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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Everett softball coach Jackie Levy left Penn State's Beard Field on Thursday with both arms wrapped around the PIAA Class 2A championship trophy.
Prior to the Lady Warriors' 12-1 victory over Bald Eagle Area in the school's first-ever appearance in the state final, Levy let her players know she was retiring from her coaching position she's held for the past nine years.
What a way to go out.
Levy spent most of the early afternoon waving home runners and cheering her players on as every single batter in her lineup had at least one hit against a pitcher, Sierra Albright, who had been dominant all season.
One of the players who played a large role not only on Thursday, but also in Everett's 9-6 semifinal victory over defending state champion Neshannock, was freshman first baseman Addison Wood.
Wood went 2-for-4 with an RBI Thursday after having two hits and two RBIs against Neshannock, who had entered that game on a the heels of a 48-game win streak.
"It's hard to describe in words how excited I have been to be part of this," Wood said. "I have been so nervous, but this makes it all worth it."
Earlier this season, Wood wasn't starting. But Levy was giving her chances to play, even in the few games the Lady Warriors played that were closely contested.
Senior Denae Mobus started at first base in Everett's 5-2 win over Claysburg-Kimmel in April, but Wood came into the game as a pinch hitter. That was her role until later in the season.
"Our other first baseman got very sick, and I started one game because she was sick," Wood said. "I started hitting very well, and I think that's why (Levy) kept me in starting."
Starting a freshman over a senior is a tough sell for any team, especially one that is undefeated and didn't lose until the postseason a year ago. But Levy did what she and her fellow coaches thought would help Everett best reach its potential.
"Addie came on strong at the end of the year," Levy said. "She's a freshman. She needed some time to grow and mature, and she did that. Our motto at the beginning of the year is that we want to be playing our best ball at the end of the season, so when we looked at everything with the girls at practice, we wanted to make sure we were doing what was best for our team moving forward. All the girls understand that and are 100 percent behind that philosophy."
With Thursday's win, Levy wrapped up her Everett coaching career with a mark of 142-27, including 62-3 since 2019 (the PIAA canceled the softball season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Her biggest win may have been the ability to get everyone on the team to buy in to a team mentality that helped foster the culture that led to Thursday's history-making victory.
"It is very exciting, and I got to do it with the players I love the most," Wood said. "These girls are my best friends. It has just been a great season and what an experience this has been."
Now due to both sacrifice and excellence on the field, Levy, senior pitcher Olivia Hillegas, senior Makenna Richards, Mobus, Wood and the rest of the Lady Warriors will be remembered forever as state champions.
Michael Boytim can be reached at mboytim@altoonamirror.com or 814-946-7521