H-S Athlete of the Week: Payton Senge, Laurel Highlands
NAME: Payton Senge
SCHOOL: Laurel Highlands
GRADE: Sophomore
SPORT: Softball
SENGE’S WEEK: The Mustangs’ ace threw a combined 28 strikeouts in helping to lead Laurel Highlands to back-to-back victories over Ringgold and Oakland Catholic on March 24 and 25.
Senge recorded 15 strikeouts and the Mustangs scored threes in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Rams, 6-3, in Section 2-4A play at Laurel Highlands.
Senge yielded three earned runs on four hits over seven innings for the win in the pitching circle. In addition to her strikeouts, she only walked one batter.
Senge threw a one-hit shutout in the Mustangs’ 10-0 triumph over the Eagles in five innings to improve to 2-0 in the section. She yielded a single in the top of the fourth inning, but Laurel Highlands catcher Emme Cavaliere fired a throw to Liv McClelland to gun down the Oakland Catholic runner at third base. Senge recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. She finished with 13 strikeouts and no walks in five innings of work.
Senge hit a two-run home run to center field in the second inning, which also plated Aubrey Speelman.
Cavaliere, Kayla Howell, Chloe Komacko and Payton Rambo also hit home runs for the Mustangs.
“I think my team worked very well together,” Senge said. “I also think I was mixing my pitches well and staying consistent, and really focusing on being a team player and trying to get outs for my team.”
Senge, who pitched last year as a ninth grader, prefers two off-speed pitches.
“The rise ball is my favorite, and I really like my drop ball,” Senge said. “The experience of playing varsity last year was something that definitely helped me. I have also had another year of pitching lessons and work under my belt. I have more movement on my pitches and have developed as an overall player.”
THE NEXT STEP: The Mustangs suffered a 3-0 setback to Elizabeth Forward on Monday, but Senge had 12 strikeouts, no walks and recorded one of Laurel Highlands’ four hits. The Warriors are consistently one of the top teams in the WPIAL, and their starting pitcher is University of Virginia commit Berlyn Holibaugh. The Cavaliers plan to have the junior play in the infield, but she is just as tough in the circle.
Despite the loss to Elizabeth Forward, who is tied with West Mifflin at 4-0 for the section lead, Senge is confident the Mustangs can succeed in the section.
“I think we are able to win against any team in the section if we all work together,” Senge said. “We have a big game coming up against Uniontown, who is not only our rival, but we are battling them in the section race for the playoffs.
“We also have a game upcoming with West Mifflin, which will be a big one, too. We have had some rainouts, which are disappointing because we all love to play, but that isn’t something you can control, so we just take advantage of the time we get to play.”
ALL SOFTBALL, ALL THE TIME: While Senge is active in SADD and the Interact Club at Laurel Highlands, she focuses her attention on softball when she is not studying and attending school.
She has played travel ball since she was 10-years-old, and has aspirations of playing at the collegiate level.
“I started pitching in 12U, and I would like to pitch at the next level,” Senge said. “Travel ball is important because it not only helps me become a better player, but most of the college coaches come out and see us at bigger tournaments and showcases with a ton of teams in travel ball. That is not something that generally happens in high school games.
“The colleges, obviously, can’t contact me, but they will contact my coaches and come to watch me at my travel games. I will post information on ‘Twitter’ (now X) for them to follow me.”
BYE BYE, BAT: Senge hasn’t given up on hitting, and she still fancies herself a solid batter, but she has transitioned solely into a pitcher in travel ball. She continues to bat in high school.
“I hit up until this year for travel, and I still consider myself a pretty good hitter, but I am definitely more focused on pitching,” Senge said. “My hitting varies in terms of hitting for average or power, but I would say I lean more towards the power aspect. It kind of depends on what is working for me.”
GIVING BACK: Senge, who is interested in teaching or working in physical therapy for her career, would jump at the opportunity to coach softball in the future.
“Softball is a big part of my life and I would love to help younger athletes to get to whatever level they would like to be at, so yes, I would definitely take the opportunity to coach,” Senge said.