Autumn Humes
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: SOFTBALL
WHY SHE WON
After a 25- 1 pitching record, a state title, 246 strikeouts and a 0.41 earned- run average in 2015, it was hard to fathom Bald Knob senior Autumn Humes improving her game, but in 2016, Humes did just that. She ended the season leading her team to yet another state championship with a 30- 0 record, 295 strikeouts and an astounding 0.34 ERA. Not only is she a fantastic pitcher, she also showed her ability at the plate, hitting 11 home runs with 58 runs batted in and a .531 batting average. This amazing feat is the exact reason why Humes is the All- Arkansas Preps Softball Player of the Year for the second year in a row. When she was just 6 years old, Humes was enrolled in softball by her parents, both former players themselves. In just five years, Humes would go on to play competitive softball at the age of 11 and continue growing from there. Humes got recruited to play at Harding University in Searcy this fall. She said she chose the school because she believes in the coaches and players and the university’s comfort. “It’s a great school, it’s close to home, it’s a great environment, [ and] I love the coaches. It just felt like home,” she said. “I just know that the coaching staff there and the girls that are on the team are going to push me to be the best that I can be, and I really can’t wait to get started.” Humes plans to major in biology and wants to eventually get accepted into the university’s Physicians Assistant Program and to do medical mission work with her degree.
It’s a great honor. I couldn’t imagine being where I am without the people that have helped me along. I just want to thank everybody. Thank you, guys, for choosing me, and I will definitely represent well.”