Baldwin softball off to strong start by getting ‘1% better each day’

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, April 20, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Baldwin softball team has displayed steady growth in each of coach Ron Santillo’s first three years at the helm.

“The credit all goes to the girls and the hard work they put in over the last three years,” Santillo said. “They really push one another in the offseason.

“The girls play for one another, they really do. The have great chemistry and great drive.”

The Highlanders were 3-17 in 2023 and finished 7-11 in 2024.

This spring, Baldwin won five of six games in March and kicked off April with a 3-0 win against Thomas Jefferson, the defending PIAA Class 5A champion.

Nine days later, the Highlanders crushed Peters Township, 10-0, as freshman Camryn Temme belted a grand slam and combined with sophomore Melina DeFelice on a three-inning no-hitter.

Avery Herrington drove in three runs and Ryley Shaw chipped in with a double.

Baldwin followed up April 11 with a 17-0 thrashing of Albert Gallatin, then defeated Bethel Park, 5-3, on April 12 in a key section matchup.

Reese Temme went 4 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs against AG, and Camryn Temme had a double, home run and three RBIs.

Mackenzie Bowen and Kaylee Smolko chipped in with two hits apiece.

Against Bethel Park, Camryn Temme struck out nine, Jordan Gerendash singled, doubled and drove in two runs and Shaw had three hits and scored twice for the Highlanders, who improved to 5-0 in Section 4-5A and 9-1 overall.

“We hope to continue to improve, build on last year and continue to progress,” Santillo said. “But we expect to play very well (in 2025). We have high expectations for these 19 girls every day. We challenge them to get better each day. ‘One percent’ is our motto — do something to get just 1% better each day, and then you see the results. Our girls work extremely hard on their fundamentals of both offensive and defensive execution every day,

“We are very happy with the commitment and intensity from the offseason through our in-season practices. The girls are continuing to bond and work together. Team chemistry is on another level this season.”

The Highlanders have come a long way from the team that lost 16 consecutive games in 2023 to start Santillo’s first year as field boss.

“Like I said, the girls are excited and ready,” Santillo said. “Our goal is to just get 1% better every day and the rest will take care of itself. But we know it’s going to battle every night.”

Santillo welcomed eight returning players to this year’s club, led by Shaw, a senior and fourth-year starter at second base. Through mid-April, Shaw was the team leader in hitting (.441), slugging percentage (1.000), runs (18), hits (15), home runs (5) and stolen bases (6).

Shaw, seniors Gabby Jaquay (3B) and Smolko (1B) and junior Reese Temme (CF) are serving as co-captains.

Smolko is a Pitt Johnstown commit who was a standout volleyball player at Baldwin. Jaquay is a Seton Hill recruit.

Other leading players for the Highlanders include Herrington (C) and Gerendash (SS), both juniors and all-section picks a year ago; DeFelice (P/OF); and Bowen (OF), also a junior. Herrington led the team in hitting in 2024.

Three other letter winners are sophomores Teaghan Scanlon (IF/OF), Ava Bonacci (IF/OF) and Emily Golembiewski (OF/1B).

“We expect a lot out of our girls,” Santillo said, “on the field and in the classroom. This group of girls are great role models within the school and the community, great students and better people. We look forward to working with them every day.”

The Highlanders’ starting outfield consists of Bowen in left, Reese Temme in center and either DeFelice or Camryn Temme in right. Scanlon is the team’s designated player; Bonacci has seen playing time as a courtesy runner.

Other top reserves on this year’s club include sophomores Gabby McGee (C/OF/IF), Addison Williams (OF) and Mya Markwood (OF); along with freshmen Olivia Lander (OF), Jules Ditoro (IF/OF/C), Laela Markwood (IF) and Peyton Wilkes (P/1B).

“We have a very talented group of underclassmen,” Santillo said. “All of them (together) are a key to our success. We are very excited about those young players as well as a very strong middle school and youth program.

“Our middle school coach, Dawna Kasper, has done a great job. We are very excited about the future.”

Bowen led the team in on-base percentage (.536) early in the season while Camryn Temme led in RBIs (18). Gerendash was the team leader in doubles (7).

In the pitcher’s circle, Camryn Temme and DeFelice had posted ERAs of 2.26 and 2.49. Temme tossed a no-hitter March 21 in the Highlanders’ 11-0 win over Butler.

“Cam and Reese Temme are sisters. Both are starters with key roles on the team,” Santillo said.

Baldwin’s veteran field boss has a unique father-daughter coaching staff that is “all softball, all the time” that has provided a positive force within the softball program.

The staff includes Santillo and coach Steve Dadig, along with their daughters Carly Santillo, who continued her career as a catcher at Pitt-Johnstown, and Taylor Dadig, a former George Mason shortstop who was inducted into the Baldwin High School Athletic Hall of Fame this year.

Both were four-year college standouts, and both were four-year all-section players at Baldwin

“These girls have the opportunity to work every day with former college players,” Dadig, the dad, said. “Carly and Taylor have helped our girls develop a mental toughness and a warrior mindset.”

Steve Dadig said there is a “trust” factor among players and coaches.

“Our coaching staff — the four of us — we trust and believe in our girls,” he said, “and that’s a powerful confidence our girls have on the field or in the classroom.”

The Highlanders are members of Section 4-5A along with Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Connellsville, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson and Trinity.

Tags: Baldwin