A refrain emerges from Hampshire Regional softball coach Brian McGan when Hannah Wodecki enters the batter’s box.
“Hannah, we don’t need anything special,” he tells her. “We just need you on the base.”
More often than not this spring, Wodecki provided something spectacular. The Daily Hampshire Gazette Softball Player of the Year batted .505 with seven home runs and 36 runs batted in. The Franklin Pierce-bound senior led the Raiders to the Western Massachusetts Class B championship and the Division 4 state quarterfinals.
“It’s not all about me. When I’m in a game I’m not thinking, ‘how am I gonna do? What am I doing this game?’ It’s a team sport,” Wodecki said. “But overall I think I did really well this year and was proud of myself to go out with a good season.”
That season was the culmination of seven years of work and a nearly decade-long connection with McGan. She started tinkering with her swing with him at the Batter’s Box in Westfield, a batting cage and training space. They still watch videos of her nascent technique and giggle at her progress.
“Her ability is rare,” McGan said. “When I first had her I told her, if you buy into what I’m selling you’re going to read your name in the paper a lot. Your name’s going to be in lights a long time.”
Her life has been about more than softball, though. Wodecki competed in gymnastics outside of school until she started high school and stayed on the Raiders gymnastics squad through her senior year. She also spent time on Hampshire’s indoor track team developing speed and strength.
Both sports made her a better softball player. Gymnastics developed her natural strength and flexibility, an asset as a first baseman. Track gave her speed to stretch singles into doubles and an athletic boost to reach high line drives.
“I would never be able to stretch that far if I wasn’t a gymnast previously,” Wodecki said.
She also wasn’t an instant star for Hampshire. Wodecki didn’t join the varsity program until she was an eighth grader, which felt later compared to some peers that made the team as seventh graders. As a regional school, middle schoolers can compete in varsity athletics at Hampshire. Wodecki appreciated her opportunity even more when it came after growing up watching sectional and state championship runs from the sidelines.
“It’s intimidating going into a program with high expectations, but at the same time it’s awesome because you get to watch great softball. You get to learn from all of the older kids,” Wodecki said. “I had so many great senior mentors throughout my career. It was great getting that competition and having those older girls watch over you.”
And McGan watched over everyone, both in and out of the dugout. He occasionally worked on the field during school hours, and the team saw him at recess and waved. McGan told them every year around prom time to text or call him if they needed a ride or anything.
“He’s always there for you whether it’s emotionally or softball, or with family. He’s always willing to help us, no matter what,” Wodecki said. “I cannot tell him how thankful I am for him. I tell him it all the time, he’s amazing. He’s just so selfless and willing to help all of his kids that he coaches.”
About the only thing he won’t do is tell his players how good they are. McGan always says they can improve and pushes them to keep getting better. He finally spilled it during their last hug after Hampshire’s state quarterfinal loss.
“In my program she’s probably in the top three best hitters I’ve ever had. She’s been phenomenal,” McGan said. “She’s one of those kids that’s going to put a dent in the program when you leave it, and it’s hard to replace it.”
That’s not all. He told her to bring video of her swing when she comes home for break or other visits. They’ll keep tinkering to help her keep improving.
Alexi Bonenfant, sophomore, Gateway
Laura Cote, sophomore, Belchertown
Anna Dyjach, sophomore, Hopkins Academy
Gabriella Dyjach, senior, Hopkins Academy
Delaney Fifield, freshman, Frontier Regional
Rosie Follet, sophomore, Easthampton
Nicole Hannigan, senior, Gateway
Sofia Holden, sophomore, Amherst
Abby McClaflin, junior, Easthampton
Jocelyn Mettey, junior, Hampshire Regional
Bailey McCoy, senior, Smith Academy
Lauren Morse, junior, Easthampton
Amanda Novak, senior, Smith Academy
Teresa Saltis, senior, Hampshire Regional
Skyler Steele, seventh grade, Frontier Regional
Makayla Tatro, freshman, Smith Vocational
Jae Velazquez, junior, South Hadley
Hailey Wodecki, sophomore, Hampshire Regional
Hannah Wodecki, senior, Hampshire Regional
Katelyn Baker, senior, Hampshire Regional
Taylor Barry, junior, Hopkins Academy
Angie Bessone, senior, South Hadley
Jess Cloutier, junior, Easthampton
Josie Dubay, sophomore, Smith Vocational
Maria Konieczny, junior, Amherst
Ana Growhowski, sophomore, Easthampton
Jacqueline Jourdain, senior, Holyoke
Cassidi Mushenski, sophomore, Hopkins Academy
Stephanie Paiva, senior, Gateway
Isabelle Palmisano, junior, Hopkins Academy
Ella Pelis, senior, Northampton
Ashley Cortis, sophomore, Hampshire Regional
Makayla Santos, senior, Frontier
Ella Schaeffer, freshman, South Hadley
Hailey Springman, junior, Smith Academy
Ashley Taylor, freshman, Frontier Regional
Molly Allen, senior, Northampton
Vanessa Antil, freshman, Smith Vocational
Layni Bailey, eighth grade, Hopkins Academy
Gina Camerota, senior, Belchertown
Cassandra Dion, seventh grade, Hopkins Academy
Julia Dobson, senior, Smith Academy
Lily Ellia, eighth grade, Hopkins Academy
Chloe Govoni, senior, Gateway
Keene Jeffress, junior, Smith Academy
Kaitlyn Maynard, sophomore, Gateway
Sophia Pinardi, freshman, Frontier Regional
Jaycalee Santos, junior, Holyoke
Briana Sosa, senior, Granby
Bri Sulikowski, senior, Hampshire Regional
Kaliya Valentin, junior, Northampton
Kelli Vey, senior, South Hadley
Avanna Wickles, freshman, Smith Vocational