Photo by: Valerie Mendoza
On September 25th was a very special day for junior Ellie McCoy and Hastings High Softball Coach, Pete Theoharis. The Tigers took on Grand Island Central Catholic and Aurora on September 24th in the Aurora Triangular. The Tigers defeated both teams winning 14-1 against Aurora and 9-1 against GICC.
McCoy was an important individual during these games. She set the Hastings Tigers single-season record for homeruns at 15, previously held by Libby Knapple with 13.
“I didn’t actually know I broke the record but when I tied it Coach Theo gave me the ball and said this is a pretty important one,” McCoy said.
McCoy expressed a little bit on how she looked up to Knapple
“I thought she was so cool because she was always hitting it over,” McCoy said.
Coach Theoharis was excited for her as any coach would be in this situation.
“I’m just happy for her. The kid works her tail off all the time, she’s a great athlete, a great teammate, and she plays hard all the time. She is a model you want a student-athlete to be,” Theoharis said.
Theoharis has coached these girls ever since they were young. He has been on the journey with McCoy and Knapple as they’ve grown in the sport.
“They’re both talented kids. You know, we have been blessed with kids like that with a lot of abilities. Libby started a trend with power and we have kids down the line and Ellie is next in line. She has just taken it to the next level,” Theoharis said.
McCoy has been playing since she was six years old when she started t-ball. As a sophomore, she received a Division 1 offer and verbally committed to Missouri State University. Theoharis is glad that colleges have noticed her drive for the sport she loves.
“I think schools have noticed that she has had many options and she just fell in love with the coaches and the community. I’m really happy for her and you just see her getting better every day. Her understanding of the game and drive will take her far,” Theoharis said.
Both teams played Lexington on September 27th the varsity defeated the Minutemaids 16-2. They hosted Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference on September 29th winning all their games.
