Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
WELLSTON — Over the last decade, Wellston has had plenty of talented players come through the program and rewrite the history books.
However, that list began with Hannah Potts’ name etched at the top.
The senior hurler has spent the last three years making a name for herself and striking fear into opposing hitters. Yet, this season might be her greatest masterpiece yet.
Across 113 innings in 22 games this season, she’s struck out 259 hitters with a 0.80 ERA, leading the Golden Rockets to their first district championship since 2014.
Oh, and she’s thrown seven no-hitters as a cherry on top.
Before Wellston takes the field on Wednesday against Tuscarawas Valley in a Division V regional semifinal, we caught up with Wellston’s standout to discuss the season, winning an elusive district title, committing to Western Michigan University and much more.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
Question: You guys are playing softball as good as anyone in Southeast Ohio. What makes this team so special that you guys are sitting at 20-2 and playing deep into late May?
Potts: I believe the Wellston softball program is one of the best things that our small town has. I appreciate that we hold ourselves to a high standard to carry on the expectations set by those who came before us. Every team we play is going to give us their ‘A’ game, so we know we must always be on ours. This team is special because we’re gritty. Each game there are different players who step up and it’s great to witness. This group is hungry to win and the realization that we have the chance to do something special is what drives us.
Q: Individually, your pitching numbers are unreal. You’ve thrown seven no-hitters, which is wild. What drives you to be the player you are and what’s that feeling of seeing that final out happen to complete a no-hitter?
HP: My biggest motivation is the desire to leave behind a legacy that I can look back and be proud of. Every time I take the field, I tell myself no regrets. I don’t want to ever look back on my high school career and wish I’d done things differently. There have also been so many people who have helped me get to where I am today, especially my mom and dad, that I feel I am “repaying” them by always giving it my all. I also just love to compete. If the game is on the line, I hope I’m the person up to bat or on the mound. I also hope to inspire the younger generation of softball players into believing that all dreams are possible with hard work.
The final out of a no hitter usually consists of me running up to my catcher, Maddie Childers, for either a high-five or a hug. Catching is tough and I’m so thankful to have her behind the plate. The feeling of that final out is always very gratifying for me knowing I was able to do my part for my team.
Q: For you as a senior, describe the bond you guys have as a group and how it’s led to on the field success.
HP: This year has consisted of underclassmen filling the roles of last year’s seniors. I believe we each bring something different to the table and that’s what makes us thrive as a unit. Most importantly, we trust each other. Knowing we always have each other’s backs has definitely led to success on the field. For me being a senior, this team and all the previous teams I’ve been a part of at Wellston have been special to me. I know I get another four years to play ball after my high school career, but I’ll never get the chance to play with my hometown friends and that’s what I’ll cherish the most.
Q: Alongside the seniors, you got to enjoy playing three years with your older sister, Maddie. What was that like and what were some things she helped teach you to make you better?
HP: Being able to share the field with my older sister Maddie is a blessing a lot of people don’t get to share. Honestly, I credit my sister for making me the pitcher I am today. As the stubborn younger sister, it was my duty to do everything my older sister did. So when she first started pitching at about seven years old, it was only right that I did the same thing. Something a lot of people don’t realize is that we had to compete against each other for time on the mound. So while we were sisters at home, we were each other’s biggest competitors on the field. Although we were pretty hard on each other at times, we both knew it was our way of showing how much we cared and today I know we can both say we are thankful for that. It was also pretty special that Maddie batted behind me. I’d always tell her I’m gonna get on base and then you will hit me in. Above all, she’s taught me the importance of resilience. I admire her most for the way she handled adversity and her desire to work harder when things didn’t always go her way. Our time together is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Q: You officially signed to play softball at Western Michigan University. What made that school the right choice for you?
HP: My journey to Western Michigan is one that is pretty special and unique. They weren’t on my radar then and I wasn’t on theirs until January of my junior year. As I got further into the recruiting process, I realized that I wanted to play closer to home and have the opportunity for my parents to come to my games. So, I began looking at schools in the MAC. At the time, my older sister Maddie had already committed to Kalamazoo College in Michigan and my mom jokingly told me I should check out Western Michigan since it was right across the street. With Western being in the MAC, I seriously thought about what my mom said and I signed up for one of their winter camps. Thank goodness I did because that ultimately led to my commitment there. At the end of the camp, the pitching coach told me to put my number in her phone and they would call me in a few days. A few days passed, they called me, we set up a date for a visit, they offered me, I gave my verbal commitment in March of 2024 and I officially signed in November. The coaching staff is truly the factor that set Western Michigan apart from other schools. I feel that I’m more than just a softball player to them and I know they will push me to be not only a better athlete, but a better person. I admire head coach Marlee Wilson, who also played for Western Michigan from 2014-18. Also, I mean, come on, how cool is it that my sister and I will be within walking distance of each other!?
Q: You guys had been knocking on the door of winning a district, and finally got it. You were overcome with emotion on that final strikeout. What was that moment like?
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
HP: It feels like I’ve been chasing a district title for the past four years and now that I’ve finally won it, well it’s indescribable. I think it has still yet to fully set in but I know it will eventually. On that final strikeout, I think I felt every emotion possible. This past month has actually been pretty rough for me as I had quite the health scare so that moment was bittersweet for me and only made me appreciate it more. It felt as if all my team and I’s hard work had finally paid off. During the celebration shortly afterwards, I was reminded that this is all a game I play for fun. Too often I get caught up in the high pressure moments that I forget that I began to play the game of softball because it’s fun.
Q: A TVC title, and a district championship have been won. Surely that’s not all you guys want to win. What’s a key moving forward to potentially winning more hardware?
HP: Definitely! While we already achieved two of our goals, we’re definitely eager for more. Moving forward, it’s crucial that we execute the little things right because as games get more competitive, that could become the difference between winning and losing.
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