Princeton softball standout Emma Johnson has not been afraid to put in hard work.
Now the sophomore hurler is reaping the rewards.
In week five of the high school softball season, Johnson went 10-for-16 at the plate driving in nine runs helping the Tigers win four of their five games played. Johnson also picked up three wins in the circle, throwing 14.2 innings and striking out 26 batters.
The outstanding week for Johnson did not go unnoticed as she was named Lootpress Softball Player of the Week. The Lootpress Player of the Week Award is sponsored by Bodyworks and The Law Offices of Brandon Steele.
“It’s exciting to get an award like this. Hitting is an individual thing, but with pitching, you are only as good as the players in the field with you,” Johnson said. “I have had a lot of help this year. Everyone the field has had a great attitude and has stayed positive. It really motivates you play better.”
Princeton head coach, and Emma’s father, Craig Johnson, talked about his daughter’s late season success at the plate.
“The first half of the season she struggled a little bit. It was Easter weekend and we had a fun weekend down at the river. She hit some in the garden. My father-in-law was there helping and we just slowed her swing down,” Johnson said. “She has been hitting .500 – .550 since then and killing the ball. It was no mechanics really, she was just swinging too hard and pulling her head off the ball.”
Success in the circle for Emma has taken time, but again, her willingness to work through the struggles has been paramount to her success.
“She started pitching at about 11 years old. There were a few rough years, but it takes time. Early on it was tough because it’s hard to teach them to throw strikes,” Johnson said. “About a year-and-a-half ago we started going to No Offseason down in Tazewell, Va. That was the turning point in throwing strikes, picking up speed and spin pitches. She works with Denny Barton and he does a great job. I think the key to getting over the hump is a pitching coach.”
In his first year at the helm for the Tigers, just as his daughter has made great strides, so has the team overall.
We are starting four sophomores and three freshman. Our biggest thing this year is we have played better defense this year,” Johnson said. “We have been in games because of our defense.”
Also nominated for week five Player of the Week were Delaney Buckland (Independence), Olivia Hylton (Wyoming East), Shannon Phipps (James Monroe) and Lilly Carola (Greenbrier East).
