SBA's Harkleroad, Hawkins Finalize Plans For College

Taking Softball, Baseball Talent To Austin Peay, Carson-Newman

  • Wednesday, November 16, 2016
  • Larry Fleming
Emily Harkleroad
Emily Harkleroad

Emily Harkleroad has one thing for Silverdale Baptist Academy’s softball team to accomplish before leaving to continue her athletic career at Austin Peay State University.

“We want to go back to state and win it this coming year,” said Harkleroad, who helped the Lady Seahawks to a second-place finish behind Meigs County last spring in Murfreesboro. “We worked hard last year, but we’ll have to work even harder this year. We need to step it up and I think we can do that. We just have to find a way to get past Meigs County.”

As for Michael Hawkins, the senior baseball player wants to know what it feels like beating Goodpasture in the Class A sectional, thus returning to the state tournament for the first time since 2013 when the Seahawks lost to Friendship Christian in the championship game. That was the best finish in program history.

“We only lost one player off last year’s team,” said Hawkins, who has signed to play baseball at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City. “We have a great shot at going to the state tournament and winning a championship. That’s our goal.

Harkleroad and Hawkins, who are best friends, celebrated their college scholarships with a signing party Wednesday afternoon at Silverdale.

In the most recent Spring Fling, the Lady Seahawks lost to the Lady Tigers in the Class 1A tournament opener, 3-1. The two teams met again as the last two teams standing, and Silverdale pulled out a 6-0 win to force a winner-take-all showdown.

Meigs won the title-clinching game 8-5.

The Lady Seahawks finished 42-5, but were disappointed with the ending.

Although her major objective is to finish her SBA career on a high note, Harkleroad was thoroughly enjoying the spirited mid-week gathering with friends, family, teammates, fellow students and coaches.

“Since I was little I’ve always thought about playing softball for as long as I could,” said Harkleroad, who was the District 5-1A Player of the Year and named to the all-tournament team and earned a spot on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State team.

“I love Austin Peay; I love the atmosphere and the coaches and it just felt like the right place to go,” she said.

Harkleroad also visited Emory, which wanted her to pitch and showed great interest in landing her.

“It’s a great school, but ultimately I wanted to go to a Division I school and Emory is a Division III,” she said.

With the Governors, Harkleroad was told she’s likely to start out playing shortstop and being a closer for coach Shane Showalter, who directed the team to a 9-38 overall record and 5-22 in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2016.

Harkleroad is one of four players in Austin Peay’s early-signing class. Last season she batted .469 while driving in 49 runs and scoring 50. She had 27 doubles and three home runs including in 68 hits.

She had a 13-2 pitching record with 105 strikeouts in 86.1 innings on the mound. Her ERA was 1.14 with one save.

“I’ve played pretty much everywhere at Silverdale, pitcher, shortstop, outfield,” Harkleroad said. “I could end up playing anywhere at Austin Peay too. I think I’m going up there as a pitcher and utility player.”

Tim Couch was Harkleroad’s coach for three years before stepping down after last season to devote more time to his athletic director’s duties.

“We had some good times and tough times,” Couch said. “But, with the exception of Spencer Mossburg, I think Emily is the best athlete I’ve ever coached.”

The baseball Seahawks had a tremendous run in 2013, the year before Hawkins got to high school and the postseason has not been kind to Silverdale the past three years.

In 2014, Silverdale lost to South Pittsburg in the region tournament. Over the next two seasons the Seahawks lost to Goodpasture in sectional contests. In each of the past two years, Silverdale won district, region tournament titles.

Hawkins, who plays third base and pitches, would like one more crack at a state berth, but was thinking more about what may lie ahead at the college level on Wednesday.

“Ever since I was 10 years old, my grandmother said I was going to play college baseball somewhere,” he said. “It’s been a tough road at times, but I’ve gotten there with my chance at Carson-Newman. The hard work has paid off.”

Hawkins said the Eagles’ offer was the only one he received.

So, he traveled to Jefferson City, toured the campus and did all the usual things associated with a visit to a prospective suitor.

“I fell in love with the coaches and the campus,” he said. “I’ll have some friends up there that I’ve played against in summer ball and that should be a good experience for me.

“I really like coach (Tom) Griffin. He’s been up there a long time and has built the program up.”

Griffin is approaching his 12th season at Carson-Newman and has a 318-247 record, and including other coaching stops he’s 502-425 in 17 years.

The Eagles were 31-21 overall and 14-10 in South Atlantic Conference play in 2016.

Hawkins will pitch for the Eagles. He pitches and plays third base for the Seahawks, and said there’s one big advantage to signing before his senior year at Silverdale.

“My last year is going to be less stressful,” he said. “I won’t be worried about if I’m going to play college baseball or where I’d be playing. I’m really thankful for that.”

Said Couch, “His parents raised him to be a Christ-follower and he’s a young man of honor. I can’t be more proud that we’re here today with kids like Michael and Emily. I want you to know we’re always here for you.”

(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)

Michael Hawkins
Michael Hawkins
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