Twin sisters Danielle and Isabella Henning will continue their softball careers together, as the senior duo signed to play with Indiana State University during a joint ceremony Wednesday at Owensboro Catholic High School.
Each have been key leaders for the Lady Aces over the last two seasons and will be expected to do the same this spring. They’ve both been named to the All-9th District and All-State teams twice already, and they played in the Kentucky Junior West All-Star game last year.
Danielle, primarily a shortstop, leads the team with 78 RBIs over the last couple of years and has come through time after time when Catholic needed big plays.
“Clutch,” said OC head coach Jeremy Phelps when asked what most describes Danielle. “She’s very driven, very competitive. She wants to beat you in whatever you’re doing. The bigger the game and the bigger the moment, the bigger and better she plays. I think she wants that spotlight. She can handle that.”
Isabella, who switches between first base and outfield, is a big threat with her power at the plate. She leads the team with 61 RBIs and 18 extra-base hits in the last two years.
“Impact player,” Phelps said of his other star player. “Her work ethic is great. She can change the game with one swing of the bat. She’s a quiet leader, but whether it’s on the field, playing basketball or in the classroom, she’s a tremendous leader on this team.”
The sisters have long since known they wanted to make it to the collegiate level and have dedicated countless hours toward their goal over the last several years.
“It’s taken a lot of extra hours of work after practice and working out,” Danielle said. “It’s not easy, but you have to put in the extra work to get where you want to be.”
Isabella said having someone to constantly compete with but also rely on helped them both maintain their drive.
“She was always someone that could push me,” Isabella said. “I could compete with her, but she’d always be there to support me if I was struggling, and vice versa.”
Though they had talked about signing with the same college, the Hennings didn’t go out of their way to play together.
“It just kind of happened,” Isabella said. “I think it’s cool. Not a lot of people get to do that. I’ll have her to play with til the end of my career.”
Danielle is equally excited for the opportunity.
“I think it will be awesome,” she said. “I can’t wait to play in college with her. I think it’s a great opportunity for both of us and it will be really fun.”
First, though, both are hoping to go out on a high note in their senior season with Catholic.
“I expect it to be better than last year,” said Isabella, as the Lady Aces lost in the first round of the 9th District tournament last year.
“I want to do great things,” Danielle said. “I would like to get to state. I know we can do it if we work hard. I think it will be a really fun year if we all just put in the work.”
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