PREP SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Holston's Morgan Lowe

Morgan Lowe is a perfect picture of cool in the circle.

The Holston High School sophomore never seems to change her expression as she delivers pitch after pitch and racks up strikeout after strikeout.

With black sunglasses hiding her focused stare and implementing the big windmill windup, she’ll unleash a pitch from her powerful right arm that will overpower an opponent.

After the batter feebly goes down swinging, Lowe doesn’t deliver a fist pump or flash a smile.

Instead, she gets the ball back from catcher Megan Honaker and focuses on the next challenge.

It’s a routine that she’s followed since she was 9-years-old and one that has been evident throughout the thousands of games she’s competed in from youth leagues to the high
school level to the travel ball circuit.

“We can always depend on her to do the job,” said teammate Mary Hand. “She’s always been there for us.”

She also remains humble. After every big victory, she’s quick to credit the steady defense behind her and the contributions made by her teammates.

But there’s another side of Lowe that most don’t see due to the serious approach she takes when stepping between the lines on game days.

“She is one of the funniest, happiest people I’ve met in a long time,” said Holston shortstop Faith Ritchie. “She’s always talking and making jokes. She keeps practice light. Even
though we had a big load to carry, she kept it light and made it fun.
“But she can always get down to business when it’s a tough time.”

Lowe took care of business during the 2010 season and as a result was selected as the Bristol Herald Courier’s Player of the Year.

She led all Southwest Virginia pitchers with 23 victories and notched 280 strikeouts, leading the Cavaliers to the VHSL Group A finals.

In the state tournament alone, she worked 35 gut-wrenching innings over three games.

It was quite an experience – and breakout performance – for the unassuming star.

“I just love to pitch,” Lowe said.

The defining moment
In the storied annals of high school softball in Southwest Virginia, it might go down as one of the wildest contests ever played.

The state quarterfinal battle between Holston and Coeburn took two days and 18 innings to complete. A memorable pitching duel between Lowe and Coeburn senior Hannah Light
was the main storyline.

The game started on Tuesday, but nothing was settled as the game was halted after 17 innings due to darkness in a 1-1 deadlock. It resumed the next day with Holston finally
triumphing in 18 grueling innings by a 2-1 margin.

In a game that kept the packed crowd at Coeburn on the edge of their seats, few people were able to keep their emotions under control.

Except one of the players taking center stage.

“I didn’t really think much about it,” Lowe said. “It was just like a doubleheader for me.”

In the two-day affair, Lowe threw 218 pitches and registered 19 strikeouts. She also did an outstanding job at damage control.

Coeburn collected 16 hits and drew two walks, but only were able to push across one run.

“I feel like I do better with a runner on base,” Lowe said. “I feel like I can throw more strikes and throw a little harder. I feel like I have to work harder in those situations.”

Lowe also benefited from several nice defensive play, including a perfect throw from freshman outfielder Devynne Stiltner that cut down the potential winning run at the plate in the
bottom of the 17th inning.

Lowe let the defense know she was appreciative.

“She always kept the defense up while she was pitching,” said first baseman Taylor Doss.

Added Hand, “She always stayed really focused and was always telling us she was thankful for the good defense. On the way home she had to ice her arm and everything. She was
wore out, but still pulled it through.”

Ritchie was still marveling at the performance of the Cavaliers’ ace more than a month later.

“She was fantastic,” Ritchie said. “That’s the most endurance I’ve ever seen anybody show. We’re all really proud of her for trooping through it, even thought it was 18 innings.”

Two days later, Lowe was the winner in a 10-inning state semifinal victory over Nandua.

However, she was visibly exhausted as the Cavaliers dropped a 5-1 decision to an opportunistic Gretna team in the title game.

“In the state championship game, I felt like I couldn’t throw a strike and I felt like I was throwing really slow,” Lowe said.

But the upbeat Lowe was still proud of how the Cavs came within a win of a state title with a lineup that included only two seniors.

“We had a great season for a bunch of sophomores,” Lowe said. “I felt like we went pretty far. … We still have two more years.”

Always working
If anybody needed a break after the loss to Gretna it was Lowe. A week after the bitter defeat, she enjoyed a trip to the beach and some rest and relaxation.

However, it didn’t last too long.

Soon she was back in the circle, competing for local Senior League and travel ball teams. Softball takes up most of her weekends and she’s traveled throughout the Southeast to
showcase her skills this summer.

The work is needed since Holston will enter next season in the spotlight.

“We’ll have a big target on our back,” Lowe said. “But I think we can go pretty far if we work hard.”

It will also help having Lowe uncorking strikes with her wide arsenal of pitches.

“It’s really helpful to have a good pitcher like that,” Ritchie said.

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