Today’s spotlight takes us to Southern California where we meet a speedy infielder who’s had a great fall at the plate and tells us more about her commit to a Pac-12 power. 

Name: HANNAH HOWELL
Grad Year: 2016
Pos: OF
High School: Santiago (Corona, Calif.)
GPA: 4.6 (weighted)/4.0 unweighted,
Class Rankin: 2^nd in class of over 1,000
Club: Explosion – Denio                                                          
Stats: currently hitting .450 and leading Explosion this fall; hit close to .400 in high school with 42 hits
Honors: ranked No. 39 in the 2016 Full Count Softball Hot 100,1^st Team All-Big Six League         
College: Arizona State

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FullCountSoftball.com: Your academic success is off the charts… what do you attribute your success in the classroom as well as on the field? What would you like to do post-softball?
Hannah Howell: I love studying and competing in the classroom. I always enjoyed it since elementary school and I feel I’m good at being organized, managing my time and not procrastinating.   As for a career, I’m not 100 percent sure, but I’m interested in studying law as my uncle is a trial lawyer and says I can work for him someday. It’s hard to say for sure at this point, though.

FCS.com: You’re known for your great speed… have you played other sports to take advantage of your speed and overall athleticism?
HH: I used to play volleyball and also ran track when I was younger— I was the fastest in the 100 meters for a while. In middle school, as an eighth grader, I ran a 5:45 minute mile and a 12.6 in the 100 meters, but pulled a hamstring and couldn’t run in the final. I played volleyball in the ninth grade but at my school they want you to focus on one sport year-round so I went with softball.

FCS.com: What is it about softball that made it your favorite sport?
HH: I’ve always played it since I was young and love the atmosphere and how it’s a team sport. What’s great about softball is the bonding between the players and the feeling of working together. Individually, it challenges you as there are good and bad days, but you can always do something better to improve. Softball can be tough—sometimes when you’re having an off day it can expose you, like at the plate it’s only you and the pitcher, but you have to work through it and sometimes sacrifice yourself for the good of the team. For example, if there’s a runner on base you have to focus on what you need to do to help generate runs.

FCS.com: Let’s talk ASU and the recruiting process… how did you first come to their attention?
HH: Last year they had seen me practice and play at some showcases at Pacifica High (Garden Grove, Calif.) in the early fall. Then one year ago right now, there was a showcase tournament in Phoenix and a lot of 16U’s were there—I was on the OC Batbusters-Smith team at the time—and I remember seeing the ASU coaches there a few times, but they would mostly just talk to Coach Smith. Before the showcase they had invited me to tour their campus and when I did that shortly afterwards they offered me, when I was there on campus. Coach Smith had told me the day before I visited they were probably going to (offer).

FCS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision?
HH: I went to look at DePaul and Northwestern on New Year’s Day and it was cold! I called ASU not long after that to commit. I liked the campus and the softball team plus the feel of the school. I also liked the big stadium and how it’s a big-time sports complex. Academically, I can go to their honors school, the Barrett Honors College, which is part of ASU—it’s a school within the school of about 3,900 students out of 60,000. It’s a part of the campus for four years and there are athletes in it and I’m excited about that.

FCS.com: You were offered on campus… did you commit then or were you back home when you told the coaches you’d be a Sun Devil?
HH: I told them on the phone when I was at home that I wanted to accept. I had called earlier in the week before I made it official asking them questions. I was talking mostly to (Assistant Coach) Boo Gillette but when I committed it was with (Head) Coach Craig (Nicholson).

FCS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited?
HH: I was kind of nervous to call them, but once I did it I was relieved!

FCS.com: What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player? You’re a lefty now, did you always hit from that side?
HH: It’s definitely my speed… they like my speed and overall outfield abilities. I’m a converted lefty, I had switched over in 10U.

FCS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your athletic career?
HH: That’s a hard one! Probably when we won CIF (Calif. Interscholastic Federation) my freshman year and then in 2013 my Team Mizuno-Campbell team won PGF 14U Nationals. I remember the whole journey getting there was hard; we finished late the night before and when we won it felt it wasn’t just that one game, it was the excitement for the whole journey it took to get there.

 

Quick Hitters

 

Fill in the blank… I feel when I’m on the field no one is better than me at:_________________
… reading situations well, whether it’s up to bat or on base.

What are you most proud of: a big hit in a game or getting a 100% on a paper?
It depends on the situation, but if it’s a big game situation that feels better because it’s in the moment and there’s no guarantees plus you’re helping your teammates and not just yourself.

Favorite food:
Pasta.

Least favorite school subject:
Spanish.

What’s your dream vacation?
A trip to Europe.

What type of bat do you use and what do you like about it?
DeMarini… it has good pop and is evenly distributed.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know?
I like snorkeling and go way out off the islands in Hawaii with my dad. I’m not afraid of the deep water, I’ve been doing that since I was a young kid. I also want to go to Mexico and snorkel.

How would your family describe you in one word?
Motivated.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?
A plane!

Other than family, who’s your hero or someone you look up to most?
Emma Watson… although she’s famous as an actress (Harry Potter) she’s pursuing an education and stands up for women’s rights.

Team you love to hate:
I would say the Firecrackers, we’ve always played them since I was in 10U and have had some good battles.

What’s your “guilty pleasure,” something you hate to admit you love?
Netflix.

If you could have a super power, what would you want it to be?
Flying.

What’s playing in your earphones/buds right now?
I like Taylor Swift’s new album.

What did you want to be when you were little?
When I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian.

Favorite athlete:
Caitlin Lowe.

Nickname(s):
“Han” or “H.”

Something on your “must do” or bucket list:
Go to New York City to see the ball drop on New Year’s Eve.

Best thing about being from Southern California:
There’s a lot to do, there’s all the different cities, the beach and the weather.

With Thanksgiving coming up, what are you most thankful for?
Probably my friends and family who support me in what I do.

What’s the No. 1 request on your Santa gift list?
A season pass at Disneyland.