BUFORD – Izzy Rettiger turns toward the side of the base. She’s ready to pounce.
The senior angles her feet to begin a push-off before reading the pitcher. Once the opposing pitcher begins the wind-up, Rettiger knows what to do when receiving a green light.
She darts for second base.
“I’m off. I’m gone straight to the bag,” Rettiger said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Rettiger, leading up to Buford’s 10th game at Mountain View on Sept. 3, has 12 stolen bases through nine games. She’s the Wolves’ speedster and one of the team’s most-viable threats offensively, batting behind second baseman Brooklyn Atha and playing shortstop.
In each of the season’s first two games, Rettiger recorded four stolen bases. She has yet to be caught and said “I hope not. … I’m not. I’m not.” when asked if Rettiger will be caught stealing throughout her final season in a Buford uniform.
“She’s blessed with speed and gets great jumps,” fourth-year head coach Trent Adams said. “She’s got a great softball IQ on the bases. She does really good and takes pride in her stolen bases.”
Rettiger has the opportunity to steal at every chance – well, most of the time. Buford holds large leads in a lot of its contests, so in those situations, the senior might be told to stay at first base. If the Buford coaching staff has a hunch that the opposing team might pitch out, the same may occur.
Otherwise, does Rettiger ever get a red light and be asked to not steal a bag?
“‘No,” Adams said bluntly with a smile.
Rettiger has played positions for Buford that require speed and immense range. She has played the outfield and has now taken over at shortstop. As a speedster, Rettiger takes a bit of a unique approach. She isn’t a pure slapper. Instead, she tries to hit for power then uses the bunt hit to her advantage later in an at-bat.
From then on, she uses the stolen base to make her way around the bags with the ultimate goal of crossing home plate for a run.
“She uses her speed ability to show off a little bit,” junior Kadyn Gabrels said.
Rettiger, an Ole Miss pledge, has plans to join former Buford softball players Mackenzie Pickens and Taylor Malvin in Oxford, Miss. A bit of a pipeline has formed of prospects headed from the Wolves to the Rebels.
Ole Miss knows Rettiger’s fleet feet can play a role almost immediately. Regardless of class or development, the speed factor doesn’t fade as an incoming freshman. The Rebels are led by head coach Jamie Trachsel.
“They definitely think my speed is a key thing that they’re going to use to my advantage when I get up there,” Rettiger said of the Ole Miss staff. “I’m looking forward to that and contributing.”
For Rettiger’s teammates, they know what’s coming. Each time she reaches first base, the Wolves are far from surprised.
Opposing defenses, on the other hand, face an indefensible threat.
“She does it so much (to where it becomes second nature),” junior center fielder Summer Castorri said. “Her strides are so long. She gets there in two seconds. We say ‘Oh, she’s already there.’ It’s an every game type of thing.”
