RALEIGH – When Makenzie Ward signed to play softball for William Peace University in November, 2016, her senior softball season at Richmond Senior High School had not even begun. After visiting the Raleigh campus, she knew that it was where she wanted to continue her education and play softball at the next level.
However, signing a letter of intent with her college of choice did not deter her from ending her high school career on a high note.
Ward was instrumental in helping the Lady Raiders softball program reach its first ever Regional Title Series last year. In the four playoff games leading up to the milestone series against eventual state champions North Davidson, Ward pitched 24.1 innings and gave up only five runs on 14 hits and struck out 20 batters. She was named to the All-Southeastern Conference team, the All-State team, and was the 2017 All-District Pitcher of the Year.
After marching with the Richmond Senior High School Class of 2017, Ward shifted roles from senior to freshman. However, it did not take her long to feel right at home with the Pacers.
“My team was very welcoming,” Ward said of the transition. “All of us were able to click and get along really well.
“My coaches are great” she continued. “They take time out of their schedules to work with us… to make us all successful. They believe we can do great things.”
The ease of that transition is evident in the impressive number of appearances that Ward has already had in her young Pacer career. With six pitchers on the roster, Ward’s playing time is much more limited than it was in high school, but she has still managed to enter the pitcher’s circle in eight of William Peace University’s twenty games so far this season.
In those eight games, she has accumulated a win and three saves. That lone win was a complete game no-hitter against Penn State Fayette (Pa.) at the Dreams Spring Classic held in Myrtle Beach.
As a Pacer, Ward is finding out that strikeouts are a little more difficult to come by at this level.
“Being a pitcher, I have to be a lot more careful with ‘throwing in the river’… not getting too much plate on my pitches,” Ward explained. “Hitters are a lot more disciplined and stronger (in college). Also, you don’t strikeout as many in college as you do in high school.”
Even though retiring batters has been a little more of a challenge, Ward has still managed to have some recent success in the strikeout statistic. In the Pacers’ victories over Penn State Fayette and Dean College (Mass.) last week, Ward recorded 11 strikeouts in just 6.2 innings.
College life, in general, can be a difficult transition. Ward has managed to not only adjust to a new level of softball, but a new level of independence as well.
“At first, it was very hard being on my own,” Ward said. “After a couple of days, I was able to adjust to my schedule and get the hang of things.”
Even though she is now a Pacer, she will always be a Lady Raider. To the members of the 2018 Richmond Senior High School softball team, Ward leaves this message: “Remember to always have fun. If you make a mistake, shake it off. Go out this season and win a ring! Lady Raiders for life!”
