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06/02/2016 12:00 AMAs the result of an injury, Ashley Ignatowski was forced to switch positions on the infield with the Guilford softball team this season. However, she’s made the most of it by settling in nicely and guiding the Indians to one of their best campaigns in recent years.
Ashley spent her previous three seasons as a pitcher for Guilford and played 55 games, including starting all 20 her sophomore year, but was forced to step off the mound after injuring her throwing shoulder during fall ball last year. Despite the sudden switch, Ashley has had a successful spring both with the glove and at the dish by batting .351 with six doubles and 16 RBI for a team that reached the postseason for the first time since 2012.
“Through pitching all the time, I wore out my shoulder and I was told I would need surgery in my rotator cuff if I wanted to keep pitching. I just decided to stick with the infield and it was hard at first, but I really like paying the infield a lot, actually,” says Ashley, a senior captain who’s been selected to play in the Scholar Athlete Classic. “I just love how softball is a team sport in where everyone is vital to the team winning, yet you get to have your individual moments up at bat or when on defense.”
Ashley briefly bounced between shortstop and the hot corner before ultimately find her home at second. She’s used her experience on the hill to stay one step ahead of opposing hurlers, while both encouraging and empathizing with her own.
“Within the first few weeks of the season, I saw that second was my comfort spot in the infield. I’ve gotten to the point of understanding my role out there and where I need to be in certain situations,” says Ashley. “Being a pitcher has helped me understand an at-bat and what pitch someone will throw with each count. Playing defense, I know how our pitcher will feel in certain situations. I think a big part of pitching is what you are feeling mentally, so you want to make sure your pitcher is calm. We just try to let her know that we are here to back her up and to not have her emotions get in the way.”
Indians’ Head Coach Steve Zajac feels that Ashley’s work ethic speaks volumes about her desire to flourish in the game she loves.
“Ashley has been a valuable asset to our team throughout her career. Although Ashley suffered an injury in the fall that has kept her from pitching, she has worked hard to do a great job for us at second base,” says Zajac. “She is very dedicated to softball, playing year-round for different teams.”
Ashley is also the lone senior on the Guilford softball squad. She’s made it a focal point to build team unity outside of the diamond by bonding with several newcomers on a young club.
“It’s kind of weird being the only senior, but we have 10 freshmen, and I feel I’m close with them. I also think they feel comfortable around me,” she says. “We also hang out off the field because you can’t play well together if you don’t get along.”
Following her final foray at Guilford, Ashley will play for Division III Simmons College in Boston, where she’ll study biology. For now, though, Ashley and her Indians’ teammates are getting ready to experience the excitement of postseason softball when they compete in this week’s Class L State Tournament.
“We had a fair schedule and have been working hard all year, so I’m glad that we took advantage and made it to states. We wanted to get there because none of us had been there before,” says Ashley, who thanks her entire family and all of her softball coaches through the years. “We are definitely hungry for the postseason. We are going in positive, knowing we have to give it our all and that we need to just bring it.”