LocalSportsJournal.com
Taylor Dew etched her name in the state softball record book on Friday.
Mona Shores’ junior first basemen hit her 20th home run of the season in the first game of a doubleheader against Holton, leaving her tied with Abby Krzywiecki of Farmington Hills Mercy for the single-season state record.
Taylor Dew reacts after getting the home run ball. Photo/Leo Valdez
The record homer was hit to center field, and surprised Dew when it went over the fence.
“The pitch was a little outside,” she said. “I honestly did not think it was going to go over. I thought it hit the outside of my bat and was going to be a high popup to center, but it went over.
“It was kind of a relief, knowing I had at least tied it. It was a big weight off my shoulders.”
Dew hit her 17th home run of the season last week, then went two games against Kenowa Hills without a homer.
But she made up for lost time by hitting two home runs on Thursday to pull within one of the record, then one on Friday to tie it.
Dew said she was feeling some pressure and pressing at the plate, after hitting her 17th homer.
“I kind of just needed to relax more,” she said. “Against Kenowa I really didn’t feel like myself. I was kind of nervous and uptight. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone, but then I just thought about it and realized that either way, it will be fine.”
Dew will have several chances to break the record next week. The Sailors have at least two games left – a pre-district game against Muskegon on Tuesday, then their final regular season game against Whitehall on Thursday.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” Dew said. “I would prefer to get at least one more, but if it doesn’t happen I always have next year. I’ll just do the best I can.”
