LebCo Female Athletes of the Week: Abby Hassler & Danika Setlock (Week Ending March 31, 2024)

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Abby Hassler

On March 25th, ELCO staged a comeback to earn the 4-3 victory over a talented Annville-Cleona squad. In the game, Hassler went 2-3 with an RBI triple. The junior followed it up on March 28th with an outstanding performance as the Raiders defeated Lebanon. At the plate, she broke the game wide-open with a three-run home run and ended the day with 4 RBI. She was also on the mound, where she racked up 8 Ks in three innings. For her efforts, the LebCoSports.com fans showed up and voted Hassler as a LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

With the rain last week, ELCO was limited to playing only one additional game, a win over Cocalico. In the victory that moved the Raiders to 4-0. Hassler continued to be a big contributor, going 2-4 with a walk and two stolen bases.

Coach Allen Phillips said of his Shortstop/Pitcher, “Abby is the epitome of a team-first player. She will do anything that is asked of her to benefit the team without question. She can successfully play all nine positions and would absolutely do so if and when asked.”

The head coach went on to talk about Hassler’s skill, saying, “She leads all ELCO players in Home Runs and RBI’s over the past 2+ years and is an invaluable member of our pitching rotation. #26 is very deserving of this AOTW honor and it’s great to see Abby playing with a smile on her face and getting the recognition she deserves.”

When asked, Hassler arrives at the field each day with the mantra of “Do my best every day and be a good teammate.” So far, that seems to be working out well in her favor. However, in terms of ways to better help her team, she would like to improve her movement in her pitching and provide quality at-bats.

Hassler is a big fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, who has enjoyed watching win over the past couple of seasons. That rate of winning is something she hopes she can continue to do with her teammates at ELCO, as the goal is to make a deep run in the postseason with the talented group they currently have in Myerstown.

We wish Abby and her Raiders all the best in meeting their goals!

Photos provided by ELCO Softball

Danika Setlock

Annville-Cleona and ELCO engaged in an exciting Softball matchup on March 25th. While the Raiders edged the Dutchmen by a score of 4-3, Setlock was 3-4 and finished just a home run short of a cycle after hitting a single, a double, and a triple. The junior third baseman also had 2 RBI. For her efforts, the LebCoSports.com voters selected her as a LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

Of her performance against ELCO, Setlock said, “I felt very confident in the box and had a clear offensive mindset for the game. I knew their pitchers were going to be bringing it, so I wasn’t going to let myself get down in the count.”

This aggressive mentality at the plate has contributed to Setlock hitting a new level of her game. Through the first three games of the season, Setlock has an outrageous .875 batting average with a .917 on-base percentage. She has accounted for 10 RBI as the Dutchmen picked up dominant wins over Lancaster Mennonite and Columbia. On Monday, Setlock added 2 RBI as the Dutchmen won a critical Section 4 matchup against Lancaster Catholic to move to 3-1 on the season.

“Nika” has set the goal for herself to improve her OBP and batting average from last season, which were .494 and .400, respectively. She is well on her way to improving the offensive side of the game. She also wants to improve her defensive game “by becoming more comfortable laying out,” which again is a testament to her aggressive nature.

Setlock’s constant work has led to her improvement, something that has been continuous after being named a 1st Team Section 4 All-Star in both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She has a support network, beginning with her parents, especially her father, who has “spent countless hours putting a ball on a tee and tiring his arm out pitching in the cage.” Setlock is also thankful for her teammates, former coach Tim Bowen and current coach Amber Rexrode, all of whom have helped her become a better player.

Setlock is a team captain for the Dutchmen, a responsibility she takes very seriously. She told LebCoSports.com that the goals of the team are to “rely on intensity and work ethic.” Regarding how she plays a role in supporting those goals, Setlock said, “I see myself as an enforcer of these principles. Being a captain, I push the rest of the team to have these same traits and goals.”

Setlock works on her skills throughout the year, as she is also an excellent Field Hockey player for Annville-Cleona. In the Fall, she committed to continuing her playing career at Slippery Rock University. She follows in the footsteps of her older brother, Eli, who was a standout three-sport star for the Dutchmen and ended up at California University of Pennsylvania to play soccer. Tragically, Eli passed away in 2017 during his freshman year following a deadly asthma attack. His memory is something that the younger Setlock holds near to her heart, as she carries him with her every time she steps on the field. Last year, in a touching tribute, she had Eli’s heartbeat tattooed onto her arm.

As may have been evident already, family is something that is part of Setlock’s DNA. In fact, every weekend, she is in the kitchen baking treats for her father to take to work. Don’t worry, she also bakes for her friends.

Setlock’s dedication extends beyond her current high school years. She is focused on making her supporters proud during her next two years at Annville, both in athletics and in the classroom. Her commitment to excellence doesn’t end there. She plans to continue her playing career at Slippery Rock University, where she will study to become a physical therapist or athletic trainer. Setlock’s future is bright, and she is a shining example of what can be achieved with hard work and determination.

For now, Setlock has her sights on helping Annville-Cleona win as many games as possible and put together a lengthy postseason run. We wish Nika and her Annville teammates all the best in reaching their goals.

Photos provided by the Setlock Family

Click to read about the LebCo Male Athlete of the Week: Sam Kolacek

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting: March 25 – March 31

Previous Winners

Katelyn Brenner (Weeks of March 11th, 18th)