7 Innings with Gardner Webb’s Katie Prebble
2018 will be remembered as a time that freshman players made an impact in the game of softball. Meghan Beaubien of Michigan, Mary Haff from Arkansas, Mississippi State’s Mia Davidson, and Oklahoma’s own Jocelyn Alo are only a few of the outstanding players. No freshman, however, has made an impact quite like Gardner Webb’s Katie Prebble this season.
Prebble, leads the NCAA in home runs (22), RBIs (67), and is 2nd in slugging percentage (1.030), slightly behind Kent State’s Holly Spears. Prebble has helped turn around Gardner Webb’s program, who won just 16 games total in all of 2017. Gardner Webb already has the most wins in a season since 2007 and Prebble has played a huge part accounting for more than half of the team’s home runs this season (57%) and 25% of the RBI.
Last week Prebble was named to the Shutt Sports/ NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year Top 25 list.
“Katie Prebble’s been huge for us this year,” said Gardner Webb Head Coach, Tom Cole. “First off all, she is very humble. She doesn’t consider herself what everybody else views her as. She’s made such an impact for us because she always comes up with a clutch hit and always has a great attitude. Katie is a team player. The team looks up to Katie for her work ethic and the way she carries herself. I get a kick out of seeing every time she comes up to the plate; every girl is already up against the fence. But as they are lined up on the fence, you can see them getting on their tippy toes and looking anxious because it’s always a good thing when Katie Prebble steps up to the plate. She’s just an exceptional athlete and has been a tremendous impact on this program. We’ve got a lot of new freshman and new players. We acquired 11 new players on the roster this year, but she is the one who has made the biggest impact.”
Let’s get to know Katie Prebble as I go ” 7 Innings” with her.
Eric Lopez (ELO) – Who influenced you to play softball?
Katie Prebble– “My parents played both softball and baseball, and my older brother plays baseball- so it was an obvious choice for me!”
ELO– What athlete do you look up to?
Prebble– Lauren Chamberlain.
ELO– Why did you choose GWU?
Prebble– “The nursing program and the Christian environment.”
ELO- Could you describe your swing for those that may not have seen you play? Who taught you your swing?
Prebble– “I swing with the intent to do damage. My parents, travel coaches, college coaches and a lot of extra reps all contributed to my swing.”
ELO- Out of all the home runs you’ve hit, do you have a favorite one?
Prebble– “My walk-off home run vs. East Tennessee State. It was my third home run of the game, and I had a 3-2 count when I hit it. It was exciting to be able to play a part in my team’s victory.”
ELO– What music do you use for a walk-up song and what is your favorite TV show?
Prebble– “Congratulations” by Post Malone, and The Office!”
ELO– What is your goal on and off the field at Gardner Webb for the next four years?
Prebble– “My goal is to win a Big South Conference championship with my girls.”
Only time will tell if Prebble will be able to lead Gardner-Webb to a Big South Conference Championship. As Prebble continues to rewrite the program’s record book, one thing is for sure- Prebble has put Gardner Webb softball on the map.
