Ava Eib’s tenure at St. Helens High School is coming to an end, and while she’s anxious to see what her life beyond the Columbia County school has in store, she’s also making the most of what little time she has left in her Lions athletic and school career.
“Obviously, you can never go back to high school, so I’m trying to get everything I can out of it,” Eib said. “Every year has been such a very different experience for me, and I’m going to miss all my friends and teachers so much, but I’m ready for college and ready for a new challenge. I’m excited for these next years in college.”
Not so fast, however, for the senior pitcher and outfielder for the St. Helens softball team has some unfinished business on the high school diamond.
Through Monday, May 6, the Lions were 16-4, a half-game behind Cowapa League co-leaders Astoria and Scappoose, and ranked inside the top-5 in the OSAA’s 4A state rankings. Eib said that while she believes her team is capable of competing for a state title, her and her team’s focus is squarely on the league championship that they were forced to share with the Fishermen last season.
“Obviously, a league title is always important, but this year it’s so important because we had to share it last year,” Eib said. “Even though we beat them (Astoria) in our series last year, we were still co-champs and we don’t want that this year. We want it to ourselves.”
Eib has certainly been doing her part to make that happen.
The senior is batting .484 with a home run and 19 RBI. But her equal to bigger contribution has been in the pitcher’s circle where she’s got a 1.80 ERA with 107 strikeouts and just 20 walks in 66 innings pitched. And while she enjoys her alternative time in centerfield, it’s with the ball in her hands where she’s most compelled to be.
“It gives me so much confidence knowing I control the game, and it’s just so empowering,” Eib said. “Everything is silent when I’m out there. … I read the sign and I just go. And while I’m certainly trying to strike the batter out, I also know I have my whole defense backing me up.”
And that’s a group she believes in wholeheartedly.
“We have an amazing team,” she said. “I completely trust every single one of my teammates when we’re on the field. I know when I’m pitching, I’m either going to strike this person out or someone is going to make a crazy play. I know they have my back.”
That sounds like a leader, which is something that by her own admission Eib has become over her four years at St. Helens.
Despite being what she calls somewhat “chatty” by nature, she also said she’s naturally a bit meek, so she had to work on becoming a more vocal leader prior to her senior year.
“Growing up I was always more shy and kept to myself,” she said. “So, this year, I’ve really pushed myself and tried to be that kind of mentor because I know as a freshman I really looked up to the upperclassmen.”
Now that the shoe is on the other foot, she wants to be that same kind of leader, and one that the younger girls on the roster can lean on for advice.
“I really wanted to be that person for our freshmen this year,” Eib said. “And it’s been cool because they do come to me and ask me questions, and it makes me so happy to be able to help them because that was me three years ago.”
St. Helens head coach, Miranda Little who also coaches Eib as a member of the Lions’ volleyball team in the fall, said she’s seen those leadership skills firsthand over the years, both on the practice field and in games. The coach said Eib has a knack for helping, as well as communicating her message in a productive, but also non-threatening way.
“Ava is competitive and assertive, but does not cross the line of feeling bossy or rude,” Little said. “She has really stepped up this year to be an amazing captain for her team.”
The coach said it’s been a joy to watch her mature in that way.
“I also had the privilege for three years of coaching her in volleyball as well, and you can see the development from season to season as well as year to year,” Little said. “Her confidence in the circle and her softball intelligence could come off as intimidating, but she is very open and kind to her teammates and does not mind the extra questions from the new athletes.”
Eib also excels in the classroom where she carries a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend and play softball at Lower Columbia College in the fall, where she said she’ll likely begin studying to become either a nurse or physician’s assistant.
But that will be then, while this is now, and the standout Lions senior said she’s going to get every ounce out of the time she still has walking the halls — and playing fields — of St. Helens High because it’s come and gone so quickly.
“A big goal of mine was that I wanted to take full advantage of this year because I’ll never have this again,” Eib said. “I’m excited for graduation, but in a way because of COVID I still feel like I’m in the eighth grade. I don’t feel like I should be graduating in less than 30 days. It’s so surreal to think I’m almost done.”
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