Some pitchers prefer drop ball, curve-ball, drop-screw, or even riseball. Senior softball player Emerson Karstens favors the screwball herself, and is clearly a formidable pitcher to face.
Kartsens’ senior role on the team is one of leadership since she has played for Elkhorn the last four years. This season, the player is willing to fill any position in order to achieve a spot in the conference championship.
“I plan on helping the team with either pitching or hitting,”Karstens said, “Getting to a district final is our team goal by the end of the season.”
Karstens is a very dedicated senior to her team in softball and wants the best outcome they can have this season. When playing Bennington early in the season, the softball team got their win by playing hard right off the bat.
“We just needed to get a head start in the first inning,” Karstens said. “Since that makes the game easier.”
To demonstrate her pitch mastery and talent, Karstens threw a no hitter at a recent game. For non-softball players, this means the other team failed to get a hit off her pitches for the entire match.
“It felt great,” Karstens said. “Throwing a no-hitter is harder than some people think it is.”
Not only does this senior pitch, but on occasion she can also be found at bat.
“It depends on the day,” Karstens said. “When I’m in a pitching slump, I prefer hitting.”
Softball takes up time after school, during school, and the weekends for games and practices which is a lot of time to also be away from school work. Karstens was asked how she could juggle school and softball at the same time since they both take a lot of hardwork and effort to complete at the best of one’s ability.
“Well, I have two study halls,” Karstens said. “So it’s easier this year than it was in the past years, but I just do all my homework during school, so I don’t have anything.”
Karstens said she isn’t planning on showing off her talents after high school. “I want to go to KU,” Karstens said, but added she doesn’t plan to pursue softball in college.
But Karstens does have high hopes for this season, and feels the team has a lot of potential.
“If we’re playing how we are playing right now,” Karstens said, “Then yes, we have a shot of making it to state.”
