Anna Edwards has certainly left her mark on the Avon Eagles softball program.
The senior led the Eagles to their first conference title in 39 years. She pitched and hit them to a district final to cap off a 19-9 2015 season in which she hit .420. On June 2, she earned Avon’s first Lorain County Miss Softball award.
‘It was something I wanted since eighth grade when I figured out they had the award,’ Edwards said. ‘That was my ultimate goal of high school.’
As one of two seniors on this year’s squad, Edwards hopes she and fellow senior Ally Sumser have paved a foundation for the Avon softball team.
‘We’re building the program and we can get even better and make it even farther next year,’ Edwards said. ‘I just want for the next captains to be leaders on and off the field.’
Edwards served her role as captain well. A four-year letter winner, Edwards ended her high school career with a .438 batting average and 100 RBI.
In the circle, she finished with a 28-13 record, which included a 1.89 ERA and 355 strikeouts. She was also named First-Team All-Lorain County and the Lorain County Division I Pitcher of the Year.
‘She’s one of the most coachable girls I’ve ever had,’ Avon coach Ken Matuszak said. ‘We talked about this, her and I, and I said, I never heard once, ‘I’m not going to do that.’ She would always nod her head, she’s very cerebral and she would always take in what was said, and then sort it out, how to fix a problem.’
Matuszak knew he had a player of potential when Edwards began her career as a freshman. That year, she hit third in the lineup and hit over .400.
Edwards has stood out in the circle and at the plate, a balance that provided Matuszak with added confidence.
‘She’s a tremendous pitcher and she gave it her all, but hitting, every time she was up, I thought she would get a hit. And one out of almost two times, she did,’ Matuszak said. ‘…If you looked at Anna on the mound, you couldn’t tell if we were winning or losing. It was her confidence. We put our young pitchers with her for that purpose, to show them what it takes to be out there.’
Next, Edwards will prove she has what it takes to perform at a collegiate level. She chose Otterbein University largely for academic reasons, to study systems engineering, but she looks forward to being part of the Otterbein team.
‘I know a lot of seniors at other schools. They don’t go on to play in college, so I’m really fortunate I can,’ Edwards said.
‘Otterbein’s getting a great person, academically and socially,’ Matuszak added. ‘And they’re getting one heck of a softball player. She’ll carry it over, she’ll be a stud there at Otterbein.’
Edwards said her favorite memories with the Eagles include all the bus trips and moments spent bonding with the team, but building a program aimed for continued success means the most.
‘I never imagined that our program would become this when I was starting out as a freshman,’ she said. ‘That was one of my big goals, was to become captain and just be able to lead the team and start a new legacy with Ally.’
