Fox Chapel softball starts strong under new coach

Larry Troutman is the new softball coach for Fox Chapel, and he is off to a great start. Unlike many coaches, he has not faced bad weather during his early season. After coaching at Leechburg for two years, Troutman wanted to quickly familiarize himself with his new team. With the support of the athletic director, Troutman was able to reschedule some games. This allowed the team to play three nonsection games before their league matches began. The Fox Chapel team is performing well, having won their first three games and scoring 33 runs while allowing only 6. Troutman mentioned that the early games help the players experience real-game pressure. "There’s nothing that can replace that," he noted. The team will begin their section play against Plum on March 27. Pitcher Jillian Haigh has been a standout player, striking out nine batters in their recent 10-0 victory over Butler. She also had a great game at the plate, getting three hits and driving in two runs. Maria Stiger hit a home run in an earlier 18-2 win against Kiski. Troutman feels fortunate to coach at Fox Chapel due to its excellent facilities and talented players. "We have depth with girls," he said. Out of 27 players who tried out, five were cut, showing the team's strong roster.