Hannah Day doesn’t consider herself a home-run hitter.

Her swing’s level. She hits to all fields. She’s considered more of a five-tool hitter in the Troy clubhouse – getting on base, driving in runs and stealing enough bags to keep catchers honest.

Home runs? Psh, they don’t define her approach.

“I certainly don’t look for them,” said the 2012 Crestview alumna. “I just let them happen.”

Well, amid her senior season, the catcher/right fielder has let them happen at a mighty prolific rate.

In the first 28 games this season, she belted 13 home runs. No Division I player in the country matched that output.

Of course her five-tool hitter designation still applies. Yet – calling a spade a spade – so does home-run hitter.

That was most true a week-and-a-half ago during a four-game stretch where the Trojans (21-10) defeated Florida A&M 11-2 and then put up 59 runs in a three-game sweep of Appalachian State.

Day hit .812 (13 for 16) with 20 RBIs, six home runs, three doubles and 12 runs.

Her slugging percentage? An incomprehensible 2.125.

Her on-base percentage? A video game-esque . 842.

It was the best offensive display Troy – or maybe even the Sun Belt Conference – has ever seen.

Appropriately, she was the first player in Troy history to be named both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the USA Softball National Player of Week. Paired with her Sun Belt Player of the Week honors, let’s just say it was a good week to be Day.

“Shock,” Day said of her response. “I was really surprised, but it’s not just a victory for me but for my team. Without them getting on base, I don’t get all the RBIs I had that weekend. I just happened to be at the plate at the right time.”

Right time? Sure, OK.

RBIs, after all, can be an overrated stat in the ever-expanding sabermetrics universe. But the three walks, two steals, sacrifice bunt and six round-trippers – compared to just one strikeout – don’t support the “right place at the right time” narrative.

Runners on base or not, Day can flat-out hit.

Of course the power production wasn’t always there.

When Day entered Crestview as a freshman, she wasn’t anything close to a home-run threat.

“Then I walked into a weight room and started working hard,” she said.

Ever since, Day’s had a beautiful relationship with the game, a pastime she learned to love from a father, Dexter, who was drafted with a seventh-round pick out of William Carey College (Miss.) in 1981 by the Cincinnati Reds.

As a senior at Crestview she hit .420 with six home runs and 30 RBIs en route to an all-state campaign.

She then found a home in Niceville, where she became NWF State’s single-season record holder in RBIs (63), batting average (.431), total bases (159) and hits (85) her sophomore year. She also crossed the plate 110 times and slugged 24 home runs and 122 RBIs during her stay as a Raider, including a team-high 16 bombs over 54 games her sophomore season.

Parlaying that success to Troy, her 57 hits, 43 RBIs, .329 batting average and .543 slugging percentage led the Trojans.

Needless to say, her résumé spoke for itself entering this season.

Yet – pun intended – this year’s been night and day.

Chalk it up to a keener eye at the plate and a focused game plan. Chalk it up to being a senior leader. Or maybe it’s just a natural progres-sion for a player yet to reach her true ceiling.

However you define it, Day’s got the home-run stroke working. And to all fields.

“I’m not a pull-hitter,” Day said. “ I like pitches that are inside, but really anything over the plate is fair game.”

Nationally, she ranks third with 48 RBIs, sixth with 13 home runs and 10th with a .871slugging percentage. Each mark leads the Sun Belt, and if the season ended today her slugging percentage would establish a new Troy single-season record by nearly 60 points. As it sits al-ready, her home run tally ranks third in school history and her RBI tally is fifth.

“The individual goals come from team goals,” she said. “We just take it one pitch at a time and try to win every at-bat.”

Recognizing that selfless team approach is Troy head coach Beth Mullins.

“Hannah is one of those special players and competitors and has worked hard to help her teammates and this program be successful,” Mullins said. “These awards are truly a great honor for both Hannah and Troy softball.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview alum Hannah Day earns National Player of the Week

BAKER — Crestview High School pitcher Taylor Rolison finished what she started in Monday’s softball game between the Bulldogs and Baker School.

In between Rolison’s two appearances in the circle things got interesting. But in the end the Class 7A Bulldogs were able to come out on top with a 7-6 win over the Class 1A Gators.

“Woo, they came to play” Crestview Coach Holly Gibson said after her team escaped with the win. “Those girls play with my girls.

“It was a big game. It was good to see that we found a way to win in the seventh inning. This was a big win for us because we continued to fight.”

Rolison started the game and through two innings allowed just one run and struck out five Baker batters.

Crestview (8-4) was up 2-1 when Rolison traded positions with shortstop Caitlyn Black in the bottom of the third inning.

