Nieswender Sees Softball Through Mom’s Eyes

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(April 21, 2024 7:30 AM ET) Western High School softball player Abby Nieswender says she critiques every at bat after each game.

A GoPro set up by her mother Casie allows her to make adjustments in her swing.

It must be working as the senior is hitting nearly .500 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in only eight games.

But Nieswender is quick not to note that everything she has learned about hitting came from her mother – a former high school and college softball player.

“My mom is the reason I hit the ball so well,” Nieswender said. “She taught me to stay disciplined at the plate.”

The Western senior will only swing at pitches – with less than two strikes – that she can hit hard. 

“We spend a lot of time watching film and critiquing what I can do better and where I need to improve,” Nieswender said. 

The self (and mom) evaluations are working as Nieswender has signed to play softball at Aquinas University next fall. 

“I love the campus, the coach, and they have the perfect program for me,” Nieswender said. “I plan to study pre-optometry.”

The WHS senior expects to be in college for eight years for her chosen profession as an optometrist.

“I have always been interested in the eyes … every time I go to the eye doctor I geek out,” Nieswender said. 

She is the leader on the softball team as the leading hitter and playing the catcher position. Nieswender calls all of the pitches – something he has done for more of her four year varsity career. 

“I love being able to touch the ball on nearly every play,” Nieswender said of the position. 

She has played catcher three of four years. As a sophomore she tore her ACL in the fall and took only 5 ½ months to recover. She could hit and play in the field during that season, but not play behind the plate.

Western has started the season slow with a 1-7 record, but the senior believes the Panthers are improving.

“I see us improving daily in practice and during games,” Nieswender said. “There is a lot of good chemistry on this team.”

The senior is also a leader off the field at Western. She has a 3.94 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), and is a member of the school’s National Honor Society, Student Council, Key Club, and National Art Honor Society. 

Nieswender also has more than 120 hours of community service under her belt. That includes hours of tutoring and helping at volleyball and softball camps.

“I love helping people especially little kids,” Nieswender said. I remember that was me at one time.”