By Kellie Lagoy
The Virginia Wesleyan Softball team is no stranger to success on the diamond, and this year is no different. Freshman Cassetty Howerin is the one gathering attention, and the attention won’t stop anytime soon after her feat at Guilford College.
The Marlins traveled to Guilford for a double-header as the season comes to a close. Guilford was shut out 9-0 in the first game, and they were blanked in the second game as they lost 10-0. The intriguing part of the two games happened in the top of the fourth inning in the second game, and it is something that most will not forget seeing.
Howerin stepped up to bat to swing and miss at the first pitch she saw. After regrouping, she hit the second pitch, and she hit it hard. Howerin rocketed the ball over the 30 foot tall netting at the Guilford field, and her home-run bounced into the streets behind the stadium. No one was quite sure what happened. The batter sure didn’t register what happened either.
“I just don’t know what happened. I just swung,” said Howerin.
Not only did she impress the spectators, but she impressed her head coach Brandon Elliot.
“It was the furthest ball I’ve ever seen hit by a female. Unless a kid gets injured, I’ve never seen a crowd that silent before. I mean it was like a library,” said Elliot.
The impressive home-run wasn’t the only big things that Howerin has accomplished. She is currently fifth in the conference in batting average with a .450 average. She has also tallied 33 runs batted in (RBI), and that places here in the three spot in the ODAC. Howerin is right behind her teammate Courtney Bogan in on base percentage. She holds a .540 average in that category.
VWC softball is having their usual success this season with a 26-4 overall record and a 16-2 conference record. The squad has two more games before the regular season comes to a close. The Marlins will play on April 18 with a double-header against Roanoke. First pitch will be at 1 p.m.
