Published: October 29, 2008 11:36 pm      

SOFTBALL: ‘Southern hospitality’ suits Kat

Hot-hitting Wagner to play softball at Morehead State

Kokomo softball star Elizabeth Wagner has a narrow focus when she’s at the plate. She’s intent on driving the ball, then scampering as fast as she can.

Because of that narrow focus, a new world will open up for her next year.

Wagner has accepted a scholarship to play at Morehead State next season. She’ll sign a letter of intent with the Kentucky school on Nov. 15. After visiting Morehead State, Evansville, Eastern Illinois and Cleveland State, Wagner realized she liked Morehead State best of all. She was comfortable with the school, the campus and the coaches.

“I liked the school,” said Wagner, who plans to major in political science with the intent of studying law after that. “It was really pretty there, and it’s a really good school. They really focus individually on people and I like that.

“It’s really beautiful,” Wagner said of the campus, which is in a picturesque setting. “It’s like they blew out the mountain to put the school there. It’s surrounded by mountains and woods. There’s a lake on campus. And it’s friendly — that southern hospitality.”

Morehead is coached by Holly Bruder and assistant Gary Potts. The Eagles were 34-16 overall last season and 16-9 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

“The coaches are great,” Wagner said. “The coach, she’s intense … very energetic; someone who will really get things done.”

Kokomo coach Lisa Tate is excited to see Wagner get an opportunity to play for Morehead State.

“Last year … it was becoming evident she was becoming a Division I player,” Tate said. “She has so much drive and determination and [has] as much work ethic as any player I’ve been around.”

Wagner is a pitcher and infielder for the Wildkats, but her bat is what got her noticed.

“She’s not going there as a pitcher,” Tate said. “She’s a phenomenal pitcher, but she’s one of the top five hitters in the state.”

Wagner, who said the Eagles plan to use her as a shortstop, hit .620 as a junior with the Wildkats last spring. She had 13 doubles, five triples and two homers. As a pitcher, Wagner had an ERA of 0.37, 125 strikeouts and posted a 9-2 record.

Tate said Wagner was a good hitter as sophomore, but turned a corner as a junior.

“She came back her junior year with more quickness and explosiveness than I have seen from her in the past,” Tate said. “Very few players [have] that kind of power and explosiveness. She’s very quick with her hands and explodes with her hips.

“She has a great eye for the ball too. You can’t make her chase bad pitches.”

Wagner works on hitting three or four times a week, even in the offseason. She said work at the Parisi Speed School helped her improve.

“I think it’s just part of maturing that really helps, and I did the Parisi and I’m going to do that again this offseason,” Wagner said. “That helped tons, and just growing into my own strength really helped. Everything just clicked.

“When I’m hitting, I feel like that made my core a lot stronger. Your stomach is what makes you faster [when you swing]. And I also feel faster when I steal, or when I’m taking two bases.”

Wagner said assistant coach Potts was instrumental in recruiting her. He was a regular at her games when she played with the Indy Dreams 18-under Gold squad this summer. It was a productive summer, and helped seal her spot at Morehead State.

“The summer went really well,” she said. “I batted .426 I think for the season and I played a pretty good shortstop. Everything just kind of fell into place and started happening.”

Tate hopes Wagner’s success inspires others in Kokomo’s system.

“It’s great for our program and I love that the little kids, the young players get to be a part of this and see this happen,” Tate said. “She’s a very big part of our summer camp with the little kids [ages 8-14], comes out and works with them and teaches pitching and fundamentals.”