Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Southmoreland’s Gwen Basinger

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, May 27, 2024 | 10:11 AM

Southmoreland’s softball team was one of the WPIAL’s best during the regular season, going 14-2, finishing behind only Ligonier Valley in Section 3-3A.

“Eventually, we just focused on having fun, having a good time, laying it all out on the field,” senior designated hitter Gwen Basinger said. “I think that really helped us succeed during the regular season.”

The Scotties, who reached the Class 3A championship game last year, fell to Freeport in the first round of the playoffs.

There were a lot of positives to come out of the season, with Southmoreland outscoring opponents 140-25.

Basinger, who was a middle-of-the-order mainstay, had a lot to do with the offensive success of the team.

The group’s chemistry was apparent, even more so as the season progressed.

“I think everyone had a great attitude when it came to hitting,” Basinger said. “Especially if someone struck out or had a bad at-bat, our team was really good at the next player picking them up and not letting it affect their at-bat. The team always had a good attitude going into the box, and I noticed that.”

There were a lot of things for Basinger to notice, considering she spent a good deal of time watching the field as the DH.

“I enjoy being the DH. Fielding gives me anxiety. I don’t know what it is about fielding, but being a DH really helped me focus on what I’m good at, and that is hitting,” Basinger said. “I think that helped that the pressure of fielding was off my shoulders, and I was able to just have fun in the box.”

Southmoreland had a lot of experienced upperclassmen, specifically seniors.

“It was bittersweet because I grew up playing with most of them,” Basinger said. “The team has great chemistry, and it was really sad knowing that this would be our last year playing together.”

Basinger was a two-sport athlete in her time as a Scottie, also participating in volleyball. She is going to attend West Virginia, majoring in mechanical engineering, and her dream career is to design prosthetics and medical equipment.

This week, Basinger took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with softball?

I started at Bullskin Little League when I was 4 or 5 playing T-ball. I played there until about fourth grade, switched to Scottdale fastpitch rec league. I ended up trying out for Fury, the travel team, in sixth grade. That led me into high school softball.

What was your favorite memory from softball?

I think that playing in the WPIALs last year was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There was nothing like playing and knowing us and Avonworth were the last two teams.

Was there anything from softball that helped you with volleyball or vice-versa?

I guess I started off playing softball. Softball definitely helped me volleyball-wise for defense, like staying low in the back row. Because I am 5-2, I do not play the front row. But just staying low, moving side to side quickly, I think softball helped me definitely in defense for volleyball.

How did your jewelry business get started, and how’s it going?

In middle school, I didn’t start selling jewelry in middle school, but my mom made jewelry, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. So, I just started playing with beads. Over the summer, I thought that I could do something with it, so I opened an Etsy shop. I sold eight things in the summer, but during the school year, it kind of was put on the back burner because I was focused on two sports going on, schoolwork. So, I haven’t done much with it since last summer. But I do plan on playing with it again this upcoming summer.

What’s one thing that people may not know about you?

I had to wear a specific pair of batting gloves whenever I went up to bat. This year was the first year that I had to get a brand-new set of gloves, and I was very upset about it.

Tags: Southmoreland