From flex role to power flex for Clyde's Howey

Ella Howey wasn't in the batting lineup for Clyde last season.

Now, the junior might be the first girl the Fliers want at the plate in a big at-bat. She transitioned from a flex role in right field with no hits as a sophomore to flexing her power batting fifth in the order this year.

"I wasn't happy with that outcome, not hitting," she said. "I did something about it. I pushed myself to be better. I was in the gym hitting every day. My swing improved a lot. Really, it's confidence in the box and confidence in myself.

"I hit well over the summer and it carried over into the season. I knew I can hit, I proved it to myself."

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She watched Clyde collect 20 hits in an offensive outburst in a victory over Perkins as a sophomore. She wanted to be part of it when the Fliers did more of it.

Coach Marc Marshall inserted Howey sixth in the lineup for the first game this year. Howey suspected the promotion, but it wasn't confirmed until she saw the card before the game.

"He knew after the first few scrimmages," she said of being a new weapon. "I came out hitting. When he told me I was in the lineup, it was an exciting moment. To be given a chance to prove myself; around people who believe in you."

Even if it seems unexpected, she's not surprised by her ascension as a batter.

"I've worked hard; to see my hard work pay off is super exciting," she said. "Staying calm. I get a little anxious in the box; I want to hit. It's when I settled my mind down."

She hammered a home run to the opposite field in a win over Bellevue.

"It's not very often we beat Bellevue, let alone twice in one season," she said. "It's been a rivalry. We all buckled down and wanted to win. We hit two home runs (Taitum Jeffrey/Kennedi Long) prior. I don't know if it was the excitement from them or what was going on?

"Seeing the ball and having a good swing."

Howey parked a two-run home run to center field in a 5-3 victory over Norwalk in the SBC Lake Division. Clyde split with the Truckers and Perkins and trails Norwalk by one game in the conference standings.

"I didn't get down; I was determined to figure out what was wrong with my swing," she said. "I was out on my front foot my first two at-bats. I figured it out. Our energy stood out; we picked each other up. We had timely hits with runners in scoring position."

She also hit home runs against Sandusky and Lake in wins and one in a loss to Eastwood for a team-high five. Bellevue is her favorite.

"Against Bellevue; SBC game," she said. "We're trying to go for that title this year. That was so special."

Senior center fielder Karissa Smith, senior pitcher Maddie Dukeshire and junior catcher Long are also among leaders. Dukeshire took Howey under her wing.

"I lacked confidence my first two years," Howey said. "She kept me going. We pick each other up and drive each other to be the best we can be."

Shortstop Teaghan Smith is a sophomore and freshman Jeffrey helps in the circle, including the second win over Bellevue. Sophomore second baseman Vanessa Smith often closes games pitching.

"We only lost two seniors; we were ready for the season," Howey said. "I believed in my team, I saw what we could do last year and the work we put in in the offseason. I saw the girls progress in the summer."

There was a time Howey couldn't wait to play softball in high school. She's thrilled to be right in the middle of it all.

"I was eager, I've played softball my entire life," she said. "It was always the dream and the goal to play varsity as a freshman."

She went from assuming she wouldn't get an at-bat to pondering her next home run.

"One at-bat at a time," she said. "Put the ball in play."

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: OHSAA Clyde Fliers softball Ella Howey