From the ashes of toxicity, Kilbourne softball rises again

Worthington — Four years ago, the Worthington Kilbourne softball program was a leaking nuclear reactor.

Senior and Guilford College commit Scarlett Elder describes an untenable situation driven by fear.

“It was very aggressive and not the good kind of aggressive. They pushed an expectation that if we didn’t get better, there would be repercussions for it,” Elder said. “It was a terrible culture that made us hate the coaches and everyone around us.”

The climb back took years, but Worthington Kilbourne has reemerged as one of central Ohio’s rising programs. Outsiders may not see it yet. For the Lady Wolves, they live it and can measure it.

Third-year head coach Kimberly Huff was handed a program in survival mode. With no ties to the program, she stepped into a situation where trust had eroded long before wins did.

Junior Addie Ruffing says the program’s struggles were no secret, and stepping into it under a new coach came with questions.

“When I had heard all the bad things about the old coach, I would wonder ‘Is it going to be a repeat?’,” Ruffing said. “As I heard the upperclassmen talk about it, and hearing all these good things, it made me excited to come into it.”

Huff’s first season was less about the scoreboard and more about trying to reset how the program functioned day to day. Her first win at Kilbourne didn’t come until the 14th game, the only one in a 1–19 season.

Even so, she pointed to progress that went beyond wins and losses.

“It was important that I came in and helped develop a love for the game again,” Huff said. “I needed to create a culture where players felt safe, heard, and know they can make mistakes while they grow as athletes and individuals.”

Now in 2026, the Lady Wolves are no longer defined by the instability of the past. Participation has grown to the point that Kilbourne can field a junior varsity team for the first time under Huff, a milestone in the program’s steady rebuild.

With a more established direction in place, Kilbourne softball has moved into a period of sustainability.

“With the love of the game that the freshmen have, and even just having a JV team, I think it’s going to build up our program,” Ruffing said. “JV gives everyone an opportunity to get reps, build those friendships, and keep that love for the game.”

Their rise has also generated more interest in the program throughout Kilbourne and the broader Worthington community.

Head coach Kimberly Huff and her staff get to witness it firsthand within the walls of the school.

“We’ve had teachers ask questions, kids checking in about games, and there’s just more buzz and excitement about the program,” Huff said. “It’s really cool to see that level of interest continue to grow.”

Kilbourne’s rebuild is being reinforced by a diverse, talented core. Freshman Delia Buerk and junior transfer Kalee Willis lead the team in batting average, while junior Juliana Orlins consistently finds herself in the middle of scoring opportunities.

Freshman Jamie Gundel has shown flashes of becoming a high-ceiling player for the Lady Wolves, while senior Scarlett Elder continues to produce in her final season before heading to Guilford College. And with a promising class expected next spring, Kilbourne’s rebuild appears positioned to succeed.

As her time at Kilbourne winds down, Elder wants Central Ohio to understand the Lady Wolves are better than their record suggests.

“We have more grit than you guys think we do, a lot of people underestimate our program,” Elder said. “With the coaching staff I’ve seen personally, they have really setup the underclassmen for the best.”

Huff has also pushed to grow softball’s visibility across Worthington, working with Thomas Worthington to move the annual Wotown Showdown rivalry game to McCord Park.

After a strong turnout and atmosphere in last year’s inaugural event, the teams will return there again Friday. Huff sees the growing community interest around the rivalry as a way to help both programs continue building toward a stronger future.

“It was really cool just to soak in and realize that the community truly rallies around their kids,” Huff said. “The softball community around here is so strong. It is important for us and Thomas Worthington to embody what is being built to keep girls excited. We want to bring them all up together so it isn’t one against the other.”

Four years removed from a program consumed by fear and instability, Kilbourne softball is now building something designed to last. And regardless of who wins Friday’s Wotown Showdown, the growth surrounding the sport is benefiting all of Worthington: in Kilbourne blue and Thomas red alike.