Box helping Lady Wolverines at plate, in circle as freshman

Life is coming at Katelee Box pretty fast in terms of her softball career, but she's had no other choice but to adjust.

East Webster head softball coach Lee Berryhill is counting on the freshman to not only be one of his top hitters in the meat of the order, but also the starting pitcher for this year's slow pitch team and for the future as long as the sport hangs around the state. She's responding, but it hasn't been without some challenges here and there that she's worked through.

“I was a slow pitch pitcher for JV last year, but it's a lot different from high school,” Box said. “It's a lot more important in varsity and you have to do your very best. I've kind of gotten the hang of it.”

In fast pitch, the objective from a pitcher is to try to strike the opposing batter out. Strikeouts in slow pitch aren't as widespread so making sure those players don't get free passes with a walk is crucial. It's one instance where the coach really wants his girl in the circle to get contact and have the defense make plays.

That's something that Box has learned to do early on and she's become a much more effective member of the defense as time is passing.

“Pitching is big in this game and a lot of people take it for granted,” Berryhill said. “If you can use the arch, hit the backside (of the plate) and hit the inside and outside, it's big. She's done a good job for us. She's young and in her first year pitching, but she's done a good job.”

As important as Box is in the circle, she's even more important at the plate. Teams can be fooled by her age all it wants, but the freshman is slugging as well as anyone on the team in the 5-0 start by the Lady Wolverines.

Within the last week, Box was 11-of-16 (.688) at the plate in East Webster's four wins. She had back-to-back games of 4-for5 hitting against Columbus and Calhoun City and had three doubles and a home run last week. It landed her distinction as the OCH Regional Health Center Athlete of the Week this week for her work.

Being young and batting in the threehole is something that Box takes pride in and said that she considers a great honor because it speaks of Berryhill's trust in her.

The coach has seen a player that has consistently gotten better but has an even higher ceiling than where she is now. The sky is the limit in his eyes.

“She's come a long way,” Berryhill said. “She's got good hands and good feet and she's young. She's got the tools. The only thing that she's got to work on is being disciplined and not anxious at the plate. If she does that, she gives herself a chance every time.”