West Stokes Lady Wildcats Softball

Welcome to the official site of West Stokes Softball. Through the season, this will be your one stop place for everything involving the West Stokes Softball. 

The coaching staff, led by Head Coach Kaytee Ward, welcomes all visitors. Whether you are a player, parent, grandparent, coach or a fan, we hope you will find the information on the website useful and informative. For news articles go to Wildcat News.

GO CATS!!

West Stokes hires Kaytee Ward as New Softball Coach

KING — West Stokes High School announced Monday the hiring of Kaytee Ward as its new head softball coach replacing Jordan Stevens that has accepted a position with

Ward comes to the Wildcats after a successful tenure at Walkertown High School, where she amassed 99 career wins and established herself as one of the region's top young coaches.

 She inherits a West Stokes program that went 18-6 overall last season, including a perfect 10-0 mark   in the Mid-State 2A Conference. The Wildcats captured both the regular-season conference title and   the conference tournament championship and finished as regional semifinals runner-up.

 "My goal is to build on the already laid foundation of West Stokes softball," Ward said. "I want to pour   into these young ladies and turn them into young women. I want to help these girls accomplish their   goals while also being successful on the ball field."

 Ward, a recent inductee to the East Forsyth High School Hall of Fame where she was a standout three-  sport athlete, began her coaching career in 2015 as a volleyball head coach before taking over   Walkertown's softball program in 2016.

"Coach Ward is known for her passion, integrity, and relentless work ethic," said Dr. Sam Jones, principal at West Stokes. "She prides herself on building meaningful relationships, creating positive culture, and helping young athletes reach their fullest potential—on and off the field."

During her time at Walkertown, Ward coached three all-state athletes, 10 all-district performers, and more than 30 all-conference selections. She has helped 10 players sign to compete at the collegiate level.

"We are excited to have Coach Ward lead our softball program," said West Stokes Athletic Director Travis Gammons. "She understands the game at a high level and is committed to growing our program which includes a strong JV team. She has a rich history building personal relationships and maximizing her players' potential."

Ward, a UNC Pembroke graduate with a degree in Health and Physical Education, described the move as a difficult but necessary career step.

"You never know when it is the right time to leave somewhere. I've been at Walkertown since the start of my career, so this decision was a very tough one," Ward explained. "I felt like it was the right time in my career to make a change and challenge myself."

Ward's husband Jason will remain at Walkertown, where he coaches multiple sports. The couple has two daughters, 6-year-old Rylee and 5-year-old Maycee.

Ward will make her West Stokes coaching debut next spring with the Wildcats heading into a new conference that includes East Surry, Forbush, Mt. Airy, North Surry, and Surry Central.

West Stokes Coach Stevens Steps Down After Successful Tenure

KING, N.C. (AP) — After more than a decade of leading two successful athletic programs, West Stokes' Jordan Stevens announced he will be stepping down as head coach of both the volleyball and softball teams.

Stevens, who has compiled impressive records in both sports, will be joining the staff at the newly established Felton Grove High School in Apex, N.C. at beginning of this summer.

"I have had opportunities over the past couple of years that have been presented but nothing ever felt like it was the right move," Stevens said. "I knew that whenever the time came that it would have to be a special place. With Felton Grove being a brand new school opening in the fall, I felt like it was my calling to go and build a culture from scratch."

   During his 12-year tenure at West Stokes, Stevens amassed a 175-101 record in softball and 185-108 in volleyball. His softball teams earned four conference championships, three conference tournament championships, and made 12 consecutive playoff appearances, including a deep run to the West Regional Finals in 2022. His volleyball squads reached the playoffs 10 times, advancing as far as the third round in 2019.

West Stokes Athletic Director expressed gratitude for Stevens' contributions to the school's athletic programs.

"We would like to thank Coach Stevens for his leadership. For over a decade he has successfully led two of our programs. We wish him the best as he begins a new chapter," the athletic director said.

Stevens has been recognized as Coach of the Year four times for softball and three times for volleyball. Under his guidance, seven softball players and three volleyball players received Player of the Year honors, while 29 athletes went on to compete at the collegiate level.

West Stokes principal Dr. Sam Jones highlighted Stevens' commitment to the school's athletic programs.

"Coach Stevens has been successful for years in two programs. Coaching is not easy, but he has been consistent and committed to the athletes of West Stokes," Jones said. "We are appreciative of the time and commitment that he has given to our athletes. We wish him the best of luck."

Assistant softball coach Robert Money, who has worked alongside Stevens throughout his tenure, offered an emotional tribute.

"I've been by his side from the beginning and what a great honor and fun ride it was," Money said. "He has shaped and touched many lives over the past 12 years, including mine! He has grown as a coach and worked hard to get both programs where they are today. He deserves these opportunities ahead and I wish him nothing but the best."

When asked about the legacy he hopes to leave behind, Stevens emphasized the importance of mental toughness.

"I hope that I have made an impact, not just the physical part of sports, but the mental aspect of the games," Stevens said. "I hope that the mental toughness side of things that I have gone through with each and every team helps to make these girls mentally tough enough to endure whatever life throws at them."

Stevens said he will miss the relationships he's built at West Stokes, particularly with his coaching staff and former players.

"I am going to miss my players and coaching staff that I have created relationships with. Players going back to my very first year are still a part of my life," Stevens said. "I am going to miss Coach (Kelsey) Perrell without a doubt, she has been by my side in every situation you could imagine and has been a huge support system for me."

Stevens believes he's leaving both programs in good standing for the next coach.

"I feel that I am leaving both programs better than when I started," he said. "Both programs have grown so much, and it has been a great accomplishment of mine to build a culture that even the middle school kids at Chestnut Grove look forward to being a part of."

Stevens will begin summer volleyball workouts at Felton Grove on June 23, with his official start date at the new school being August 19.

2025 Mid-State 2A Conference & Tournament Champions

18-6 (10-0)

"A great hitter will make adjustments from pitch to pitch. A good hitter will make adjustments from at bat to at bat. An average hitter will make adjustments from game to game. And a poor hitter will never make an adjustment."

Coach May