Sometimes, a little extra work with Mom is all it takes to unlock something special. That's exactly what happened for Brenna Fyffe, a senior softball star at Kenton Ridge High School, who put on a hitting clinic that earned her the Dayton Daily News Athlete of the Week honors for April 20-26.
Over a grueling four-game stretch in as many days, Fyffe was nearly unstoppable. She delivered three multi-home run performances, drove in 14 RBIs, and went an incredible 11-for-13 at the plate. It's the kind of tear that turns heads and makes you wonder if the ball looks as big as a beach ball.
"I wouldn't have been able to get this without the team I have and the coaches and my family," Fyffe said, showing the humility that defines great athletes. "I have such a good support system and my teammates always cheer me on."
The senior catcher's power surge included two home runs against Tecumseh, another two at North Union just two days later, and then a clean game where she didn't record a single out against defending Division I state champion Lebanon. In the second game of that twin-bill against Centerville, she crushed two more homers, proving her bat was on fire.
So, what changed? Fyffe credits extra batting practice with her mom and a newfound mental freedom. After committing to Ohio University, she initially felt pressure to prove herself. But she's since let that go.
"Once I committed, that's when I had put pressure on myself to prove for everybody that I was good, and then now I just have kind of calmed down and relaxed to realize that I'm good no matter what," she explained.
That relaxed confidence is paying off. Already a three-time all-state selection and first-team pick in the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail division, Fyffe recently became the program's all-time hits leader. She also credits her pitcher, sophomore Ivee Rastatter, for helping her read spin and anticipate pitches from behind the plate.
"She's such a good pitcher, and seeing her spin and knowing what she's throwing and how each pitch has a different spin, just being able to read that while I'm up to bat helps me so much," Fyffe said.
From extra reps with Mom to a relaxed mindset, Brenna Fyffe is proving that when you trust your preparation, the results follow. Keep an eye on this future Bobcat—she's just getting started.