TAMPA, Fla. — Softball has always been Macy Cook’s sport, and her passion to play continues to grow even as a senior at the University of South Florida.
The Ohio native has put up impressive numbers this year while at the same time being the backbone of the Bulls stacked line up of pitchers.
Cook hit her second home run of the season on Wednesday night, crushing a ball over the fence in right-centre field in the second game of a double header, against Furman. The opener was a victory over Central Michigan.
The catcher’s passion comes from family roots.
“(My) dad was a softball player so I kind of took after him,” on the field, after the games. “I started playing, my sisters all played too, and I was very good at it so I just stuck with it.”
For the always smiling Cook, softball is an outlet to let herself go.
“Whenever I get to the field I am not stressed at all, it’s the only than I can do and be 100 per cent present for. I am going to be devastated when it’s over.”
USF head coach Ken Eriksen says his catcher has strong insight.
“She has a great demeanour for our pitchers,” he said, sitting in the dugout following the victories. “She’s not afraid to get on them, she’s not afraid to be their best friend, she’s not afraid to be their psychologist either.”
And there is great competitiveness there.
“She brings energy behind the plate that we haven’t had in a while so it’s good to have her back there. She was with us only for two years and we wish we had her for four”.
As a junior, Cook was named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week once and hopes to stay involved in the sport after she finishes school.
“I would love to coach. I feel like once you put in so much time for something you just don’t want to throw it away. So anyway I can give back I want to do it and whatever opportunities come up,” said Cook