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In 2022, Alanna Bowman roamed the hallways of West Genesee Middle School. A day earlier, she found out she made the Junior Varsity Softball Team at West Genesee High School. Bowman was already excited about the prospect of playing varsity in the near future, though she soon found out she wouldn’t have to wait longer.

Then-West Genesee High School softball coach Jimmy Ciciarelli approached her in the hallway and told her she made the varsity team.

“It came to me as a complete shock because I never anticipated to play varsity as an eighth grader,” Bowman said. “I was intimidated because I was a little young.”

Despite being the youngest player on the team, Bowman contributed. She drove in 11 runs across 36 at-bats as an eighth grader. The following two seasons, Bowman registered 49 hits and 47 RBIs, helping West Genesee to 24 wins after just three in 2021.

Being an eighth grader, Bowman was not in the high school building every day with the other varsity players. She had to take a bus to practice after school and was often late for practice.

Bowman’s natural position was behind the plate as a catcher. Despite only beginning competitive softball in middle school, Bowman developed a strong arm and quick reflexes. Though West Genesee already had two players at the position, forcing her to play elsewhere.

Ciciarelli said the Wildcats desperately needed a third baseman and Bowman stepped up. Her strong arm and pinpoint accuracy made it a seamless transition to the hot corner.

“Coming in as an eighth grader, it’s a lot of pressure on her … and she handled herself really well that first year,” current West Genesee varsity softball coach John Bubb Jr. said.

Bowman credited Ciciarelli and Bubb for pushing her to perform at the highest level. She batted .333 as an eighth grader, but also showed off her power. She notched double-digit RBIs and blasted two home runs, earning her an All-New York State Public High School Athletic Association All-Conference Honorable Mention.

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Yet, Bowman was tested when she suffered an injury in the first two weeks of the season. She was hit by a foul tip in the helmet which gave her a concussion. In addition, Bowman had to deal with lingering ankle injuries. But she battled through.

In the offseason, Bowman had to go to rehabilitation to fully recover her ankle. Yet Bowman had learned to face adversity before. In middle school, Geddes Little League won the District Eight Championship. They continued their success, advancing to the regional tournament, but ultimately were defeated, falling a few wins short of the Little League Softball World Series.

Even with her limited softball experience at the time, the loss motivated Bowman. Bowman continued to shine on varsity once she reached ninth grade.

In 2023, she established herself as West Genesee’s starting catcher. Her power bat was crucial to the Wildcats’ lineup, blasting six home runs. The mark would’ve broken West Genesee’s single-season record, but her teammate Lexi Rydelek hit 10 the same season.

“Pitchers knew that if they threw her a fastball, she would hit it with power,” Ciciarelli said.

One of the highlights of Bowman’s freshman season came against Liverpool — one of the top teams in central New York. Facing their ace, Cassie Wiggins, Bowman blasted a solo home run in the fourth inning, helping cut West Genesee’s lead to 2-1, though the Wildcats ultimately fell.

Along with Bowman’s power, she displayed better plate discipline during her second season of varsity. She had struggled with adjusting to varsity-level pitching as an eighth grader, posting a 28% strikeout rate. Her freshman year saw that number reduced to just 12%.

With two years of varsity experience under her belt, Bowman produced her strongest season in 2024. Her batting average increased to .371 and she led West Genesee in RBIs with 20. Her performances earned her first team all Salt City Athletic Conference honors along with being a NYSPHSAA All-State Honorable Mention. Bowman guided West Genesee to the Section III Class AA final, but lost to Whitesboro 6-1.

As Bowman’s junior season looms, she’s now one of the most experienced players on the team. Bowman hopes to lead West Genesee back to the sectional final while also pursuing her goal of playing college softball.

“If I don’t succeed at the point I want, I’ll just keep working at it,” Bowman said.

Published on October 3, 2024 at 12:03 am