By DAVID WOOD, for The Democrat
When she was just 7 years old, Emma Summers began playing softball with her local tri-county recreational league.
Encouraged by her parents, Troy and Mindy, she started for the typical reasons.
“At that point it was just kind of a way to get her socializing with other children her age,” Troy said.
However, nine years and three national championships later, she’s had anything but the typical softball career.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]“Starting out, I never thought I’d be where I’m at now,” Emma said.
This summer, she and her traveling team, the Indiana Shockwaves-Perry, captured the 16U East Coast Summer Nationals Title — her third with the squad since she joined at the age of 12.
They battled through a nine-game tournament consisting of 96 teams to shut out the Tennessee illusions 2-0. She pitched throughout the weeklong series and secured the final out off a grounder hit toward the mound.
“It’s pretty special,” Troy said. “A lot of kids have been in this sport for many years and never get to experience that one time, let alone a third. That’s really a special deal for her.”
The win on a national stage couldn’t come at a better time, as she enters her junior year of high school. This fall, she’ll be making her decision as to which college she plans to attend to further both her academic and athletic career.
While she couldn’t discuss specific offers and interests on the table, she did let on that the list spans NAIA programs to NCAA D1 universities.
“I remember when it was a dream and when it became reality. It was crazy, realizing it was actually happening,” she said.
“Back when I was younger I would watch the College World Series on TV and I was like, ‘Wow, they get to play softball in college and go to school?’ I remember when I first started getting college interest and that’s when I realized it was a reality, and that was really surreal and crazy.”
While certainly excited about the opportunity, she claimed she’s just as nervous about the drafting process in the coming months.
“I don’t know how much is going to come at me or who’s going to call. I don’t know who will offer and it’s a lot of stress on top of my school,” she said.
“But at the same time, it’s really exciting to think I could play softball in college.”
However, her father contended that academics are still the main focus. “I just want her to find the best fit, first and foremost, academically,” he said.
“At the end of the day, softball is fun, and you get to play it for a possible four more years, but it’s about the academics.”
Emma said she’d like to follow a pre-med track and eventually enter medical school.
Though, on top of upholding a solid GPA and preparing for college, the two agreed there’s still a lot of high school softball to contend with in Brown County.
Emma said her sights are set on sectionals after last year’s loss in the second round. She believes improvement and fostering a family atmosphere are the two keys for the coming high school season.
“Improvement … and chemistry because I feel when you’re closer and you feel like a family, you play better. It makes sectionals, regionals, semi-state and state more attainable.”
However, she doesn’t only play softball to win. When it comes down to it, it’s also about the feeling she gets on the field.
“It’s the feeling when I’m on the field, I don’t know how describe it,” she said.
“When I’m standing out there, nothing compares. Everything goes away, every outside stress. I forget about it and it’s all softball.”
