Catching on: Sheehan puts in the work

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

It’s the toughest position on the field, and one of the most physical.

Being a catcher is not an easy task. While having to make sure you are calling the right pitches, at the right time, catchers are also taking a beating behind the plate. They are taking foul tips off their hands, or legs, catching is not for the faint of hard.

Orchard Park High School’s Ella Sheehan knows all too well the physical toll being behind the plate. The Orchard Park standout has had her fair share of bruises from a game, or games. Ever since Sheehan has taken the sport seriously, she has made sure her body was capable of playing at the highest level.

That means making sure she was taking care of her arm, doing her proper warmups, especially in the Western New York spring where game time temps are normally in the 40’s. It means always using the right mechanics, so she isn’t putting the strain on her arm or body.

There is a lot more that goes into catching that someone might think.

“Ever since I began to take softball seriously, my main priority was making sure my body was capable of playing at the highest level,” stated Sheehan. “My catching coaches; Chris Snuz, and Ella Wesolowski instilled the importance of arm care, and a proper warm up, while also instructing me to use correct mechanics to take strain off of my arm, and body.”

That’s the just the physical side of the position, there is still the mental side. To be a successful team everyone needs to be on the same page. That’s especially important when it comes to the pitchers and catchers.

Sheehan knows for her team to have success the pitchers and her need to be on the same page during the game. Orchard Park has been lucky over the past couple of seasons as both Sheehan and starting pitcher Ava Farina have been together. They have been able to work together and know each other strengths.

But, it just isn’t what Sheehan does during the high school season. As she continues to evolve as an athlete, Sheehan has been lucky enough to catch some of the best pitchers to come out of WNY. She has worked with Maddie Covelli, Juilanna Verni, and Ella Hairison, all top-notch pitchers.

Being able to work with them has helped her as she continues in her journey.

“While evolving as a softball player I was lucky enough to catch some of the best to come out of Buffalo including; Maddie Covelli, Juliana Verni, and Ella Hairison. With catching high velocity right out of the gate, I could now adapt to any pitcher I needed to catch at camps, or showcases,” stated Sheehan. “Ava Farina, the pitcher for my high school Orchard Park, is one of the most elite pitchers in the area. I am so blessed to have built such a substantial relationship with her these past four years on varsity. We have spent tons of time in the offseason working together to make sure we can perform for our team, and we are able to understand each other as both people, and players. I feel that is unique to find in a high school pitcher/ catcher duo, and I know it is one of the reasons Orchard Park has been so successful in the past few years.”

While you see all the success that Sheehan is having during the year, it all starts in the offseason. You won’t see Sheehan take her offseason lightly, that’s when the real work starts.

Some players hate practice, they would rather just play games. But, Sheehan loves practice. She loves to get out there and work on the little things to make her a better player. Sheehan also makes sure she hits to gym to get bigger and stronger.

“As I have grown as an athlete my offseason focus has shifted to find consistency, and build strength. I love practicing softball, there is hardly anything I would choose over it, and I have built great relationships with coaches working at All In Sports, and the owner of Strike Zone (a hitting facility in OP) which have allowed me to get secure times, cages, and fields to help me reach the next level,” stated Sheehan. “It’s not common to hear, but I truly couldn’t do any of this without my father, Christopher Sheehan who spends hours a week with me in the cage throwing me pitchers, or on the field catching my throw downs. He has helped guide me to find what works for practicing and in the gym, while also bringing me to coaches like Chris Snuz to hammer down on certain details. While I work on my softball skills, I am also training in the gym, lifting weights, and sprinting to make sure I am a well rounded athlete.”

All her hard work has definitely paid off as Sheehan has recently signed to pay her college softball at Niagara University. Being able to play at the highest level has always been a dream come true for Sheehan.

Signing to play at Niagara was an exciting time and it showed the hard work she has put in since stepping on the diamond for the very first time as a young girl has paid off.

“I am so excited, and grateful for the opportunity to continue playing softball. It has been my goal/ dream for so long to obtain this goal, and now that I finally have it just makes me more eager to be the best I can be,” stated Sheehan. “I had my goal set to play in college, and now that I have signed to Niagara I have a list of goals to reach before I get there. I am working towards these goals, while also giving my full attention to my current school ball season. I want to leave my impact on a program, and coaches that have truly impacted me as both a player and a person.”

While the pressure of college is now off the radar, there is still pressure. It’s just a different kind of pressure. Sheehan still wants to contribute for her team. A team that has aspirations of going deep into the playoffs this year.

She knows how good Orchard Park is, and what is coming up through the pipeline over the next couple years. Her job is to help some of these young girls get acclimated to the varsity level, and the speed of the game.

“It is awesome to be able to go out on the field, and not have to worry about what college I’m going tool. However, there is still pressure to perform for your team, but that is just a unique part of softball. I have never felt so confident and ready for a High School season,” stated Sheehan. “The Orchard Park Varsity softball team is definitely a team to watch, and I think the amount of talent we have coming up the next few years will make it so that Orchard Park is always a contender. I am so excited for this year, and the future of Orchard Park softball. My goal this season is to have my best season yet, and have fun with some of my best friends.”

That includes continuing to take a simple approach at the plate. She knows, at times, she won’t get anything good to hit. Pitchers are going to try to pitch around, or pitch safe to her. As she comes to plate, Sheehan is just looking for her pitch.

She is looking for the one pitch to drive. She is patient enough at the plate to wait out the pitcher until she makes a mistake.

“I always find a simplistic mindset is the best when I get in the box. I use awareness to see what pitches are being thrown to my other teammates to get a gauge on what the pitcher is throwing. Being a catcher, I am able to pick up on spins, and locations quickly, and efficiently while having the advantage of knowing the umps zone. I look for hitters' pitches, and my goal each at bat is to put a good swing on a good pitch by trusting my fundamentals,” explained Sheehan. “When I take an at bat I am only looking for one pitch to hit, my pitch. I wait to swing until I get that, and if a pitcher doesn’t give it to me I work the count until I get it. This helps me focus, and be picky with the zone which causes me to avoid swinging at balls, or pitches that are harder to hit.”