By Blake Chadwick
Hannah Walter first started playing softball 11 years ago, and now as a senior she knows that the clock for her high school career is counting down.
Walter is a very aggressive outfielder and base runner, as she likes to steal and delay stealing to get around the bases. She came into high school as a catcher, but knew that if she wanted to play varsity she would have to learn to be an outfielder.
“My freshman year my coaches gave me the opportunity to play on Varsity, but I wouldn’t be a catcher,” Walter said. “So I spent the next couple weeks learning to be an outfielder. It took a lot of patience and mental toughness to learn this new position, but I learned to love it and have been an outfielder since.”
From then on, Walter continued to do everything her coaches asked of her, and did it with a smile on her face.
“Hannah is willing to play whatever position she is asked to play,” Abilene head coach LouAna Tapin said. “She has been our starting centerfielder for three years. She is very versatile and is a true ‘utility’ player.”
Now as a senior, Walter continues to be versatile and has upped her leadership as well.
“I am a very vocal leader, especially on the field,” Walter said. “I am always talking and I can guarantee everyone at the complex can hear me. I try to be as encouraging as I can because when someone has an error or messes up a play, they can always do better the next play. This type of leadership I believe is very important within a team.”
