The softball team has a winning record of 17-7 with the first-year head coach implementing more intense training.
Varsity softball head coach CJ Goins said he coached softball at the varsity level in South Carolina for seven years. After moving to Bexley to be closer to family, he discovered the team needed a new head coach and seized the opportunity right away.
Goins said the team has become more disciplined and made major progress since the start of the season.
“Since day one, I’ve told them I don’t want them to quit on themselves, don’t quit on the team and don’t quit on me,” he added.
Junior and varsity captain Isla Haffner said the change in coaching has benefitted the team and made the game more enjoyable.
“He cares about each team member individually, not only about winning,” Haffner said. “He brings a lot of team spirit and has set the standard for what a good team is supposed to be like.”
She added Goins makes sure everyone is working together, and his love for the game improves the team dynamic.
Sophomore and varsity captain Zoe Lemon said Goins has a strong foundation in coaching softball and has reshaped the team with intense training to build endurance.
Lemon added last season they won eight games and lost 15, but they have had a stronger season this spring, winning 17 games so far.
Goins said the players have exceeded his expectations from the beginning of the season.
“It’s not the Bexley softball that people are used to,” he said. “The standard is rising and the program is changing.”
Haffner said all players have shown a lot more commitment this year.
“Everybody has been getting better and they’ve become a lot more confident in their skills on the field,” she said.
Several players have participated in more offseason training and conditioning this year compared to prior seasons, Haffner added.
Lemon said players have had more consistency in hitting and catching the ball and moving with urgency.
“Everyone has improved a lot, so I feel that we can all trust each other more on the field,” she explained.
Goins said the team has five games a week, and they are focused on playing well in their conference games before making it to sectionals.
“Right now they are seeing what they are capable of and how far they can push their bodies,” he explained. “We condition so that they know there is always more left in the tank and that they can always go farther.”
Lemon said she hopes to make it to the league championship so the team can represent the high school in softball. She added a goal she has for the team is working on forgetting about their losses and restarting each game with a good mindset.
“If we bring each other up instead of all individually getting in our heads, then I think we could succeed further,” she said.
Goins said the team does bonding outside of games and practices.
“Seeing them pick each other up is one of my favorite things about coaching softball,” Goins said.
Lemon said team bonding has been a big part of the team closeness this season.
“Last year, the team felt more cliquey, and it felt separated,” she said. “This season, we have all become close friends.”
Published and digitized May 2026.
