With seven seniors, the Central High School softball team is packed with experience.

That number is two more than coach Scott Else was expecting this season as two players moved to the area this summer.

Trinity Santiago, who played for Central her first two years, moved to Texas, but returned a few weeks ago when her family moved back because of work reasons.


Santiago, who was a second-team All-Southwestern League player as a sophomore, is just now starting to get back into the lineup.

Aislyn Sharp is the other newcomer, and her impact has been immediate. She leads the team with a .500 batting average and has 22 RBI. She also brings an unmatched winning pedigree to the Warriors.

As a freshman and sophomore with Spanish Fork, Utah, she was part of two state title teams and last year, the team finished second.

She knows about winning and is happy to share her experiences of playing in state title games with her Central teammates.


"There's a lot of pressure being a two-time state champ and I just want to tell them to have fun with (softball)," Sharp said. "We have a great team here and we want to win, but it's also about having fun.

"They look to me to see what it's like. The competition in Utah is different, but it's not too different, either."

It's been a whirlwind few months for Sharp

"It's been stressful, moving and only being here for two months, but the girls have been great and the coaches have really helped me," she said.


As the team's starting third baseman, Sharp is the experienced newcomer, but she didn't feel the need to insert herself into a leadership role immediately.

"I didn't feel like I had to but if I wanted to prove myself, as a senior and being the new girl, I felt like I should but not take over for the other seniors," she said. "There's just a lot of experience and leadership that the seniors bring, and being a senior, it's nice to have multiple seniors that are leaders."

Sharp, who has already committed to play at Colorado Mesa University next year, is enjoying her senior season with Central.

"I feel like there's not a lot of pressure, now that I'm here, so I'm just having fun, but we expect to win here, too," she said.