The Shawnee High School senior is hitting the yellow cover off the ball, averaging .806 through the first three weeks of the season for the Braves (5-3, 2-0 Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division) — surprising even herself.
“I was just hoping to hit .600,” Lockwood said. “That was my goal at the beginning of the year.”
During the fall, Lockwood played on a collegiate showcase team against elite level competition.
“I saw pitching you don’t really see during the (high school) season, except for a few games,” Lockwood said. “It really helped me. I’m more patient. I see the ball so much better.”
Shawnee High School coach Larry Spahr said Lockwood set several personal goals this season, and she’s determined to achieve them. She’s 19-for-31 with five doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs.
“I can see a big difference,” Spahr said. “She’s seeing the ball so much better.”
Spahr said several teams have tried to pitch around Lockwood this season.
“We’ve worked real hard on hitting the ball where it’s pitched,” Spahr said. “She’s being more patient than she was in the past. She’ll reach out and hit an outside pitch if someone is trying to keep her way off the plate and walk her.”
Lockwood has been getting lots of help from her teammates, too. The Braves have a run-differential of plus-48. Emily McKillip (.586, 12 RBIs), Destinee Smith (.517, 12 runs) and Ashley Dalton (.485, 22 RBIs) are all putting up big numbers.
They’ve got a huge week ahead. They play Kenton Ridge on Wednesday, then host Urbana on Thursday before playing Tippecanoe on Monday and Tuesday next week.
“We’ve got to cut down on the defensive errors,” Lockwood said.
Next year, Lockwood will attend Ohio University to study interior architecture. She was being recruiting by several softball programs, but several schools didn’t have her major. She’s not ruled out walking on for the Bobcats.
She said making the college choice may be another factor in why she’s seeing the ball so well.
“There’s no pressure,” Lockwood said. “I’m not worried about doing bad.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365, mcooper@coxohio.com or on Twitter @SNS_Wizard.
About the Author
