SOFTBALL: Female Athlete of the Week: Lexi Wolfe lifts Shippensburg to 3-0 week

Lexi Wolfe did a little bit of everything for Shippensburg's softball team this week, and she did it all well.

Wolfe had a pair of strong hitting games, then fired a gem against Carlisle to lift the Lady Hounds to a 3-0 week, and she is the Public Opinion Female Athlete of the Week.

"I think especially against Waynesboro (a 12-9 victory), our big hitting was really important," Wolfe said. "They kept hitting as much as we were, so we needed to keep putting more together. I just kind of went in, waited for my pitch and went with it. I was swinging at anything close, really."

Wolfe was the top hitter against the Maidens, racking up four hits to go along with a pair of runs and two RBIs. The game before that, a 6-3 victory over Big Spring, Wolfe was 3-for-4 with a run scored.

"Lex normally bunts or slaps from the leadoff spot," Ship coach Mike Peters said, "but she has such a strong bat that we decided to let her swing away, and she came through big time. She has great pitch selection and that naturally-smooth swing. We can count on her to give us a good at-bat every time she's up."

As much as Wolfe impressed at the plate, she continued to do so when she was put on the mound Saturday against Carlisle. In her first start of the season, Wolfe fired a two-hitter against the Thundering Herd, and although she struck out only one, she didn't allow a single walk.

"Lexi is a pitcher who isn't going to get a lot of strikeouts," Peters said. "She works the corners and changes speed well. She throws a lot of groundballs and flyballs. She got ahead of hitters against Carlisle, and we made the play behind her. I thought she did a great job on Saturday."

Last year, Shippensburg won the District 3 Class AAA title behind the arm of Morgan Newell, but it's becoming clear the Lady Hounds have other options. Wolfe is 1-0 so far, and Ship is 5-1 overall.

"I played with Morgan ever since I was 12 years old, and we all miss her," Wolfe said. "It's not like we couldn't use her to improve our team, but we're getting along well without her. Against Carlisle, I was hitting my spots well and getting those first-pitch strikes."

And just to add a bit more to Wolfe's resume, Peters continues to be impressed with Wolfe's work at second base.

"I expect her to keep making those 'wow' plays at second base and being the sparkplug who starts our offense," Peters said. "Against Mechanicsburg, she tug up from first on a popup to the catcher and ended up scoring. We expect the unexpected from Lexi, and she delivers."

Sport: Softball

Position: Second base/pitcher

Grade: Senior

Parents: Scott and Cathy Wolfe

Other interests: Lexi also plays field hockey for the Lady Hounds and was one of the football team's athletic trainers.

Surprising fact: Despite sporting huge holes, Wolfe has worn the same pair of socks to every game dating back to last season.

Favorite team: University of Alabama softball

Athlete most admired: Jackie Traina

Two people she'd like to have dinner with: Traina and Jennie Finch

Statistics: Wolfe was a big part of the Hounds' 3-0 week ... She was 3-for-4 with a run scored against Big Spring, finished 4-for-5 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs against Waynesboro and fired a 2-hitter in a 4-1 win over Carlisle.