Foxes’ Slugger Ella Eisner Sets Sights on Single-Season Record

 

There’s no place like home for Ella Eisner – especially when it comes to home runs.

Last year, she led the Foxes softball team in home runs with five and had a batting average of .417 as the team’s clean-up hitter. She also drove in 22 runs in 21 games.

This season, Ella has set some lofty goals. She hopes to set a single-season home run record and earn first-team all-section recognition. Last season, as a sophomore, she was named second team all-section. 

Coach Larry Troutman says he and Ella have talked about her aspirations, and he has no doubt she can achieve them.

“We have discussed that her desire is highly attainable and more an expectation than a goal,” says the coach. “Ella believes in herself and her abilities. When she does have a bad at-bat or makes an error in the field, she doesn’t let it bother her. She comes back and makes the next play or is determined to make the next at-bat better.”     

Ella’s self-assuredness has developed over time.

“When I was 7 or 8, I vividly remember playing catch with one of my older cousins in my front yard,” she recalls. “The ball went past me and rolled down my driveway. I threw the squishy baseball that comes with the children’s Rawlings gloves all the way back to my cousin, and my dad immediately knew I needed to be enrolled in a league. That’s when I started playing for Blawnox slow-pitch softball.” 

Throughout her young career, she’s gained confidence from her coaches and from knowing herself and what she can do.

“The coaches I’ve had along the way taught me so much, and being around such a high level of softball has boosted my softball IQ greatly,” Ella says. 

Her experience as a high-level pitcher has also given her a keen understanding of how to judge an incoming ball. 

“Knowing how a pitcher thinks helps me get a better idea of what pitches I should expect, and it allows me to have a more knowledgeable, appropriate approach for the situation, which boosts my confidence,” she says.

Preparation is another key part of her success. Ella has taken hitting lessons throughout the offseason and has been lifting multiple times a week since August. Plus, whenever there’s a warm day, Ella can be found at a field getting in extra hitting reps. 

Positive Influence 

Coach Troutman describes Ella as determined and a fierce competitor, yet someone who leads with a calm demeanor. That steady presence is noticed by the other players, and they feed off it.  

Some of what has worked well for Ella should also benefit the young players on the roster. Four talented freshmen have joined the team, and a sophomore has fully recovered from an injury. 

“I think we’re in a great position to have a fun season, especially because we all play well together and get along great,” Ella says. 

Still, she knows success takes more than chemistry. It requires teamwork and staying focused on the game. 

There’s one thing Ella consistently reminds herself: Everything happens for a reason. 

“It helps me shake off my mistakes quicker and learn from them,” she says. “It’s all part of the process. Softball has taught me more about life than anything, so I’m just appreciative of being able to play and experience everything I have.”