Wesley Chapel High Softball Team Still Young, But Improved

The Wesley Chapel High (WCH) softball team, under coach Steve Mumaw, is still going to be young but has enough veteran experience returning to create what should be a stable blend of talent. The team boasts five sophomore starters, all of whom started the 2016 season as freshmen.

“It’s basically our whole infield,” Mumaw said. “We have an exciting future ahead of us, some might end up going to the new school (Cypress Creek High, which opens next fall), but we’re going to coach them up the same.”

The Wildcats suffered through a feast-or-famine 7-17 season last year, scoring eight or more runs in five of their wins, but scoring two runs or less nine times during losses. During one stretch, they were blanked in four of six games, all but one against district opponents.

The Wildcats will have to find a way to string hits together. Leading hitter and sophomore third baseman Ashley Nickisher (32 hits, .421 avg.) returns to the fold. Nickisher tied for the team lead in RBI last season with fellow sophomore Neely Peterson, and led the team with four triples and added six doubles.

Senior Dana Mumaw, the coach’s daughter, hit .390 last season with a team-high nine doubles. The hope is that the potent duo in the middle of the lineup can get the offense going.

Incoming freshman pitchers Jordan Almasy and Ally Fraley, both right-handers, add some punch to the WCH bullpen.

“It’s an upgrade from what we had last year,” Mumaw said.

With a team ERA of 9.07 last season, the Wildcats are sure to improve in 2017, especially considering Almasy has already verbally committed to the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

One of the top travel league players in the area, Almasy boasts a fastball in the mid-60 mile-per-hour range, and she swings a solid bat as well.

Wesley Chapel will need to lean on a defense that needs to be improved, and with everyone returning it should be.

“Softball is a lot of small ball,” Mumaw said. “You have to make sure your first-base and third-base defenses are all correct.”

The Wildcats will need them to be, because they play in a district where offense is king.

Defending Class 6A, District 7 champ Land O’ Lakes can both hit and run, batting .326 with 68 stolen bases last year en route to a 27-3-1 record and appearance in the state semifinals.

Even the district runners-up, River Ridge, can hit and steal — the Royal Knights piled up 15 home runs and 61 stolen bases a year ago.

With expected improvement from Pasco High as well this season, the Wildcats still hope to improve on last year’s 3-7 district record.