The 2009 softball season may be over and the bats and gloves tucked away for now, but the memories and accomplishments of the Bryan County High School Lady Redskin softball team are still being recognized and discussed among coaches, parents and players. One Bryan County High player was the recent topic of discussion at the Winter Family Café in Pembroke on Monday night, Nov. 30 as senior Samantha Howard was presented the Bryan County Athlete of the Month award for the month of October.

On hand for the presentation and dinner was her family, friends and coaches. This is Howard’s second AoM award as she won it in October 2007.

Howard is no stranger to the softball diamond, and her name is a familiar one to anyone who follows Bryan County softball. She is the oldest daughter of Steve and Christie Howard and has been playing softball in recreation ball and school ball for the last 13 years. But it was her stellar performance and clutch play during the month of October as the Lady ‘Skins were making their State playoff run that caught the eye of her peers and coaches.

When the occasions arose, Howard came through on the mound down the stretch as a pitcher, but her hot bat stood out the most. She finished October with a .394 batting average that found her with 33 at-bats with no strikeouts and produced 13 hits out of those 33 attempts. The result was 7 singles, 3 doubles, 2 triples, and 1 homerun. Her slugging percentage was .697 and that means she was a big reason that Bryan County made it to the Elite Eight of the state playoffs, where her batting average was an impressive .500.

"Samantha is a great kid who comes from a great family," said BCHS Head Coach Al Butler. "Samantha is a ‘clutch’ player. When the game is on the line, she is the one you can depend on to get the job done and she is the one you want at the plate. She is a hard worker and just a great kid."

Howard said her achievements have required a great deal of effort and commitment.

"I feel my strongest attribute as an athlete is my hard work," Howard said. "I’m not someone who is just natural at things. Everything I do I have to work hard at it to get the desired results."

Howard said she likes the pitching position because she has control of the game and loves the feeling of making a great play when at her shortstop position.

When not on the softball field, she can be found with a basketball in her hand as a member of the Bryan County High girls’ basketball team and also a member of the track team, but it is softball that is her first love.

"I love the feeling I get when I’m on the softball field," she said. "Being out there is like being in another world. It’s just you, the coaches and your teammates out there giving it all you’ve got."

Howard graduates in May and has plans of attending Waycross College, where she will study and prepare for a career in physical therapy. Oh yes, she will also be donning a new softball uniform as she has verbally committed to play softball for the Waycross College Lady Swamp Foxes. She was recruited for her hitting and as a shortstop.

When asked about what it means to receive this award, Howard humbly replied that it "means a lot to me that whoever nominated me saw something in me. I just love playing the game and I couldn’t have achieved this award without my team and coaches, as they are the ones that have helped me grow and get better."

Honorable mentions: RHHS softball’s Alex Hefner, RHHS cross country’s Tyler Carlson and Russell Lawless, RHHS football’s Derek Wierwille, BCHS football’s Joseph Jenkins, RHHS sailing’s Austin Schneider, BCHS cross country’s Mathew Herb, BCHS softball player and cross country runner Tiffany Howard.

To see a photographic history of all the past Bryan County Athlete of the Month award winners, click here http://community.bryancountynews.net/gallery/detail/67/