Taylor Ebbs drove in 30 runs as a freshman but will be counted on for more next season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky softball loses two of its top four hitters off last year’s team with the departure of Renee Abernathy and Lauren Johnson. However, coach Rachel Lawson is already counting on freshmen Taylor Ebbs and Meeko Harrison to help offset their loss.
Ebbs hit .298 and drove in 30 runs last season. She had 10 home runs and started 50 of Kentucky’s 56 games. Harrison hit .277 with three home runs and drove in 18 runs. She played in 40 games with 16 starts.
“Taylor has a tremendous upside,” Lawson said. “If you coach her, it makes your day because she has the best attitude. She walks into a room and the room lights up. She is just a great teammate and makes everybody better. She is country strong. The girl drives a forklift in the summer.”
“Taylor is an outfielder. She was a centerfielder when we recruited her. She just filled in at first base as a favor because we needed someone. Mallory Peyton was one of the best to ever wear the uniform and with her gone we just were not getting the production we needed there so Taylor did her best for the team.”
Harrison also played some at first base and Lawson expects dramatic improvement.
“She has a lot of talent but did not have that ‘wow’ factor coming in. She needed to work on her confidence and believing in herself,” the UK coach said. “She turned it around and we saw her get better and better every day.
“She now understands the value of being strong and plans to hit the weight room hard before next season. If she gets stronger, she can be one of the best left-handed hitters we have ever had.”
Johnson and Abernathy were both left-handed hitters.
“Meeko knows now why doing certain things will help her be better and she will be better next season,” Lawson said.
