In March of last year, Lynnwood freshman Maddie Morgan verbally committed to play softball at the University of Alabama. She followed the annoucement by breaking single-season school records for batting average (.575), hits (46) and doubles (14).
Morgan, who predmominantly plays third base but also plays shortstop and pitches for the Royals, said picking a college early has been a relief.
So far it has shown on the field.
Morgan is well on her way to breaking her own records this season. Going into the 3A District 1 tournament, which starts Tuesday at Phil Johnson Fields in Everett, Morgan is hitting .655 with a .756 on base percentage, 13 doubles, two home runs, two triples and 24 RBI.
“She’s not only phenomenal as a contributor percentage-wise, but she is such an amazing teammate,” Lynnwood interim head coach Emily Evans said. “She builds up all of the other players on our team. She really is a great part of team in more ways than getting the RBI when we need it or whatever. She’s just done awesome for us.”
Alabama first showed interest in Morgan during her eighth-grade year. That interest peaked in the fall of 2013 and she went on an unofficial visit in February of 2014. A little over a month later Morgan committed.
“I knew that committing early was kind of risky, but I knew that it was the place for me, so I kind of just went with it and I’m happy I made that decision,” Morgan said.
Evans isn’t surprised Alabama showed interest in Morgan.
“It’s easy to see why Alabama would be interested in her even as a young player,” Evans said. “She broke records last year and she’s just kept it right on going. She’s so consistent. Every time she comes up to the plate, I have 100 percent confidence that she’s going to do exactly what she needs to do. She’s incredibly intelligent in the sport of softball.”
Perhaps Morgan’s most impressive statistic is she has struck out just once all season. Evans and former Lynnwood head coach Matt Rockne, who coached Morgan a year ago, credit her approach at the plate for the lack of strikeouts.
“She goes up with the intent to hit the ball and if they aren’t pitching to her she gets frustrated because she wants to hit the ball,” Evans said. “That’s kind of what I see from her is that it’s not even an option. Striking out isn’t something she considers. She just goes up there ready to hit and ready for whatever pitch they throw to her.”
“She sees the ball so well and she’s just a smart hitter,” Rockne added. “That was one of the things that probably impressed me the most, she wouldn’t just hit home runs every time. She would notice that left fielder is deep and she hit the ball over the shortstops head and be able to get two runs in and a double out of it. If she needed to pull the ball because the second baseman was cheating, she could do that. She could put the ball it seemed like wherever she wanted to.”
Morgan’s success at the plate has led to an increased number of walks. Morgan has walked 19 times this season, which helps her team-leading on-base percentage.
“Other people respect the heck out of her because of what a fierce opponent she is and how tough she is to strike out and get out,” Evans said.
Morgan has the ability to make her coaches look good, something Evans and Rockne don’t take for granted.
“The fact that I have the opportunity to coach her, I feel incredibly grateful,” Evans said. “These players don’t come around very often and the fact that she’s part of the Lynnwood Royals and really contributes through everything that we do. I do feel that she stacks up against anybody in the league, and for that matter the state.”
The Royals finished third in the Wesco 3A South and are seeded sixth in the district tournament. They face third seeded Marysville Pilchuck at 4 p.m. on Tuesday with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
“The goal is to get past Marysville,” Morgan said. “We did take a tough loss to them earlier in the season. If we just keep hitting the ball and making good plays…if we just play our best game I think good things will happen.”
Aaron Lommers covers prep sports for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter at @aaronlommers and contact him at alommers@heraldnet.com.
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