By Hayden Swope
As her final season begins, Bishop Carroll senior Allyson Orth is focused on making the most of her last opportunity to compete alongside a group of teammates who have shaped her high school career.
“This season, I’m most excited about finishing my softball career at Bishop Carroll with some of my best friends,” Orth said. “We have an amazing group of seniors who I’ve been playing with all four years as well as Keira Stripling, a junior, who I have grown up playing softball with. The entire team has such good chemistry so I’m just thrilled that these are the girls I get to spend my last softball games with.”
Orth spent much of the offseason prioritizing recovery while continuing to develop her overall skill set.
“After dealing with some shoulder injuries, a lot of my offseason was spent getting that much-needed rest for the shoulder,” Orth said. “I also spent a lot of time getting stronger in the weight room and simply working on basic hitting and fielding mechanics.”
Entering her senior season, Orth said she is placing an emphasis on leadership and doing whatever is needed to help her team succeed.
“One area I’m hoping to improve on this year is leadership, especially being a positive and more vocal leader,” Orth said. “Unfortunately, because of multiple injuries, I haven’t been able to focus on my pitching as much as I would have liked to. I’m always willing to play whatever position my team needs me at, and if I focus on leadership, I’ll be able to contribute in whatever position I’m playing in.”
Orth’s goals extend beyond individual performance, as she hopes to leave a lasting impact on the program’s younger players while competing for a championship.
“Individually, my goals for this season are to support and build up our talent in the younger classes so they are prepared to carry on the legacy of Bishop Carroll softball,” Orth said. “I remember how intimidating it can be on the varsity stage. As a team, I want us to win that state title so the younger girls can be a part of the legacy.”
After graduation, Orth plans to continue both her academic and athletic career at the collegiate level.
“After high school, I am continuing my academic and volleyball career at the United States Military Academy at West Point where I plan on studying chemical engineering,” Orth said.
