Owensboro Catholic softball player Hannah Carter won’t have to go far when she starts her softball career next year as she’s taking her talents down the road to Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Carter made it official Friday night at her home with her family as the decision takes a load off heading into her senior season this spring.
“It feels amazing,” she said. “It was a hard trip to find out where I wanted to go. I had many players I could have went but I think staying at home was probably my best decision.”
As was with most current seniors that play spring sports, Carter’s junior season disappeared due to Covid-19 but luckily she was still able to get noticed by KWC softball coach Miles Mallette.
“It was really nerve-wracking but I guess having the ability to play travel ball too, it really helped me out,” she said. “That’s how I got connected with KWC, is travel ball and him getting to watch me play a couple times.”
Carter won’t be the only person in her family playing softball in college in the city next season, which will lead to a definite rivalry.
She said it was her sister, Hailey Carter, that helped push her in the direction of continuing her athletic career.
“It was always a dream to play at the next level but my sister, she plays for Brescia University, and watching her play, it just made me feel like being at the next level, it’s kind of a spark moment and I want to feel that being at the next level moment,” she said.
Prior to last season’s record of 5-16, the Panthers have hit 22 or more wins every season since 2014, including 38 wins in 2017.
Carter said the program wasn’t the only reason she decided to attend KWC.
“It’s not just the softball atmosphere, it’s also the education,” she said. “I love coach Miles and the softball team, they’re all welcoming. I would call them sisters if I was on the team right now. I just love it there and I can’t wait to call it home.”
Originally, Carter said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay home, but it didn’t take her long to realize she wanted to be a Panther.
“I wanted to go far away from home but now that it’s come to a point where I’m a senior now and I’m figuring I want to be home,” she said. “Then you see KWC down the road, it’s just like that’s my home. I’m very excited.”
Carter has been a standout player for the Lady Aces during her time at Catholic and she said she’ll miss her team and the school as well.
“Everybody there is kind of like a family, not just the softball program,” she said. “The school, the teachers, I just love it there. I’m excited when I wake up, I’m ready to go to school, ready to play some softball. I love the team, I will surely and really miss the team. It’ll always be a family to me.”
Even thought she missed out on getting senior leadership last season, Carter said she’s ready to be in that role for the upcoming year.
“Just like I tell them during practice, never lose out on moments,” she said. “It goes by really fast. I never thought it would go by really fast and I’ve always heard people say it but it flies by. I tell them to watch the road in the future and keep moving.”
Owensboro Catholic is scheduled to start the 2021 season March 23 when they host South Warren.
Carter said she can’t wait to get back on the field.
“I’ll be so excited,” she said. “Especially getting my junior year taken away from me. I want to set goals, go back to state my last time. I went to state my eighth-grade year but as a senior I feel like there would be more hype about it.”
When asked what she’ll be looking forward to most next season, Carter said there were a few things but one stands out above the others.
“The best one is going to be playing against my sister,” she said. “I really want to see how that turns out.”
She said when she decided to attend KWC, there was some banter back and forth but added she’s ready for their first battle.
“We’re down the road from each other so we’ll see how it goes,” she said. “That’s just rivals.”
