Sometimes the perfect match starts by accident. Humboldt senior Winter Snyder’s pathway to softball success is a testament of this.
“It was kind of an odd experience,” Snyder said. “I was hanging out with my friends, and they were getting ready to go to a tryout for the Vipers. I was like, ‘I can go with you, it will be cool.’ I was there, and they didn’t have a catcher. I told them I could catch, kind of jokingly.”
As a freshman at Humboldt High, Snyder was already cemented into head coach Brad Piley’s line-up as the team’s catcher. And while Snyder may be an elite talent behind the plate, what makes her even more special is her ability to do it all.
Snyder can bat for power, and play the ball on the ground while using her speed to reach first. She has a strong arm, a golden glove, and most importantly — always gives effort.
“She can play anywhere,” Piley said. “It didn’t matter if she caught, played third, or outfield. One time we put her in the outfield for the first time in practice, and she laid out and caught a fly ball. She is one of those people that when you put her out there, she excels in any position you put her in.”
After two strong freshman and sophomore seasons, Snyder’s junior year was dealt a blow due to an injury. A PCL — posterior cruciate ligament — tear limited Snyder to just four doubleheaders in the 2019 season.
Despite the injury, Snyder returned for the postseason to help the Lady Cubs make a push for the state tournament. Humboldt toppled Uniontown in the regional second-round before being bounced out by Jayhawk-Linn in the game to reach state.
This season was supposed to be different. A healthy Snyder was poised to lead Humboldt on another run to state, but was denied the chance because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has canceled the remainder of the spring sports season.
“This was supposed to be the best season. We had a really good chance of going to state this year.” Snyder said. “I was especially looking forward to it because it was going to prepare me for college ball, but now it is like two years I’ve gone without playing.”
Snyder has already signed to continue her softball career at Labette Community College. She has been busy doing arm-band workouts, and other cardio work to keep her in shape for the time being.
Dedicated to the game, Snyder has dreamt of reaching the college level for some time.
“That is what I was looking forward to since sophomore year,” Snyder said. “When I first started playing, I didn’t think I was going to take it as seriously as I did, but as I started realizing my potential, I started looking into it more.”
A talented player who could have perhaps inked herself to a top four-year school, or stay close to home at Allen or Neosho, felt Labette was the perfect match.
“I wanted to play after JUCO for sure,” Snyder said. “I think I just wanted to have that junior college experience, because on my old travel team, the Kansas City Legends, we had some girls that played for Labette. They were always talking about how good the atmosphere was, and how it was like a family.”
Snyder plays each game like it’s her last. With only two years guaranteed at Labette, she plans to give 110% with each throw, hit, or ball in the dirt she has left. After her time at Labette, she plans on obtaining her bachelor’s degree, with Pittsburg and Emporia State the favorites.
