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Ericson enjoys limelight

Emma Ericson likes her position on center stage.

The Ursuline High School senior softball pitcher stands out on the mound, looking at her defense, then focusing on her catcher to deliver the first pitch.

She’s been in this position for the past nine years, even prior to playing for the Fighting Irish.

“I like being in control of the game,” Ericson said. “The game doesn’t start until I say it does.”

Not many offenses can take a foothold on the senior pitcher. Fairmont State (W. Va.) University took notice as Ericson recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Falcons.

She pitched 75 1/3 innings last year with 71 strikeouts. Ericson had a 11-1 record with a 1.97 ERA with two shutouts. The past three seasons, she has a 22-5 mark with 163 strikeouts, a 1.95 ERA, four shutouts and a no-hitter.

Ursuline coach Michael Kernan said Ericson has one of the best screwballs in the area, with the riseball not far behind.

“She’s an excellent pitcher with great spin on the ball,” Kernan said. “Not only does she throw one of the best screwballs in the area, she’s pretty precise on hitting her locations — hitting corners off the plate inside and outside. She mixes it in with her other pitches as well (and) that makes it even more effective. She keeps the hitters off balance with where she throws it, when she throws it and how she throws it.”

Throwing that screwball, either freezing or making the batter swing too early or late, puts a smile on Ericson’s face.

“It definitely gives you a rush,” said Ericson, who will major in nursing at Fairmont State. “I’m really happy when the pitch does what it’s supposed to do. The batter looks kind of silly when you get it.”

Being at Fairmont State won’t be that much of an adjustment for Ericson.

“She knows how to work hard,” Kernan said. “The recruiter from there is actually a pitching instructor. They’re only going to make her that much better. She’s put up some great career numbers with us. She’s going to continue to get better. That’s comes from what she’s made of, the type of competitor she is.

“She works hard. She has a great attitude. If somebody pushes her back one foot, she’s pushing them back two feet. She’s a tough ballplayer.”

Ericson has been one of the better offensive players for the Irish with a .312 average in 231 at-bats. She has 72 hits with 16 doubles and 57 RBIs.

Offensively or defensively, she’s an asset for Ursuline.

“It’s her whole game that she brings,” Kernan said. “We play her where she needs, and she never squacks or himhaws about, ‘Where are you putting me coach or where you’re batting me?’ She just goes out and gives everything she has. She’s one of those types of players. She’s an excellent athlete, can pitch, hit, play the field. She brings a lot to the game.

“It’s her intangibles that have made our program separate itself over the past so many years,” he added. “She’s been a great leader. Not only does she hit, pitch and field, she shows up early, leads the team. She only knows one way to go. She goes hard. She’s made our program over the years because of the leadership she brings to the team.”

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