Watch the Throne: Hornets four-peat as state champs

Back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

The Westfield Hornets are four-peat GISA AAA Softball State Champions.

While enduring a COVID-19 pandemic, the Hornets carried a target on their back and triumphed through the season to show, once again, they’re the best.

Every team gave Westfield their best shot. But only two teams bested them, as Westfield finished with an overall record of 24-2 and the AAA state trophy. They swept through the postseason and mercy ruled John Milledge Academy in game two of the championship series—12-0 through four innings—to win Westfield’s eighth softball state title in school history.

The four-peat is special on its own, but what made this even more unforgettable amongst the team is Westfield’s eight seniors. They end a four-year high school career with four championships. So, it was only right for a senior, Emma Williams, to catch the championship game ending out.

“(It’s) emotional. In a good way,” said Westfield head coach Danny Camp after the series-clinching win. “(This) is just so hard to do. I’m so happy. Not only for this team, but for this group of eight seniors that’ve been with us since sixth grade, then come in and win four in a row. Like we talked about, a lot of people would like to play for one. (To) play for four and win four, I mean, that’s pretty awesome. That’s something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

“I’m just so proud of this group,” Camp continued. “I got a little emotional after our last practice together. You know, when you build these relationships with these kids, they’re like your own. Then you have to part with them, they go off to college and they leave you, then you want them to come back and they’re always welcomed back. But to go out on this note is unbelievable. It’s such an awesome feeling.”

The dynamics of this season were far more complex than any other, which in turn, made this championship so much sweeter.

While Westfield was lining up for a historical once in a lifetime run, the pandemic brought a whirlwind of uncertainties. The opportunity to even compete for the four-peat was threatened by COVID-19.

 Even while the season was underway, it was subject to end at any moment.

“You never knew,” said Camp about the months of uncertainty. “It was like, are we going to come in one day and (they) just say ‘you’re done, fall sports are canceled.’ You never knew…So we just came out one day at a time, luckily we had taken that approach. I’m glad for these student-athletes because that would’ve been a tough pill to swallow.”

Emma and Ellie Williams, Sadie Hays, Lindsey Easom, Brooke Corlee, Avery Adams, Meg Hiley and Camryn Lancaster made Westfield softball a special powerhouse over the years. Those seniors leave behind a historic legacy and yellow brick road for the upcoming Hornets to continue building.

They’ll be missed dearly, but their impact will continue to last. As true leaders on the team, those seniors’ winning ways have rubbed off on the returning Hornets. Setting up Westfield to keep building on their illustrious four-peat.

“It’s exciting. Especially to know that I still have three more years ahead of me, but I’m also going to miss the seniors,” said freshman outfielder Carleigh Knowles about carrying the torch. “They’re just—they’re really good influences on us. They lead us down the right path. I really look up to them… (They’ve) shown me how to be a leader, and how to influence the freshmen next year. It’s going to be fun, but I’m going to miss them.”

Knowles, who hit a solo home run in the semifinals, is one of the few special returners next year along with her older sister, Marena Knowles. Marena just wrapped up a truly phenomenal junior season. The older Knowles batted a .598 average, 67 RBIs, bombed 11 homeruns and finished with a .657 on base percentage to complete one of the best season performances around the state.

Another standout returner is sophomore pitcher, Sydney Langdon. Langdon was exceptional all season and gradually took over as the team’s ace. She finished with a .867 ERA, 164 strikeouts, a 18-1 pitching record and capped the season off with a no-hitter in game two of the championship. She’s also a threat when up to bat and hit four homeruns and 24 RBIs on the season.

With them leading the way, you must wonder what next year will look like for the Westfield Hornets.

“Definitely a five-peat, but we’ve got to work for it,” said Langdon. “So, we’ll see next season.”

“We’re going to miss these eight seniors in a big way. A big way,” said Camp about what it’ll be like without the seniors. “I mean, it’s hard to replace this group, and the (next) group is talented, but do they have that same moxie as this group? That’s yet to be seen and we won’t know until they get out there and are put in these situations. We’ve had some young ones that’ve stepped in for some at bats, got some experience and hopefully that’ll help in years to follow… (But) I do see us being someone to reckon with next year, I do.”

2020 Westfield Hornets

#1 Sadie Hays – Sr.

#2 Camryn Lancaster – Sr.

#3 Sydney Langdon – So.

#4 Meg Hiley – Sr.

#5 Lauren Kilko – Jr.

#8 Brooke Corlee – Sr.

#10 Sadie Knight – Fr.

#11 Kendall Fowler – Fr.

#14 Carleigh Knowles – Fr.

#16 Mary Margaret West – Fr.

#17 Lindsey Easom – Sr.

#18 Emmy Dehem – Fr.

#21 Marena Knowles – Jr.

#22 Ellie Williams – Sr.

#24 Matty Hulbert – Fr.

#27 Avery Adams – Sr.

#31 Emma Williams – Sr.

Mandy Langston – So.

Head Coach

Danny Camp

Assistant Coaches

Mason Nelson

Robbie Camp

Ryan Wetherington

Athletic trainer

Joe Allen

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