Whitko Slugger Signs With IUPUI
SOUTH WHITLEY – IUPUI is getting itself quite a softball player as Whitko senior Emalee Duggins has chosen to continue her academic and softball careers with the Jaguars.
Duggins has been one of the key cogs in the best stretch in Whitko softball history, helping the team to two deep runs in the Class 2-A tournament the past two seasons. As a sophomore, Duggins and the Wildcats reached the Class 2-A Final Four and last year as a junior helped guide Whitko to the regional finals.
Collectively, Duggins is batting .401 for her career, having quite a junior season to help build her résumé. Finishing with a .436 batting average, Duggins had 48 hits, 39 runs scored, 17 RBIs and a .470 on-base percentage. Among the fun were four triples, four homers and 16 stolen bases. Her sophomore year posted .355/.450 with 33 hits, 30 runs, 17 RBIs and as a freshman, Duggins posted .409/.443 with 27 hits, 19 runs and 18 RBIs.
Defensively, Duggins has been just as dominant, flashing a career .987 fielding percentage and has made just six errors in three years working behind the plate and at the hot corner.
“My cousin played at IUPUI, and I watched her play a lot and just liked the program,” Duggins said of watching former Warsaw star Ashley Ousley. “I want some different scenery. I’ve always dreamed of playing at the college level. For me, it was a dream to grow up, watch games on TV and go to games, it’s just a blessing. To play at the highest level, it’s what you play for.”
In her three years at Whitko, the Wildcats are 60-22.
“When we came in as freshmen, we already had good leadership here, but we had no time to mess around,” Duggins said of establishing Whitko as a Class 2-A powerhouse. “We started going to open gyms and lifting a couple days a week in the offseason. We worked on the details so when the season started, we just had to work on the little things.”
IUPUI, coached by Elisabeth Beirne, went 16-33 last season and 10-13 in the Horizon League. The roster has one area player in redshirt sophomore McKenzie Loge, who was a star shortstop at Concord through 2016.
“The coaches there have just let me be me,” Duggins said. “Just enjoy the game. I fell in love with the program. They let me grow as a player. They just let me be Emalee Duggins.”
Duggins plans on majoring in elementary education.