Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – Every softball player in the state faced the same set of changes this season.

A shortened preseason to prepare for an abbreviated season that features a new set of safety guidelines brought on by COVID-19.

Solon freshman Hilary Wilson had her own changes to adjust to.

An all new coaching staff, a different spot in the batting order and a position switch were all waiting for Wilson.

Even with all the changes for Wilson this summer it has been the same old production for the Solon slugger.

Wilson has opened the season with an eight-game hitting streak while helping the new-look Spartans to a 6-2 start.

“I feel like I was as ready for this season as I could be,” Wilson said. “I didn’t feel totally ready hitting wise because I hadn’t seen much living pitching but I think as a team we were ready to go.”

Last season Wilson burst onto the prep, quickly establishing herself as one of the top young hitters in the state.

As an eighth-grader Wilson led Solon with a .410 batting average and 21 doubles, hitting five home runs and driving in 38 runs.

Through one week of the season Wilson has only built on that strong debut season.

Wilson is hitting .615 with two home runs and 10 RBI after the opening week of the season and owns an impressive .885 slugging percentage.

“I learned last year you have to be a leader right away,” Wilson said. “(your teammates) will back you up but you can’t be intimidated you have to go out there and do your best.”

Wilson went 2-for-7 in a season-opening doubleheader at West Delaware as Solon managed just one run in each game while being swept by the Class 4A seventh-ranked Hawks.

Solon has won six straight games, scoring double digit runs in all six, since being swept in the season-opener and Wilson is a big reason why.

Wilson has multiple hits in each game during the Spartans’ six-game winning streak and is hitting .737 with two home runs during that stretch.

“We’ve been working on becoming more line drive hitters and gap line drive hitters and she is starting to adjust her swing path just a little bit so she’s hitting more line drives,” first-year Solon head coach Dave Johnson said. “Those are the ones that leave the part are those line drives that find a little air.”

After starting at third base and finding a home in the third spot in the Solon order as an eighth-grader Wilson has made the switch to shortstop this season while flipping between the leadoff and cleanup spots in the Spartan batting order.

Wilson has played shortstop almost exclusively growing up so that change has been smooth. Starting the season in the leadoff spot was a little more of an adjustment for Wilson who emphasized she is fine hitting in any spot in the order.

“At times I miss third just because I like to cover bunts but most of the time I am more comfortable at short,” Wilson said. “(Batting leadoff) was a little shocking. Hitting third last year and then moving up to leadoff was kind of a shock but I like it and I think I’ve done pretty well with it.”

Johnson spent the first week of practice playing Wilson at third base while he tinkered with different defensive lineups.

It took one week for Johnson to settle on playing Wilson at shortstop where he defensive is as impressive as her staggering offensive numbers.

“After the first week I just decided that she needs to be at short,” Johnson said. “The only place for her last year was at third and she played it and did a great job and her defensive stats show that. She’s already made some plays at shortstop that other players would not even get to the ball. What’s the most impressive thing is her first step, her first movement defensively is always the right move. She just has a natural read on the ball that really sets her up to be successful.”

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