Out of the 118 players selected nationwide for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year Watchlist, two come from the same program. At Western Washington University, third baseman Maleah Andrews and shortstop Hailey Rath have earned national recognition and helped to elevate the Vikings’ softball program.
Rath, a fourth-year, explained that although she's always loved the game, high school is where her passion truly took shape.
“Where everything clicked, and I was deadly in love with this sport, would probably be my junior year of high school,” Rath said. “I finally started putting everything together on my swing, and things just clicked.”
Andrews said she practically grew up on the field as she accompanied her parents when they played softball.
Although she has been immersed in the sport since childhood, Andrews said she truly found her love for the sport when she started on her first select team.
Both players described their reaction to achieving national recognition similarly.
“It's always a surprise,” Rath said.
Andrews and Rath each said that although they are both proud of themselves, they're still focused on improving their game and leading their team because, according to Rath, the “job’s not finished.”
Brian Stanley, NFCA director of communications, said that developing the watchlist is a competitive selection process with up to 15 players selected per region each year.
“They have the respect of coaches in their region,” Stanley said. He explained that a spot on the watchlist is an honor that shows that Rath and Andrews are seen as top players in their region and across the country.
According to Stanley, two Western players receiving this recognition is a reflection of the program's strength and success
For Western softball’s head coach, Sheryl Gilmore, this recognition reflects years of consistent effort.
“It's a great reflection of the standard our players have set and the work they’ve put in over the years,” she wrote in an email. “Recognition like that speaks to their consistency, their commitment to getting better every day, and the way they compete.”
Gilmore also pointed out the strengths that each player brings to the team.
“Hailey brings an edge and a confidence that elevates the people around her, and Maleah has an energy and steadiness that you can feel in big moments,” Gilmore wrote in an email.
While the recognition highlights their athletic performance, both players emphasized the importance of the hard work and time spent behind the scenes.
“If we drop a ball, we run; if we make a mistake, we run,” Rath said. “That's the type of stuff that holds people accountable.”
Andrews credited the program as a whole for her development as a player.
“They put a lot into us, a lot of extra time outside of practice,” she said. “And for those things to show through, it’s props to us, but I think it’s props to the team and the coaches we have as well.”
Andrews said she and Rath clicked immediately and that it's always been easy to play together.
“I like to think of Rath as my day one,” Andrews said. “I pretty much don’t know college softball without Rath.”
Piper Jones is a campus life reporter. She is a third-year public relations major and is excited for her first quarter writing for The Front! Outside of school, Piper can be found reading or exploring Bellingham's local trails with her friends. You can reach her at piperjones.thefront@gmail.com.
