If you’d asked area softball coaches about Samantha Kummer in 2015, power hitting likely wouldn’t have come up.
Tate’s Savannah Rowell will be one of three local softball players taking part in the FACA All-Star series this weekend.
A contact hitter with just one home run in her junior season, Kummer exploded for a district-best eight home runs along with a .475 batting average for Pace in 2016.
There was little doubting Kummer’s power by the end of the season, with opposing coaches admirably referring to her as “The Beast” during the District 1-7A tournament.
“At the beginning of the year I really wasn’t expecting the season to go this way,” Kummer said. “I mean eight home runs, that’s crazy. I seriously wasn’t expecting that at all.”
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“The Beast” will don her Pace jersey one last time this weekend as she takes part in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Classic in Ocala.
While the classic is an opportunity for many athletes to vie for a college home, Kummer has already found one at Northwest Florida State College. But don’t think that means she’ll take the weekend off.
“This whole year I’ve been trying to prove people wrong and tell all those naysayers that our program can still be as good as it was in the past,” Kummer said. “Before I signed, my parents were saying this could be good for me to go down and let colleges look at me. I’m still going to play the same way that I’ve done all season.”
Kummer will be joined by Tate’s Savannah Rowell and West Florida’s Jibrashia Moore as area representatives on the North All-Stars. The North will take on the East at 10 a.m. today. The winner will move on to the championship, while the loser will play in the consolation championship.
For the senior Rowell, the All-Star Classic is another achievement in a high school career that included a state championship in 2015. Rowell said it’s certain to be emotional when she removes her Tate uniform for the last time.
West Florida’s Jibrasha Moore will be one of three local softball players taking part in the FACA All-Star series this weekend.
“This opportunity is a huge honor to be the only pitcher from my area, along with a select of group of girls throughout Florida,” Rowell said. “I have worked hard for a long time to get to where I’m at and the fact that others have chased me to represent our area is a great accomplishment.”
“Honestly, I thought I would never wear our uniform again after we lost out in regionals. So to have the opportunity to represent my school and city one last time is bittersweet and I’m definitely going to make the most of it.”
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With Moore, Rowell and Kummer all moving on after the summer’s all-star games, the seniors said they’re hoping to make the most of every last moment.
“I’m glad to say that I think I went out with a bang,” Kummer said. “I’m really happy with how this season went compared to previous seasons.”
FACA All-Star Softball Classic
Today’s games
South vs. West
North vs. East, 10 a.m.
