Falcons’ Woodside having outstanding season at plate

RUSHVILLE – Alexis Woodside’s walkup song when she strolls to the plate is “Here Comes the Boom.”

It is more than appropriate because the Fairfield Union senior is having an outstanding season, and more times than not, she is delivering a hard shot somewhere.

“My coach (Don Holbrook) has always called me boom because of my hits and that song just fits into that,” Woodside said. “He gave me the idea and I liked it, so that is where it came from.”

Woodside is one of the top hitters in central Ohio with .587 batting average.

“I believe she is the toughest out in our league,” said Holbrook, who is in his first season as coach of the Falcons. “Her plate discipline is second to none, and I think she sees the ball better than most and that comes from four years of experience and all the work that she has put in.”

Woodside has also hit five home runs this season —raising her career total to 17 — and has a team-leading 36 RBIs.

Woodside showed her toughness at the plate in a game on Wednesday against Liberty Union. In the fifth inning, she didn’t give in, fouling off seven pitches before delivering a line shot into right field and knocking in a run.

In that same game, with her team trailing 13-11 in the bottom of the seventh inning, she led off with solo home run to cut the deficit to one. Woodside finished with three hits and three RBIs and scored twice.

“She has shown great leadership at the plate,” Holbrook said. “I’m not sure how she does it sometimes. You might fool her on a pitch and then she will take you out of the park in a blink of an eye on the next one.”

Woodside said she never steps in the box trying to hit a home run. Her focus is just making contact — hard contact.

“I just try to think about getting a base hit each time I step into the box because I know if I think about it, I won’t do well,” Woodside said. “I just try to clear my mind before I step in there and it seems to work. I do try to hit the ball as hard as I can.”

Woodside, who also plays volleyball and basketball, isn’t one of the top hitters in the area by accident. She has put the work in.

“In the offseason I’m with a hitting coach and, I’m constantly hitting at Field of Dreams in Lancaster,” Woodside said. “I’ve played since I was little and my dad has been a huge influence as far as pushing me to do better and helping me.

“I’m just always hitting whenever I can. I’m constantly hitting to get better and it’s nice to see it pay off.”

Holbrook added: “I’m proud of the way she is playing and the way she is leading this team. It obviously shows with the season she is having.”

When the season ends, it will also be the end of Woodside’s softball career. She plans on joining the Air Force.

twilson@lancastereaglegazette.com

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Twitter: @twil2323