It can be nerve-racking to start on varsity as a 14-year-old freshman, especially as a pitcher. 

It can be even more stressful if your dad is the coach. 

Ella Montgomery is the starting pitcher for the 2024 Windsor softball team. The Owls are 2-2 on the young season. The calm freshmen is 2-1 from the pitcher’s circle with a 2.67 earned run average. 

“I think Ella does her job. I am probably harder on her,” head coach Wayne Montgomery said. 

After the Owls beat Notre Dame, Wayne Montgomery said,  “Ella pitched a solid game and didn’t walk a lot of people, which was key.   She trusted her defense which was important.”

Ella Montgomery agrees that there is some added pressure coming in as a freshman. 

“I think my dad is definitely harder on me,” Ella Montgomery said. “My goal for the season is to do my part on the team because I am a freshman.” 

Luckily for Ella Montgomery, the team has a nice core of leaders to help ease her into varsity competition. Wayne Montgomery mentioned several leaders, including: Sophia Stemmler, Ty Schenck, Natalie Krause, Cali Hammers, and Sammy Wilson. 

“They have shown some strong leadership on the field and have led by setting a good example,” Montgomery said. 

With the team relying on such a young pitcher, the defense must play well. Sophomores Anna Holland and Paige Lorella have also pitched for the Owls this season. 

“I think we played some exceptional defense in our first game.  We ran the bases well, showing off our speed. It was nice to see Cali Hammers get off to a good start with a home run,” Wayne Montgomery said. 

Schneck leads the Owls with a .500 batting average, while freshman Gracie Willtrout is second on the team with a .467 batting average. 

Wayne Montgomery said, “My expectations this season is to have a winning season and I think we have a good group of kids.”