Rolison got things started for the Bulldogs in the top of the first when she walked, stole second and scored as Hanna Dukes was safe on a Gator error. Crestview, as would be the case throughout the game, had a chance to add to the lead, but was unable to push another score across as the Baker defense stiffened.

Crestview made it 2-0 in the second when Taylor Bumgardner single, stole second and scored on a base hit off the bat of Savannah Mason.

Baker got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Jessica Black walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Gracie Edge and scored as Jenna Elmer was safe on an error.

Caitlyn Black took the circle for the Bulldogs in the third so Rolison could rest a sore throwing arm. Things went fine for the Bulldogs for three innings as Black allowed just one run in the fifth inning.

The Gators scored as Bethany McCranie singled and later scored on a base hit by Ashley Black,

By that time the Bulldogs had picked up scores from Hailey Meredith in the fourth inning and Dukes in the fifth inning.

The wheels came off for Caitlyn Black and the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth when Baker sent nine batters to the plate and saw Edge, Elmer, McCranie and Shelby Sloan score.

The Gators were threatening to score even more with two out when Gibson turned back to Rolison to end the Baker threat.

“I could tell in the second inning her (Rolison’s) arm was hurting her so I put Caitlyn in,” Gibson said. “When they started hitting her I just had to bring Taylor back. I asked her if she thought she could do it (finish the game) and she said, ‘Yes, I can do it.’”

Crestview’s offense answered the challenge in the top of the seventh scoring three times to bring home the win. The Bulldogs benefited from a pair of Baker physical errors and one mental error that allowed a run to score from third when there was a force out at home plate.

Rolison finished the game with eight strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings of work while allowing one hit.

Sloan took the loss for the Gators. She gave up eight hits and fanned three Bulldog batters.

“If you want to play the ‘If game’ there are a lot of situations we can look at,” Baker Coach John Carlisle said. “Disappointed? Yes, but in the big scheme of things I’m pleased with the way we competed on some things.

“You have to give Rolson her due. She’s a quality pitcher.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's softball team slips past Baker

BAKER — It was tough going for Baker School’s softball team Tuesday night as the Gators hosted Chipley in a District 3-1A game.

Baker’s offense was, for the most part silent as the Gators managed just three hits, two of them bunt singles, in a 5-1 loss to the Tigers.

Adding insult to injury was the fact that a usually solid Baker defense committed four errors equaling the number of hits off the bats of the Tigers.

“We are in the midst of a tough stretch in our schedule,” Gator Coach John Carlisle said. “It’s a very tough schedule facing a lot of different pitching and a quality pitching in hopes of getting us set up for the end of the season.

“We are just kind of snake bit right now. Hopefully we can turn this around and put it as a positive and use this as a springboard to carry us through the end of the season.”

Chipley jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks in part to Baker errors and led the rest of the way.

Madison Kent walked and scored and Lauren Finch reached on a Gator error and scored the first of her three runs to pace the Chipley attack.

Baker (5-5, 2-3) had some hard luck in the home half of the first inning. Shelby Sloan was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. With one out, Jenna Bush hit a line drive that was speared by Tiger first baseman Brooklyn Hayes. Hayes then stepped on first to double up Shelby to end the inning.

Ashley Black scored Baker’s lone run of the game when she led off the second inning with a  solo home run.

Chipley put the game out of reach with single runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings.

Baker threatened in the sixth when Bethany McCranie led off the inning with a bunt single. Sloan followed with another bunt single, but when McCranie took too big a turn at second base she was thrown out for the first out of the inning.

Sloan went the distance in the circle for the Gators allowing the five runs, two earned on four hits while striking out seven Tiger batters.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker softball team struggles against Chipley

CRESTVIEW — Niceville High School catcher Kendall Bennett came up big Thursday night as the Eagles traveled to Crestview for a District 2-7A softball game.

Bennett blasted a two-run home run in the third inning and drove in three runs as the Eagles beat the Bulldogs 6-2.

“Things didn’t start off with a good vibe to begin with,” Crestview Coach Holly Gibson said. “We had two bad innings and made a couple of errors.

“It was a tough loss.”

Niceville (4-2, 2-0) got off to a quick start when Raiven Bryant and Grace McIntosh led off the game with back-to-back singles off Crestview’s Taylor Rolison. Walks to Meredith Milan and Bennett loaded the bases.

With one out Hannah Gasaway singled to right to score McIntosh. But before the play was over the Bulldogs defense had turned a double play. Right fielder Taylor Bumgardner fired a strike to retire Milan at home.

Crestview catcher Hannah Dukes completed the double play by throwing out courtesy runner Dallas Harrelson at third base.

The Bulldogs (3-3, 1-1) threatened in the bottom of the first when Rolison was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and Dukes drew a walk. But Crestview was unable to capitalize on the early Eagle miscues.

