Prairie State Profile: Lowe, Wombles leading Wolves on hunt for state title

PLEASANT HILL, Ill. — McKinley Lowe, Ava Wombles and the Pleasant Hill softball team are on quite a roll.

The Wolves are 14-2 and are outscoring opponents by nearly six runs per game. The pitching staff, which consists of Lowe and Wombles, has recorded six shutouts and given up one run on four other occasions, helping them achieve a 1.52 team ERA. 

Lowe has put together a string of commanding pitching performances in recent weeks. Since April 8, she has tossed a seven-inning perfect game, a six-inning perfect game and a five-inning no-hitter.

She was quick to pass the credit to her teammates for helping produce those efforts.

“It’s really cool, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates,” Lowe said. “They’re putting runs on the board for me, and they’re back there cheering me on.”

Lowe and Wombles have been key cogs in the Wolves’ offensive attack, which is averaging eight runs per game. Lowe, who has primarily been slotted into the Nos. 3 and 4 spots in the lineup, is hitting .326 with a .543 slugging percentage, two home runs, 13 RBIs and just three strikeouts in 52 plate appearances.

Wombles has become a staple at the top of the order. She is hitting .643 with a .709 on-base percentage, four home runs, four triples, 20 RBIs and 23 runs scored. 

Lowe and Wombles are both playing under their fathers, as well. Ryan Lowe is the Wolves head coach, and Jeremy Wombles is an assistant. Both have coached their daughters and several other members of the high school team for eight years.

“It’s just really neat to watch all of these girls grow up into respectful adults,” Ryan Lowe said. “I think softball has really helped that along the way.”

Ava Wombles said by playing together for so long, this group of girls has developed a chemistry that has translated to success.

“We’re all best friends,” she said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t have the same chemistry we do.”

Jeremy Wombles echoed that.

“No matter what is happening in their lives, when they get on that field, they’re playing for each other,” he said. “What these girls display on that softball field is the embodiment of what a small town is and should be, and that’s everybody standing side by side lending a hand.”

McKinley Lowe has signed to play at Parkland College, and Ava is verbally committed to Saint Louis University. They are two of seven Wolves to have verbally committed or signed to play college softball. Jeremy Wombles is soaking up every moment with this special group.

“The secret formula that we have with this particular group of girls, I’m going to miss that,” he said. “It’s going to be hard when this season is over.”

McKinley Lowe and the other Wolves hope this season comes to an end only after they clinch the program’s first state title. 

“As long as we keep the energy high and don’t overlook anybody, we can do some work,” she said.