Mackenzie Bowen was a four-year starter in the outfield for the Baldwin softball team.

The versatile Bowen plans to attend Duquesne to study pre-law. She earned 15 varsity letters as a multi-sport athlete at Baldwin.

“Kenzie is a tremendous athlete. She pushes everyone and sets the pace,” Baldwin coach Ron Santillo said. “A lot of our girls play multiple sports, and it’s great. It helps them to be well-rounded athletes, and Kenzie is the epitome of that.”

Bowen competed in softball, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track in high school.

The Highlanders’ starters in the outfield this spring consisted of two seniors with Bowen in left and Reese Temme in center, along with sophomore Camryn Temme in right.

“Kenzie was Reese’s running mate in the outfield,” Santillo said.

No secret

Hard work paid great dividends for the Baldwin softball team in 2026 as the Highlanders finished 20-6 overall and qualified for the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs.

The key to their success?

“There’s no secret formula,” said Santillo. “We work on fundamentals every day. It’s what we know to best prepare the girls to improve as players. It’s a game of failures and we approach it with repetition, a lot of footwork, speed and agility, and strength training.

“We expect to play well. The girls worked very hard in the offseason. They know what the expectations are, they don’t change: Compete and continue to improve every day.”

Passion to play

Kaitlain Niedermeyer, who lists Brentwood as her hometown, is in her 15th season as a defensive tackle on the Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team.

The 34-year-old Niedermeyer attended CCAC and works as an administrative assistant.

Softball win

Thomas Jefferson’s softball team traveled to Peters Township in April to play a night game in Section 4-5A and junior pitcher Aubrey Shaffer tossed a complete-game no-hitter to spark the Jaguars to a 7-0 win.

Sophomore catcher Jemma Danko and senior shortstop Addi Bracco doubled twice for TJ and Danko had two RBIs. Camden Noderer, a sophomore first baseman, collected three hits and drove in two runs.

Did you know?

Did you know that the Jaguars’ softball coach Heidi Karcher teaches physics and chemistry at TJ?

Karcher also serves as a student government advisor.