Niceville picked up three more runs in the third. Bennett’s home run to deep left center field was the big blow of the inning. Gasasway also doubled and scored.

Crestview’s only two runs came in the bottom of the fourth.

Freshman Caitlyn Black had a two-run double to score Alyssa McLaughlin and Gabbie Riley. Mc:Laughlin got on base on a fielder’s choice and Riley reached on a walk.

Niceville added an insurance run in the sixth when Sydney Byrd singled and rounded the bases on a Crestview error.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview falls to Niceville in District 2-7A softball (PHOTOS)

BAKER — Emily Stewart has game for Baker School’s softball team.

“She means a lot to this team,” Gator Coach John Carlisle said. “She plays the hot corner (third base) and does a great job for us. She has a strong arm and a great glove. She’s very wise at the plate. She’s my number two hitter. She handles the bat well and she can put the ball down (bunt) if she needs to.”

Stewart has taken her game to a new level this year as a run producer. “She’s kind of stealing the spotlight for us because she’s been our RBI (runs batted in) leader through six games.” Carlisle said. “She’s been producing in key spots when we need her to.

“We’ve got table setters that are happening and she handles the bat well. She’s kind of stepping into her own right now this year.”

We now catch up with Emily Stewart.

How old were you when you started playing softball?

I was 4 years old.

What's the best part of softball?

Getting to meet new teammates and experience winning with them.

What's the worst part of softball?

Losing.

What are your expectations this season?

To have a winning season. To play better as a team. And, hopefully, to win a district championship.

If you had to pick a different sport to play, what would it be?

Volleyball. I already play volleyball and I like the chance to play with my friends too.

What is your favorite softball experience?

Hitting an inside-the-park homerun when I was 10.

What are your hobbies outside softball?

I do a lot of dual enrollment classes, so when I’m not here I’m in college. My hobbies would be school and sports.

What's your dream career?

I want to go into physical therapy.

Do you want to play college softball?

If I got the opportunity, yes. And I would like to go to Florida because that’s who we root for.

What is your favorite movie?

“White Chicks”

Who is your favorite singer?

I like any Christian group. I really like Lauren Daigle.

If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be?

Minnie Mouse, because she’s like the head man except for Mickey.

If you could live in any other period in history, which one would you choose?

Maybe back in the 1980s. It seems like they would be really cool to live through.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 13 things you didn't know about Baker's Emily Stewart

BAKER — Powered by a seven-run fifth inning Baker School’s softball team beat Freeport 12-8 in District 3-1A play Friday.

Things started off iffy for the Gators as they trailed 4-1 after two innings. Baker (5-1, 2-1) scored twice in the fourth inning to cut the Freeport lead to a run.

After stranding 10 runners on base in the first four inning the Gators finally got timely hitting in the fifth.

“We found a way to get it done in the end,” Baker Coach John Carlisle said. “We started off real shaky and couldn’t get a key hit we needed to get at the beginning of the game. The last couple of games that has been eating at us and is something we haven’t been able to get done at the beginning of the game.

“Finally we had somebody come through for us there and we ended up having a big inning and were able to put some distance between us and Freeport.”

Baker sent 11 batters to the plate and picked up six hits to take the lead and control of the game.

The Gators took the lead on a two-run single by Emily Stewart that scored Brittany Richburg and Bethany McCranie. By the time the inning was finished Shelby Sloan, Stewart, Mykala McCranie, Jenna Elmer and Jenna Bush also scored.

Freeport trailed 10-4 when it came to bat in the sixth inning, but the Bulldogs struck for four runs to again make things interesting.

Baker scored a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning as Bethany McCranie and Sloan each scored their third runs of the game.

Sloan was perfect at the plate going 5-for-5 with three runs scored and a run batted in to lead the Gator attack. Mykala McCranie had three hits. Bethany McCranie, Bush and Elmer each had two hits.

Allison Newell went the distance in the circle to get the win for Baker.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Big inning lifts Baker over Freeport

BAKER — Two games into the 2016 season Baker School’s softball team is off to a fast start.

Three days after opening the season with a 10-0 win over Central; the Gators broke out the big sticks again Thursday in a 17-3 win over Catholic.

Baker got off to a shaky start in the top of the first inning when the Crusaders scored three runs. The Catholic rally was aided by three walks from Gator pitcher Allison Newell.

The rest of the game belonged to the Gators.

“We started off a little shaky in that first inning,” Baker Coach John Carlisle said. “One of the biggest things I was proud of is we gave up three in the top half of the first inning and came back and got three in the bottom half (of the inning).

“I feel very confident about our lineup and the girls we have in there. I thought we would be able to at least get one (run), but to come back and match that and get three, that’s huge.”

