It may be winter sports season, but the Tyrone Lady Eagles softball team is already preparing for the spring season under the direction of new head coach Hilary Soellner.

Soellner, an assistant under former head coach Doug Myers, was recently hired as the Lady Eagle’s head coach for the 2022-23 season.

Soellner graduated from Tyrone High School in 2005 and Saint Francis University in 2009 with a degree in elementary and special education.  She was a pitcher and first baseman for the Red Flash softball team.

In a podcast interview with the Eagle Eye (click above to watch the interview), Soellner said she is both excited and nervous to be taking over the team she once played for.

“It’s a lot of pressure. Especially because coaching after Coach Myers, he was such a good coach so organized and did a lot for the program,” said Soellner.

Soellner started her softball coaching career at Tyrone as an assistant on the junior high team. She then moved up to assistant on varsity, where she brought her extensive knowledge of softball to the team and helped them tremendously.

“It will be nice to have a head female in the program because she understands us in a different way,” said Tyrone senior captain Beth Pearson.

Soellner’s husband Derrick is a teacher in the district and a PIAA official, so sports, and specifically Tyrone sports, are something that is a big part of their family.

“There is no one more passionate about Tyrone softball than Hilary. She has always loved being around softball from an early age,” said Derrick Soellner, “She is and will work harder than anyone for the program and absolutely loves leading and watching her players grow as people, students, and athletes.”

The players already have a special connection with Soellner, not only because she is a female but because she also understands the fundamentals of the game so well and what it takes to be together as a team.

“I am very excited to have Hilary as a coach this season because she is always so positive but still pushes us to be the best we can be,” said Pearson. “Last year, she was always the loudest in the dugout and was cheering for us as much as she could.”

Soellner will be assisted by Sean Harker, who was also an assistant coach under Coach Myers.

“I personally believe that [Hilary] is the best person for the job. She cares for the program like no other. She cares for the people within the program like no other. I am so excited to work alongside her this year and to watch her take this program to new heights,” said Harker.