Apr 26, 2018 By Adam Brewer for The 5 min read

If you have been around the West Greene softball program over the last four years you would hear one clear voice, other than, of course, head coach Billy Simms.

You would hear that voice in the infield, in the pitching circle, on the base paths, in the dugout and, yes, you even hear that voice singing occasionally on the bus.

That one clear and unmistakable voice belongs to senior shortstop Madison Renner.

“I guess that’s just who I am,” Renner said. “I’m very loud and I’m very loose when it comes to games. You have to play loose and make sure everyone else is up. You play better when you are loose. Everyone has a part in the game and my goal is to make sure everyone is involved with the game.”

Renner has been a critical part of the Lady Pioneers’ success over the last three years, which includes an overall record of 62-11, two section crowns, two WPIAL titles and last year’s PIAA championship.

“She gets her enthusiasm from her dad I think,” Simms said. “She’s a great vocal leader and knows what to say and how to say it on the field. Her passion and energy is not generic. That’s who she is and I love what she brings to the table for us.”

Earlier this spring, Renner choose Muskingum University (60 miles east of Columbus, Ohio) to continue both her academic and softball careers.

“Muskingum is a lot like Waynesburg,” Renner said. “I wanted to go to somewhere small because, obviously, West Greene isn’t that big. I was looking at a lot of different colleges, but as soon as I visited the campus I knew it was the right fit for me.

“The coach was super cool and her husband’s family is actually around this area. She told me that her father-in-law was reading a lot about me in the newspapers. I just knew it was the right fit.”

She is still undecided on a major and on what position she will be playing for the Lady Muskies next spring.

Renner’s offensive numbers over the last three seasons looked like statistics you would put up on the video game “MLB The Show” on rookie difficulty, as she has carried a .522 batting average, a .668 on-base percentage and a 1.017 slugging percentage.

She has collected 62 singles, 28 doubles, four triples and 26 home runs for 158 RBIs and 57 runs scored.

“I like to attack first strike,” Renner said. “I have always felt like that first pitch in an at bat is usually the best pitch you are going to see. I always try to be aggressive and get ahead of the count so the pitcher can’t throw any junk pitches and get me off balance.

“I get really close to the plate because I’m pretty decent at hitting the inside pitch. Since I’m so close to the plate, that can sometimes take away the outside pitch for the pitcher. I’m also a pitcher, so that helps me with identifying good pitches and how to attack the zone.”

According to Simms, the main hitting statistic that caught his eye is her strikeouts (just 15 in three seasons). In 2016, she only struck out once in 92 at bats.

“She has great vision at the plate,” Simms said. “You look at her stat line and you see the average and the power numbers, but what gets lost in the shuffle is how many walks she has worked for and her lack of strikeouts. Most power hitters have high strikeout numbers. (She’s) definitely a rarity. She’s been blessed with a lot of skills and a lot of good players around her in the lineup.”

Simms also pointed out Renner’s defensive skills.

“She is a phenomenal defender,” Simms said. “She can bring the leather and has excellent range for an infielder. There were a couple of defensive plays she made in the state playoffs last year that were game-changers. She has an impact in every phase of the game.”

During her first two years at the varsity level Renner was West Greene’s primary pitcher. Through three seasons, she has an overall record of 29-4 with a 1.76 ERA with 217 strikeouts. Opponents were hitting just .196 against her at the plate.

Last year Madison gave most of the pitching duties over to her younger sister and then freshman, Jade. Just like her older sister, Jade was stellar on the rubber and pitched her best in big games.

“She has been a big influence on me, both on and off the field,” Jade said of Madison. “She’s a great role model and if I have any questions at all I go to her. She’s like having another coach out there for me. Her passion and energy she brings to the sport and to the team is really awesome to watch.”

Madison’s statistics for the early part of the 2018 campaign were on par with her career numbers (.607 batting average with four doubles and 16 RBIs).

In limited action in the circle, she is 2-0 and has allowed one run in 12 innings with 16 strikeouts and no walks. Defensively, she has a .941 fielding percentage.

“How can you not love this sport,” Madison gushed. “Every time I step out on that field I’m out there with my best friends and it’s just fun. These four years have been unbelievable. I really can’t describe it with words. We have gotten a ton of support from the school and the community. That has really driven us, and I think we just want to win more and more for them.”

No matter the song or how long the trip is, you will definitely hear Renner and the Lady Pioneers’ softball squad coming and looking to make even more history on the softball diamond this spring.