Chris Arnold, the head softball coach for Crater was hesitant on mentioning any one player as the leader of his team, instead insisted that it’s been an entire team effort in getting the Comets to where they are. However, coach can’t hide that Emily McCollum is a big reason for this teams success.
The senior outfielder and Crater Comets softball team are coming off a huge 5A state playoff play-in game win, defeating South Albany (9-18) 10-0 in five innings to prolong their season. The Comets (13-11) received a ten seed and will see the number seven seed, and first in the Northwest Oregon Conference, Putnam (14-3) in the first round of the 5A state playoffs, Wednesday at Putnam high.
When looking at Crater’s stat sheet no person in particular jumps off the page. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a clear leader of this team. “Emily is the heart of the team. She wants to be successful and knows how to have fun while working hard. she is one of those glue team members, as I like to refer to them. She keeps everyone focused and together,” according to Arnold.
The Comets have nine players batting between .309-.417 and 7 of those players have 8-15 RBIs. Emily is batting .371 with 13 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and 18 runs scored. Stats aren’t the only thing that this centerfield stud brings to the team, “Emily brings a fighting spirit to the team and a unique way of keeping everything fun but competitive. She helps her teammates in the classroom, and consoles them with other issues,” stated Arnold.
As coach Arnold said earlier, Emily definitely seems to be a glue player for Crater, holding the team together and she fully accepts this role, “I bring positivity, encouragement and speed (to this team). I try to bring everyone together. If the chemistry is here and everyone plays for each other I believe we can win every game… I try to bring love and harmony everywhere I go,” is what McCollum had to say about her role on the Comets.
Well, she has held this Crater softball team together, all the way to a first round state playoff game and coach Arnold has no plans on his team stopping there, “We want to go to Corvallis. We have talked all season about playing our best softball at the end of the season, and that is what we want to do.”
Emily had similar goals for Crater, however was a short and sweet about it, “My goal for the end of the season is to win state.”
McCollum’s glue like personality on the field isn’t far from what she’s like off the field, “Off the field she is a free spirit. She is kind and caring, but she also likes to have fun. She can mix in with just about anyone, and is friendly and accepting,” according to coach Arnold.
Emily credits this mentality to former Comets pitcher, AKA, her mother, “She taught me to play my hardest and leave everything on the field. Off the field she taught me to always fight for what I think is important and to be kind all the time.”
Besides softball, Emily has a passion for the outdoors, her friends and being with her family. If she isn’t hitting leading off for the Comets, she’s probably rafting or riding her horse. She is currently talking to college coaches about continuing softball career after high school but is still undecided.
Stay tuned to TablerockSports.net each week to watch live coverage ofMcCollum and the Crater Comets softball team. Also, be sure to follow our Athletes of the Week each week, right here at RogueValley Sports, official blog of Tablerock Sports.
