OUR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK COMMUNITY PARTNER
Each week, Monitor staff selects and interviews a local Athlete of the Week. Learn more about their accomplishments, their goals and what makes them unique. We’d like to thank our sponsor Capital City Kia.
Our partners do not participate in the selection of these athletes. That is fully at the discretion of our journalists.
Concord’s Natalee Rowell has pitched 27 scoreless innings in a row during her last four games.
Her performance has propelled the Crimson Tide to a four-game win streak.
So far this season, in 12 games played, she has had 94 strikeouts, 10 walks and 16 runs against, 11 earned. This past weekend’s 1-0 win over Merrimack saw the Tide, with their 10-3 record, leapfrog the Tomahawks in the standings.
The small but mighty squad of Concord players should fare well in the playoffs with Rowell on the mound.
It’s hard to lose if the other team can’t score. Rowell knows that.
Each week, the Monitor invites the previous athlete of the week to ask the first question of the next player featured. Here’s that question:
Q: How do you handle composure when things go wrong? – Zoe Lawson, John Stark Lacrosse
A: When things start going wrong, I try to stay calm and focus on the next pitch instead of the last mistake. I trust my training, keep positive body language and work to keep my team’s energy up. Taking a deep breath helps me slow the game down and refocus. Mental toughness is also a big part of pitching, especially under pressure and I think that I’ve grown a lot in this area.
Q: What did your off-season look like to improve?
A: This off-season, I practiced with my travel team multiple times a week and I also took pitching lessons. One of my main goals for the off-season was to gain more power, and all the extra work I put in over the winter really helped me improve throughout the season. Since this is my first year being the starting pitcher for Concord, I knew I had to work hard and I’m proud that the work my coaches and I put in during the off-season is paying off.
Q: What’s your favorite part of Concord softball?
A: My favorite part of Concord softball is that we always find a way to have fun and stay positive, no matter the situation. Even when things aren’t going our way, practice and games are still enjoyable and I think that the positive team environment has played a big role in our success this season.
Q: How can you and the rest of your team continue winning? What are your goals as a team?
A: One thing we’ve talked a lot about this season is team offense and stringing hits together. When we are able to score runs early in games, it builds momentum and takes pressure off the whole team and really sets the tone for the game. Our goal is to keep playing together, staying confident at the plate and continuing to give 110% every game.
Q: What’s your favorite pitch to throw and why?
A: My favorite pitch to throw is my curveball. Since I’m a lefty, it breaks towards right-handed batters. It’s my go-to pitch, especially in pressure situations, because it’s the pitch I trust the most. Even when it doesn’t result in a strikeout, the spin and movement forces weak contact or pop-ups for outs for my defense to make.
Q: You’re still a junior, what are your goals for the future?
A: My goals for the future are to continue playing softball at the collegiate level and become a college softball pitcher. After I graduate, I plan to pursue a degree in elementary education and work towards becoming an elementary school teacher. I’m currently part of the Concord Regional Technical Center at Concord High School and I am in my second year of Education and Behavioral Science, getting a head start on college courses for teaching.