Emily Harkleroad
Silverdale Baptist Academy softball standout Emily Harkleroad has reached a decision.
Harkleroad has decided to continue her softball career at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., upon her graduation from SBA in the spring of 2017.
With her choice made, Harkleroad will focus on her junior and senior seasons with the Lady Seahawks before turning her attention to the Lady Governors’ program, headed by first year coach Shane Showalter.
“I have committed to Austin Peay, but there’s no way I can slack off in my junior and senior seasons at Silverdale,” Harkleroad said.
“It is a relief that I committed before my junior season and won’t have to worry about it.
“We should do really well this year. We have several girls playing select ball who have committed to college. We can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
Harkleroad, interviewed by phone from Murfreesboro where here Frost Falcons 99 team was competing in a weekend tournament, helped the Lady Seahawks to a 24-6 record. They lost to CSAS, 5-2, in the District 5-A tournament championship and then ended their season with a 4-3 loss to Whitwell in the Region 3-A tournament.
Silverdale went 22-12 in Harkleroad's freshman year.
Harkleroad, who pitches and plays third base, shortstop and second base – she’s available to play any of the three outfield slots, if needed – for the Lady Seahawks. She has a career ERA of 2.20 and a .363 batting average.
“Emily’s ability to play multiple positions has made her invaluable for Silverdale,” said Lady Seahawks coach Tim Couch, who doubles as the school’s athletic director. “She has an uncanny talent for anticipating, reacting and making difficult plays look routine.”
“She also possesses some qualities you can’t coach – she is a fierce competitor, tireless worker and expects perfection from herself. We’re expecting great things from Emily the next two years at Silverdale and in the future for Austin Peay.”
Harkleroad’s versatility and on-field talent, skills that led to her nabbing a combination athletic and academic scholarship from Austin Peay, will likely come in handy as Showalter tries to turn around a program that has enjoyed little success over the past 22 years.
Austin Peay has not had a winning season since the 1993 team, coached by Chris Austin, went 28-22. Pitcher Angela Thompson won 24 games that season.
But, the Lady Govs have not had a pitcher post a winning record since Morgan Brewer went 12-10 with a 3.04 ERA in 2010.
It’s Showalter’s job to improve all the numbers associated with the Lady Govs’ program.
Showalter, an assistant to head coach Stephanie Paris before her resignation – her three-year record was 47-95 – in June after the 2014 season to enter private business, has a good pedigree.
He won 225 games in 11 seasons coaching Colorado State-Pueblo.
“I really like coach Showalter,” said Harkleroad, who also considered Emory, East Tennessee State, Maryville, Berry and a “few others.”
“He had a great record at Colorado State-Pueblo and I think he can turn it around at Austin Peay. He stresses grades and softball. I met him at a camp at Warner Park this past summer and I was invited to their camp in August. I went back up there for a visit and it felt right.”
Harkleroad said Showalter envisions her pitching with the Lady Govs, but promised to give her an opportunity to play the infield and outfield.
Austin Peay competes in the Ohio Valley Conference, which at 68 is the nation’s eighth-oldest conference in NCAA Division I. League offices are headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn.
The 12 OVC members are: Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Southeast Missouri State, Murray State, Tennessee-Martin, Austin Peay, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State, Belmont and Jacksonville (Ala.) State.
“I don’t know a whole lot about the OVC, but I hope to learn a lot more in the next year or so,” Harkleroad said.
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)