me.
Q You won a state title as a freshman when you were a platoon player. How important is winning a second one to you?
A Winning another one is obviously our biggest goal. It would be great to win one as a freshman and a second one my last year here, not just for me but for all of us.
