Kokomo softball star Elizabeth Wagner has a narrow focus when she’s at the plate. She’s intent on driving the ball, then scampering as fast as she can.
Because of that narrow focus, a new world will open up for her next year.
Wagner has accepted a scholarship to play at Morehead State next season. She’ll sign a letter of intent with the Kentucky school on Nov. 15. After visiting Morehead State, Evansville, Eastern Illinois and Cleveland State, Wagner realized she liked Morehead State best of all. She was comfortable with the school, the campus and the coaches.
“I liked the school,” said Wagner, who plans to major in political science with the intent of studying law after that. “It was really pretty there, and it’s a really good school. They really focus individually on people and I like that.
“It’s really beautiful,” Wagner said of the campus, which is in a picturesque setting. “It’s like they blew out the mountain to put the school there. It’s surrounded by mountains and woods. There’s a lake on campus. And it’s friendly — that southern hospitality.”
Morehead is coached by Holly Bruder and assistant Gary Potts. The Eagles were 34-16 overall last season and 16-9 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
“The coaches are great,” Wagner said. “The coach, she’s intense … very energetic; someone who will really get things done.”
Kokomo coach Lisa Tate is excited to see Wagner get an opportunity to play for Morehead State.
“Last year … it was becoming evident she was becoming a Division I player,” Tate said. “She has so much drive and determination and [has] as much work ethic as any player I’ve been around.”
Wagner is a pitcher and infielder for the Wildkats, but her bat is what got her noticed.
“She’s not going there as a pitcher,” Tate said. “She’s a phenomenal pitcher, but she’s one of the top five hitters in the state.”
Wagner, who said the Eagles plan to use her as a shortstop, hit .620 as a junior with the Wildkats last spring. She had 13 doubles, five triples and two homers. As a pitcher, Wagner had an ERA of 0.37, 125 strikeouts and posted a 9-2 record.
Tate said Wagner was a good hitter as sophomore, but turned a corner as a junior.
“She came back her junior year with more quickness and explosiveness than I have seen from her in the past,” Tate said. “Very few players [have] that kind of power and explosiveness. She’s very quick with her hands and explodes with her hips.
“She has a great eye for the ball too. You can’t make her chase bad pitches.”
Wagner works on hitting three or four times a week, even in the offseason. She said work at the Parisi Speed School helped her improve.
“I think it’s just part of maturing that really helps, and I did the Parisi and I’m going to do that again this offseason,” Wagner said. “That helped tons, and just growing into my own strength really helped. Everything just clicked.
“When I’m hitting, I feel like that made my core a lot stronger. Your stomach is what makes you faster [when you swing]. And I also feel faster when I steal, or when I’m taking two bases.”
Wagner said assistant coach Potts was instrumental in recruiting her. He was a regular at her games when she played with the Indy Dreams 18-under Gold squad this summer. It was a productive summer, and helped seal her spot at Morehead State.
“The summer went really well,” she said. “I batted .426 I think for the season and I played a pretty good shortstop. Everything just kind of fell into place and started happening.”
Tate hopes Wagner’s success inspires others in Kokomo’s system.
“It’s great for our program and I love that the little kids, the young players get to be a part of this and see this happen,” Tate said. “She’s a very big part of our summer camp with the little kids [ages 8-14], comes out and works with them and teaches pitching and fundamentals.”
Sports
Related Photos
Discussion
SOFTBALL: ‘Southern hospitality’ suits Kat
Hot-hitting Wagner to play softball at Morehead State
- Sports
-
-
Comets, Kats, Panthers sending athletes to state
After announcing his retirement late last week, Eastern boys track and field coach Paul Nicholson knew Thursday’s Kokomo Regional could be the final meet of his 43-year career. Senior Josiah Price and junior Grant Cole made sure it wasn’t.
-
New Western basketball coach is right at home
Bart Miller’s passion for Western basketball runs deep.
Miller, like his father and brother before him, played for the Panthers. He started and was the third-leading scorer on the Panthers’ 1990 Kokomo Sectional championship squad.
-
Tipton, Madison-Grant reach final of Eastern Sectional
Tipton’s softball team had enough to get past Elwood and into the championship of the Class 2A Eastern Sectional on Wednesday night. Friday night, the Blue Devils will need more to hoist the hardware.
-
Beeler, Hurst pitch Panthers into title game
Western softball pitchers Erika Beeler and Madi Hurst are getting their first meaningful postseason innings in the circle in this year’s Class 3A Twin Lakes Sectional, but unknowing spectators would never know.
-
Raiders hold off Wildkats
Kokomo and Harrison each had three hits after two innings of their Class 4A Lafayette Jeff Sectional game on Wednesday in Loeb Stadium.
Control problems for Kokomo starting pitcher Chase Hatfield allowed the Raiders to turn their three hits into four runs and they used those runs to earn a 6-5 win.
-
Benton C. turns back N’western
Northwestern’s baseball team saw an early lead disappear in a 7-5 loss to Benton Central in a Class 3A West Lafayette Sectional game Wednesday.
-
Eastern netters fall to defending state champions
Carmel’s girls tennis team lived up to its billing Tuesday in the Kokomo Regional semifinal round.
-
Hursh silences Comets
Eastern softball coach Jerry Haines looked out to an empty field after his squad lost 1-0 to Tipton on Tuesday night in the first round of the Class 2A Eastern Sectional and made an observation that may as well have been a warning.
-
Eastern’s girls track, tennis set for regional action today
Eastern ranks No. 4 among the five Howard County high schools in enrollment — but it is clearly No. 1 when it comes to 2012 girls spring sports.
-
Local softball squads eye demanding sectionals
In any sport, the postseason is a proving ground.
This week in Greentown, whomever emerges from the proving ground of the Class 2A Eastern Softball Sectional will be legit. No questions asked.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
