The bond between Washington Township’s Rachel and Madalyn Frederick is clear.
Rachel Frederick, a sophomore third baseman, and Madalyn Frederick, a junior shortstop, have the occasional disagreement, as siblings typically do. But they tend to squash those situations relatively quickly, especially between the lines, where they anchor the left side of the infield and bat back to back at the top of the order.
“We can set it aside for two hours at softball,” Madalyn Frederick said with a laugh. “It’s all about the game here.”
The Frederick sisters have plenty of game, helping the Senators (12-6, 2-3) secure their first winning record since 2021. With two Porter County Conference round-robin victories this season, Washington Township already has matched its total from the previous four seasons combined and should eclipse that number after a weather-suspended game against Westville is completed May 21.
“Everyone wants it,” Madalyn Frederick said. “Everyone wants to win. It pushes us to do better.
“Everyone was a little surprised, even our competitors. Like, Washington Township hasn’t been good the past couple of years. But everyone’s been putting in work. The offseason, open gyms, everyone was there working. I’m just really proud of how far everyone has come this year.”
How far can the Senators go? They envision contending for their first sectional title since 2018. They will host a Class 1A sectional beginning May 25.
“Our goal is to make it out of sectionals, try to get somewhere farther this year than we got last year and the past couple of years,” Rachel Frederick said. “Everyone wants wins, wants to have a winning record this year.
“Everyone’s good friends, so there’s no drama or conflicts. It’s just a good season for everyone, and it’s definitely a lot more fun now that we’re winning.”
Madalyn Frederick, who was batting .320 with six RBIs, seven runs scored and three stolen bases as of May 1, is in her second season starting at shortstop after debuting at third as a freshman. But this season has gone more smoothly for her.
Madalyn Frederick was hit by a pitch during sectionals two years ago and suffered a broken left ankle. Doctors tried to put off surgery, hoping her ankle would heal, but she wound up having an operation that August. She wasn’t fully cleared until February of her sophomore year.
“Last season, I came back from ankle surgery, so it was a little rough,” she said. “It was an adjustment. Since then, my speed’s gotten back up, I’m seeing the ball better and infield-wise I’m quicker.
“This year, I’ve gained a lot more confidence back just because I’ve had more games.”
Rachel Frederick didn’t begin her high school career so confidently, although she was able to joke about it in hindsight.
“My varsity debut, I actually got hit in the face with a line drive because I had no reaction time,” she said. “It hit me right off my head. … I was fine. It didn’t even leave a mark.”
Rachel Frederick had never played third base.
“I was really nervous because I was a freshman and I didn’t have a starting spot at the beginning of the season,” she said. “When I did get the starting spot, they put me at third, and I actually never played there before. On my travel team that season, I played short, but they put me at third, so I didn’t have any reaction time, and I wasn’t very confident in my ability there. I was nervous.
“But this year, I’m a lot more comfortable because I’ve played third, and travel-wise I moved to third too. Now that I have more experience there, I’m more confident with my ability to get the ball.”
Rachel Frederick has also shown her ability to hit the ball. As of May 1, she was batting .481 with five RBIs, a team-high 13 runs scored and three stolen bases.
Rachel Frederick also plays volleyball and has been shining in track and field this spring as well. She won the high jump at the PCC meet on May 9 and also runs the 400 meters. At a meet earlier this month, she ran on the 400-meter relay team, and that group set a team record.
“That was a cool experience,” she said. “That record was from 1998, and to break it was so cool.”
Softball remains Rachel Frederick’s primary sport, and her sister has relished watching her progress.
“It’s been a really cool experience as her older sister getting to see her grow with the sport,” Madalyn Frederick said. “We push each other, support each other. It’s a really good dynamic there.
“I always know she’s going to be there. She has my back. That’s really cool, especially on the same side of the field. Building that chemistry is hard. For her to be my sister, we already have that chemistry. It’s really good.”
Rachel Frederick has savored playing alongside her sister too.
“She’s very uplifting and knowledgeable,” Rachel Frederick said. “When I’m on the field with her, I never have to think about, ‘Oh, is she going to be there?’ I just know I can throw the ball and she’s always going to have my back. She’s always going to catch it, be there for the play. I don’t have to think.”
Washington Township coach Larry Sheets also doesn’t have to think too much about whether the Frederick sisters are going to make the necessary plays.
“They both have a lot of talent, they’re both very hard workers and they’re both just great kids,” Sheets said. “It’s a very solid corner of the field, a very solid side of the diamond.”
