06/19/2025
🚨 **ALUM ALERT** 🚨
✨ Congratulations Ryley Whitney! 💜✨
Ryley Whitney to Lead James E. Bazzell Softball (by Don Meador)
Just over a decade ago, Ryley Whitney was a student walking the halls at the James E. Bazzell Middle School (JEBMS) while developing her softball skills on the diamond. Today, Whitney finds herself teaching at the Allen County Intermediate Center (ACIC) and the new head coach of the tradition-rich Bazzell Lady Patriot softball program.
“I am so excited to take on this new role and follow in the footsteps of one of the best to do it,” Whitney noted. “Jeff Rippy helped mold me from a player to a coach and I can’t wait to use the skills I have learned from him. With this being my first year, I expect to learn many new things and have a lot of fun with the girls. I’m super thankful for this opportunity and I cannot wait to get started.”
Whitney’s new role is another step in a highly decorated softball career for the former Allen County-Scottsville and Campbellsville University star. Her five-year efforts on the field helped AC-S to 102 wins from 2012 through 2017. Whitney went on to start 233 times in 234 opportunities during a five-year career at Campbellsville.
As a Super Senior---the term for players who received a fifth-year of eligibility due to the shortened pandemic season of 2020---Whitney had a .439 average, recorded 65 hits, scored 45 runs, ripped 11 doubles, launched 13 home runs, amassed 51 RBI's, and had 115 total bases. Whitney slugged .777 and held a .576 on-base percentage. She was a NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) First Team All-American, NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-Region, a First Team All-Mid-South Conference (MSC) selection, and an Academic All-MSC honoree.
Whitney departed Campbellsville with her name etched in the softball record book for the Tigers. She is tied for first in career doubles, first in walks, first in one-base percentage, third in slugging percentage, and sixth in career home runs.
After earning an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education in 2021, Whitney returned home for the 2022-23 school, starting her teaching career at the Intermediate Center. She also graduated college in 2024 with a Master’s degree in School Counseling. Whitney was the assistant coach for the middle school team for the last three years and helped lead the high school program as an assistant for two years.
Whitney’s playing and coaching experience on the field has prepared her to step into the head coaching position---vacated by Rippy following his retirement last year from Allen County Schools.
“My experience will help me as a head coach by creating an environment for all players to succeed,” Whitney explained. “At the middle school level it is all about teaching them the importance of teamwork and teaching them more about the game. I would love to create an environment for all players to feel like they belong and that they are a part of a team. One of my greatest strengths is being able to form relationships so I cannot wait to use those skills as a head coach.”
Whitney is quick to point out that her goals for the Bazzell program are to continue with the model set forth by Rippy.
“Most of the goals I have for the middle school team stem from the goals that Coach Rippy has previously set in place,” Whitney said. “Some goals would be to win the district tournament again and compete at the state tournament. Some expectations I have for the girls would be for them to show up every day with a good attitude and be willing to step out of their comfort zone. I expect them to give me their best no matter the challenge and no matter the outcome, I expect them to be a good teammate and be willing to make adjustments during practices to help set them up for success in the game setting.”
The new coach invites all interested young women to try out for the team in July. Middle school team tryouts are open to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.
“Tryouts will take place July 24-25 from 3 to 5:30 at Lady Patriot Field,” Whitney added. “An up to date sports physical and a passed drug test will be required to try out. After the last day of tryouts, we will let the girls know who will be on the team and we will start practice the next Monday and continue every day during the week. After tryouts are over on Friday we will have our first parent meeting immediately following tryouts to introduce myself and the staff and also let them know about practice, expectations and let them ask any questions they may have.”
The Bazzell softball season starts in early August and continues through September.
