Westview's McKenzie may be calling it a career, but her team isn't done winning

The Westview High School softball team is in a familiar position atop the Metro League standings, and equally familiar is the fact that they’re doing so with the school and program’s only head coach, Ronda McKenzie, at the helm.

But after this season, McKenzie’s 30th, the now legendary coach will be stepping down, which is why the former Hillsboro High School and University of Oregon standout is trying to make the most for her team, and of what’s left of her soon-to-be former career.

“This entire year has been for the players, which takes all of the pressure off of me,” McKenzie said. “This season is for them, not me, so I’m just enjoying the ride.”

So far, so good for the Wildcats who defeated Beaverton 11-0 this past Friday, April 26, improving their overall record to 17-2 and remaining undefeated in conference play (6-0).

McKenzie said much of the team’s success to this point is the result of experience, which this year’s Wildcats have in spades.

“This is the most mature team I have ever coached,” the coach said. “We have nine seniors, which is the largest senior class I have ever had. They have all known each other since they were very young and they all get along well, and they are all neighborhood kids. No one moved in or transferred in. All nine have been part of the varsity team since their freshman year except Jules Hayes who went to Valley Catholic her freshman year, but too grew up in the neighborhood.”

Amongst those seniors are Sophia Groshong, Evyn Morriss, Bridgette Boling and Sophia Cherry who through the bulk of the season have been hitting over .400, along with Kallan Bordwell-Gray who with sophomore Ana Fifita has been the holding down the bulk of the pitching duties for Westview this season, including against Beaverton where she and Boling combined to hold the visiting Beavers to just a single hit over the game’s five innings.

McKenzie had nothing but positive things to say about all of the aforementioned, along with the other members of the team that have been invaluable to creating an attitude of winning.

She spoke to Hayes, Cherry and Morris’ on-field leadership; Groshong’s infectious enthusiasm; Boling’s organizational skills; Bordwell-Gray’s ability to create synergy; Taylyn Lampo’s work ethic; along with Cam Wright and Kaiya Suyama’s invaluable work bringing the team together behind the scenes.

When it comes down to it, McKenzie is really just proud of what all of the girls have become, and how their maturation has manifested itself on the diamond.

“I’m very proud of them and how they are able to take each game as it comes and never get down on themselves, even if we are behind,” the coach said. “I think this comes from their experience and maturity.”

Fifita — who didn’t play versus Beaverton due to nursing an injury — isn’t one of the team’s elder statesmen but has been valuable at the plate and the team’s ace in the circle. McKenzie said that while the righthander doesn’t throw with elite velocity, she throws hard enough, while at the same time creating enough movement in her pitches to keep even the best hitters off-guard.

That may not be intimidating to opposing hitters, but it garners enough respect to give the Westview coach reason to think that if healthy, they have enough to hang with the state’s best now and down the road.

“If we can get all three pitchers healthy, then yes, I think our pitching is good enough to keep us in the mix with any team,” McKenzie said.

Prior to their game with Beaverton, current and former Westview players and coaches, along with fans of the team, paid respect to McKenzie for her three decades of service. As part of a ceremony to thank the long-standing coach, she was given flowers by her 2024 players who later unveiled a sign designating the field at Westview as “McKenzie Field.” The coach said she was taken aback by the honor, but at the same time seemed equally enthusiastic about the chance to see so many of her former Westview players.

“I was very surprised and was not expecting that,” McKenzie said. “I absolutely loved seeing all of my former players. It was such an honor when they brought out the sign.”

The coach went on to say that while her mind is thick with memories, she’d be hard-pressed to come up with a favorite.

She also said that her experience both teaching and coaching at Westview has been immeasurably rewarding, and something that really was a dream come true.

“Since I was nine years old I knew I wanted to be a coach,” McKenzie said. “I love Westview, and teaching and coaching there has been such a rewarding experience for me. It has also been a lot of work, but reward does not come without sacrifice.”

And when the season comes to an end, will she miss the game that’s brought her so much joy?

“Maybe a little bit, but I have had enough softball for one life,” McKenzie said. “I will miss the daily interactions with the players and coaches, but there are so many other things that I want to do, that I am not worried about filling my time.”