Baker tied the game in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game. Shelby Sloan reaches second base on a Crusader error to lead off the inning.

Sloan scored on a single by Emily Stewart. Mykala McCranie followed Stewart with a single. Stewart and McCranie scored on an Ashley Black double.

The Gators took the lead in the second inning when Bethany McCranie led off the inning with an infield single and Sloan hit an inside the park home run.

Whatever hopes Catholic had of getting back in the game were dashed in the third inning as Baker sent 18 batters to the plate and scored 12 runs on just seven hits. Gator batters worked Catholic pitchers for six walks and two Baker batters were hit by pitches.

The big hits of the inning were a two-run single by Jenna Bush and a three-run double by Stewart.

Shelby led the Baker attack with four runs, two hits and drove in three runs. Stewart scored two runs, had two hits and four runs batted in. Jessica Black scored twice and had two hits.

Ashley Black drove in three runs. And Bethany McCranie scored three runs.

Baker’s defense also was impressive turning a pair of double plays. But left fielder Gracie Edge turned in the defensive play of the game when she made a diving catch in foul territory to secure the final out and wrap up the win.

Newell went the distance in the circle for the Gators allowing five hits and striking out one.

“One of the things I tried to remind the girls tonight was, ‘You’ve got to remain humble.’” Carlisle said. “You can’t stay too low or too high because this game will change in a drop of a hat.

“I really like this team. I really like what we’ve got. I just hope we can keep it rolling.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker softball team slams Catholic

BAKER —If Monday’s season-opening performance by Baker School’s softball team is an indication of things to come the Gators should be in the mix of things in District 3-1A.

A balance of youth and experience was on display against Central and it was an impressive display.

Freshman pitcher Shelby Sloan threw a two-hit shutout and seniors Mykala McCranie and Ashley Black hit home runs as Baker rolled to a 10-0 win.

The game was called on the 10-run rule in the sixth inning after the Gators (1-0) struck for five runs on a three-run home run by McCranie and a two-run homer by Black.

“I’ve been excited about this team since before we started in January because of the potential we have,” Gator Coach John Carlisle said. “We have a mix of some youth and we have some older girls, some seniors, that I think are going to be able to do some good things for us.

“And I think we’ve got some younger girls that are going to come through for us as well. I’m just pumped about it. I really like what we’ve got and pleased with the way we performed.”

Sloan was impressive in the circle throughout the game walking just three to go along with the two hits while striking out four Jaguar batters.

When Central did get runners on base the Gator defense was quick to turn away any threats with a pair of double plays.

Haley Gauthier, who doubled for the Jaguars in the fifth inning, was the only Central base runner to reach scoring position.

Hits and runs were no problem for the Gators as they pounded out 15 hits on the night.

Eight of the nine Baker batters had at least one hit.

Black and Emily Stewart led the Gator hit parade with three hits each. McCranie, Sloan and Allison Newell each had two hits.

Black, Stewart and Sloan each scored twice.

The Gators scored the only run they would need in the bottom of the first when Stewart doubled and later scored on a Jenna Elmer base hit.

Baker added three runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Bethany McCranie had a run scoring single and Stewart drove in a pair of runs with a soft fly into right field. The score was 5-0 after five when Black singled and scored on a base hit by Newell.

Baker finished off strong in the sixth as Sloan and Stewart singled and were on base when Mykala McCranie, fresh off a state championship in weightlifting, muscled a ball out of the yard deep into the game in left-center field.

Elmer then singled and was on base when Black pulled a ball down the left field line for the game-ending home run.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker softball team shines in season opening win

CRESTVIEW — Taylor Rolison’s senior softball season at Crestview High School starts in two months, but she is already looking toward college life.

On Thursday, the pitcher signed a scholarship with the University of West Florida, realizing a dream she has had since she was 9 or 10 years old.

As a junior, Rolison was one of the area's most dominant pitchers. She struck out 266 batters in 155 innings and walked just 28 batters. She also had a 1.85 earned run average.

Rolison originally committed to Southeastern University in Lakeland, but UWF's proximity to Crestview was a factor she couldn’t overlook.

“It’s closer to home,” she said of the Pensacola college. “It’s not too big and not too small."

“And then I went to camp there (Southeastern) for a week and I was really homesick just being away for a week. I was like, ‘I’m not going to be able to do that for a year.’”

Rolison already is learning from UWF's coaching staff. “The college coach has taught me a new changeup that  is better than the one I have,” she said.

Bulldog softball Coach Holly Gibson — who shared the big day with Rolison — said the athlete's desire to excel on the diamond stands out.

“She just did more to stay after (practice) and work to get better," Gibson said. “I’m very proud of her and what she has accomplished.

“I think her drive and love of the game has helped her get here." 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's Rolison signs scholarship offer