Alle-Kiski Valley athletes of the week: Fox Chapel’s Jillian Haigh, Springdale’s Wyatt Warywoda

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 7:49 PM

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Jillian Haigh

School: Fox Chapel

Class: Sophomore

Sport: Softball

Claim to Fame: Haigh opened the season March 14 with a three-run homer in a 5-4 nonsection win for Fox Chapel (4-0) vs Norwin. On Monday, Haigh started and fanned nine batters while also going 3 for 4 at the plate with a pair of RBIs in a 10-0 win against Butler in nonsection play. She continued to rake with two triples, a home run and five RBIs in an 18-2 nonsection rout of Kiski Area on Wednesday. Haigh finished out the week with a hit and a pair of walks in the Foxes’ 10-0 win over Allderdice.

What positions do you play?

Pitcher and shortstop.

Which do you like better?

That’s a tough question, and it usually depends on the day. If I’m doing well at either position, that’s where I would prefer to play, but I’d probably say I prefer short over pitching.

What part of your game are you most proud of right now, your hitting or your pitching?

Probably my hitting because last year I didn’t get off to a great start with the bat. I’ve been seeing the ball well this year, and I’m not trying to overthink it in my at-bats and I’m seeing a lot of good results.

What were your thoughts when you were rounding the bases on that three-run homer?

That felt really good. I popped out my first at-bat. We were down when I stepped to the plate, and I was frustrated because that was a game I really wanted to win. It felt really nice to hit that home run, and it got us back in the game, gave us a chance.

What were the three hits you had against Butler?

I really don’t remember. It’s been too many games.

The team has been playing a lot early on this year. Do you think that will benefit you later on in the season?

We’ve been moving a lot of games around just so we can get as many games in as possible. It’s really nice to get a lot of reps, reps you can only get in a game that you can’t get it practice. It’s good to get a lot of experience and fresh reps before section play starts next week.

What are your thoughts on your section this year?

It’s tough, and we know it’s going to be tough. I think we’re ready for it, ready to play any team we face. I think we’ll do well in section play; we have a pretty good idea of what we’ll see in each matchup.

Take me through the at-bat on your second home run of the season against Kiski.

That was a very long inning, and I really didn’t know what was going through my head. I try not to think too much when I’m hitting. When I overthink things, that’s when problems pop up.

What’s the greatest number of batters you’ve ever struck out in a game?

I’m not sure. I think it was the nine I struck out against Butler.

What was your first high school softball game like? How’d you do?

That was last year against Upper St. Clair. I remember it being very cold. I was nervous, and that caused me not the play the way I wanted.

What are your individual goals for the season?

I want to play more relaxed and have more fun. I put in a lot of work in the offseason, so I’m trying not to stress too much. The other goal I have is to make first team this year because I made second team last year, and I just want to be better than I was last year.

What are the team’s goals?

The first goal is to make playoffs, and once we do that the goal is to win WPIALs and then win states.

Which opponent do you look forward to playing against the most?

This year I’m looking forward to playing against Plum and North Hills because those were games last year, I think we can get back this year.

What’s your favorite part of the season changing to spring?

I like summer and warm weather. I really don’t like winter. I’ve told my family I plan on moving somewhere warmer. Summer also reminds me of softball and being out on the field.

How long can you go without your phone?

I can go a long while because I don’t have social media.

Do you have a favorite subject in school?

Math and science. They make sense to me, are logical. There’s nothing abstract about them, there’s only one right answer.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

I like to read, lifting, and I’ve taken up calligraphy.

What was the last book you read?

The other day I finished up reading “A Million Little Choices” by Tamera Alexander

What made you pick up calligraphy?

Everyone tells me I have really good handwriting. People have noticed that about me and have bought me do it yourself calligraphy books, and I’ve gone through those and taught myself.

Wyatt Warywoda

School: Springdale

Class: Freshman

Sport: Baseball

Claim to Fame: After the Dynamos’ first game of the year against Geibel was cancelled, they took on St. Joseph on Wednesday, and Warywoda got the start. He went six innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit and struck out 14 in an 11-1 nonsection victory. He also doubled and drove in two runs to help his cause.

Were you nervous at all for your first varsity start?

A little bit. It was cool. I pitched in the first scrimmage, so I had that under my belt, but I was nervous for that first real game.

Did you see yourself striking out 14?

No, I didn’t. I didn’t know what to think going in. We didn’t have much background on the team going in. We knew from prior years that they were pretty good. I went out and did everything I could. My catcher, Luke Bramson, called a really good game, all I had to do was just throw. I also had a great crew behind me.

What pitch did you feel was working the best for you that day?

My fastball. That’s my go-to if I’m missing the curve or the slider and looking for a reset. My slider wasn’t working as well as I would have wanted, so that left me with my fastball and curve.

So, you were able to put the fastball where you needed?

Again, thanks to Luke. He called where I should pitch, and that’s where I was aiming.

Take me through your at-bats and how you drove in a pair of runs.

The first at-bat I had a five-pitch walk. My second at-bat, I doubled after Luke led off with a double. Hitting is contagious. When you see people roping the baseball it gets you fired up. I went in there thinking I would hit something hard, and I replaced spots with Luke and then Andrew Redman doubled me in, so that was cool to see back-to-back-to-back doubles. We were hitting well and had an overall solid game.

What tone does it set for the team getting that first win in the first game of the season?

It feels good. I’m glad we were able to bring it home. We have to take that positive energy that we carried into that game against St. Joseph for our section games against Brentwood on Monday and Tuesday. Those are when it matters. It was a great first game, always feels great to get a win, we just need to keep doing what we’re doing.

What other positions do you play?

Shortstop. I could play wherever the coaches need me.

What were your individual goals for the season?

Help my team out as much as I can. There really wasn’t a set goal I had, but I would like to get as many strikeouts that I can. At the end of the day, I just want to see the scoreboard display us with a higher score than the other team.

Is there an opponent you’re looking forward to playing?

Riverview. That’s our rivals and probably will be our best competition. It will be nice to see how I stack up and how each team stacks up against the other. That will be a really good game. But right now, the most important game is the one against Brentwood on Monday.

Favorite baseball team and/or player?

I would say the Pirates because they’re the local club, and I would say Paul Skenes is my favorite player.

What do you think the Pirates will do this year?

Yeesh, I don’t know. Hopefully win, turn it around.

What’s your favorite part of seeing warmer weather?

It’s always good to get those warm sunny days that put you in a good mood all day. It gives us a chance for more outside practices. You never want to play when it’s rainy or cold.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

Invisibility.

What would be your Kryptonite?

I don’t think I have an answer for that, but being invisible, I don’t think I would have a weakness.

Do you have a favorite subject in school?

Biology.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

I like working on my game, focusing on my skills. So, I’m usually practicing baseball because you have to think it’s still a game, can’t think of it like, “Man I have to go play baseball,” you have to look at it positively, like, “Hey I get to go outside and play baseball for a few hours.” I also like playing and practicing basketball.

Favorite show or movie?

I don’t usually watch too much TV, but if I had to pick, “42” and “The Sandlot” would be my go-tos.

Tags: Fox Chapel, Springdale