By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MILL CITY, Ore.– Santiam’s Maddie Allen has shown off her versatility over the course of her High School career.
Outfield, infield, and now catcher for the Wolverines, the now-senior knows how important it is, and was, of her to be able to be as flexible as possible to help Santiam on the diamond.
“It’s taught me a whole lot of different things, a lot of different aspects of how other people need to work out there and how we all need to come together,” said Allen. “I love catching and catching for one of my best friends.”
There’s becoming a standard at Santiam with softball: Work hard and good things will happen. Since the program’s inception back in 2015, the Wolverines have reached the 2A/1A State Playoffs five times since the 2017 season, six if you include the 2A Title Week in the 2020-2021 season, that the standard is now to reach the State Playoffs on an annual basis.
“It’s definitely helped us set goals that we want to work towards going towards the end of the season, and it gives us a lot of things to look up to,” said Allen.
And for Allen, she knows she has her hands full filling the void left by McKayla Dodge, yet Alenn has adjusted to life behind the dish. Having served as a back-up catcher to Dodge over the past few years, the position isn’t all to foreign for her for when it was time for her to step up this season.
Making the move to full-time catcher, though, it has helped Allen come out of her shell more as a vocal leader. Something that she’s embracing as the first week of the season draws to a close.
“Being a catcher, you definitely have to be very vocal because you see everything that’s going on around the game. For me, that’s definitely helped me come out of my shell a little bit and be able to be loud and help my team know what’s happening on the field. Overall, it’s made me a better player,” said Allen. “(Dodge) has taught me a lot. I’m hoping I’m filling the position as great as she did last year, I’m just really pushing myself hard this year, so I won’t let the team down.”
Santiam heads to Scio Monday to play in the Scio Round Robin.
