Republic Athletic Director Greg Garton has known Emily Hall since she attended daycare with Garton’s daughter Makenna. “She’s such a kind, sweet person, I never would have thought she’d be a catcher in high school softball.”
But Hall grew up to become not only a “great role model,” in the words of softball assistant coach Allen Stolte, but arguably the best catcher in southwest Missouri on one of the best teams Republic has ever fielded. And now she’ll take her game to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.
The Lady Tigers are 50-9 over the last two seasons, due in large part to the contributions of Hall. As a junior, while handling the rigors of her defensive position, she also led the team in both slugging percentage and on-base percentage. As a senior, she anchored the Lady Tigers batting order while helping pitcher Rachel Rook to a record-breaking season with her work behind the plate.
“You wouldn’t know it to look at her. She’s a tiny girl, but she can hit the ball like no other,” says Stolte. “Offensively and defensively, she is leaving a huge hole for Republic Lady Tiger softball.”
But beyond her work on the field, Stolte says the Lady Tigers will miss Hall’s presence.
“(SBU) is getting an exceptional athlete, an exceptional person—She’s a great teammate, a great role model, and an overall great person. I think the girls on our team are lucky to have someone like Emily around them,” he says.
Hall says her time as a Lady Tiger has prepared her to help lead when she advances to the college level as well.
“When you get down on yourself, you’ve got to stay up for the rest of the team. I’m quiet, but I try to be a leader to the girls, even if it’s not super loud. I still talk to them and keep them up and try to push them,” she says. “I really like that it’s a Christian college. Since they got a new coach and they’re trying to re-build the program, I would like to be part of that.”