New softball season time for Frazier, Howard to put injury-plagued careers in past

Published 7:50 pm Tuesday, August 1, 2017

MOULTRIE – It’s the first state playoff softball games ever at Colquitt County High, and one of the top offensive Packers had to sit it out. She was also not in uniform for the team’s bid to win the Region 1-7A tournament. Right up to these big postseason events, Gracie Frazier was a pacesetter … and then it all came to a screeching halt.

The evidence is still there, but it’s not stopping the player from getting back to full speed for her senior year.

For the second time in her life, Frazier had ACL surgery for a tear that ended her 2016 campaign. The rehabilitation lasted from October to May.

“A long recovery,” she said after her team’s first official practice Tuesday at Packer Park. “Our last region game … I missed all (of the playoffs). I was rounding third base. I stepped on third weird and my knee just gave completely out. I knew right then it was another ACL.”

That’s right, another ACL tear, on the right.

“I tore my (left) one my freshman year,” said Frazier. “I’ve had no problems with it since my first surgery.”

In fact, she said her rehab for this first operation was completed exactly one year before last season’s setback.

“The first time we got to host a playoff game, that was tough,” said Frazier about missing those playoffs. “I wanted to be a part of that. I hope this year we can do the same thing, host another playoff game that I’ll be a part of.”

It was especially a blow to head coach Chance Pitts’ lineup and offensive attack. In 2016, Frazier was good for one hit per game, 24 total in 24 games. She scored 21 runs, tops on the team, and batted .308. Some more numbers: Frazier stole 14 bases without being caught once and struck out nine times in 87 plate appearances.

“Maybe this year will be just as good,” said Frazier. “I got released in May to start playing again, so I started with my travel ball team. We’ve played all summer.

“And I’m working out with coach Danny Copeland, who’s been getting me right with my speed training, working on my cuts and the little things so we can prevent another ACL tear … find the small things and do the small things right. And staying in the gym working out to get my leg stronger.”

Another major part of Frazier’s offseason was making a commitment to play college softball at Eastern Kentucky.

“It’s been like a long road,” she said. “God allowed me to trust in Him. I’ve always wanted to play college softball, but with my two ACL surgeries I didn’t know if it would be possible. What God did was pretty remarkable. All I had to do was trust that He had a plan for me.”

Frazier was in fact recruited as an outfielder. Before the ACL tear, the story of her 2016 season was going from shortstop to left field.

“Wherever coach wants me to play, I’m willing to play,” she said about her defensive role this year, which is still in the outfield. Frazier’s offensive numbers came as the leadoff hitter. “I’m not sure what coach Pitts’ plans are this year, but if he wants me at leadoff again I will do my best to be a good leadoff.

“I wish I was a big hitter. I try to keep my mental game under control. A lot of people say I’m my own worst critic. I try to make it as simple as possible. I want to go up there and hit the ball, whether it’s a base hit or a home run, as long as I get my job done.”

Frazier did hit one over the fence in 2016, and while she likes that feeling she said it’s doing the little things that will lead to quality at-bats.

“I want to stay healthy this season,” said Frazier about the bottom line of 2017. “And work on my mental approach. Coming off a major surgery like that can be really hard. I don’t feel like I am where I was physically when I tore my ACL, so I want to get back to there. I am going to do everything I can to stay healthy.”

That goal will begin on Thursday with a scrimmage game at Fitzgerald and Friday with the first regular season game vs. Jeff Davis in Adel. It’s also a big season for senior pitcher …

BAILEY HOWARD

Who is going to get the 90-plus innings turned in by Dakota Baker last season? Howard certainly wants to get as many of those as she can despite what she’s feeling in her elbow or shoulder.

In 2016, the then junior got into the rotation late in the season, only enough time to get in six games – one start – and 18 innings. She was the junior varsity workhorse as a freshman, but couldn’t contribute anything as a sophomore due to the issues all up and down her arm.

“It’s been bothering me since 10th grade summer ball,” said Howard Tuesday after she worked some simulated innings against her teammates. “I went to doctors, and they were always saying it’s just overuse. Ice it every day, don’t practice right now, lay off on the throws. I didn’t play very much 10th and 11th grade because of it.

“It would start to get better, and when I go to play again, it would start back up hurting. And they lay me off again. The last time I went to Dr. Collins was about a month ago. He said it was more than likely a torn ligament in my elbow and tendinitis in my shoulder. They said it’s not going to get any better until I stop playing softball. It’s something I’m just going to have to play through.”

This sounds familiar in Packer softball, for last season’s senior catcher, Paris Sumner, had a choice to make. Have an operation and miss her senior year or put off surgery and play through pain. Sumner chose to play. Howard has yet to undergo any procedures. She said she’s been told her issues aren’t “that serious.”

“I asked about a Cortisone shot, and they said they wouldn’t do it for a 17-year-old my size,” said Howard, who added she could get one if she “really” needs it, and that wouldn’t be an option until playoff time in October.

“My 9th grade year, I pitched a ton,” she said. “I was the only pitcher for JV, and I was the second pitcher for varsity. I didn’t play as much as I wanted to (as a sophomore). They laid me off a lot (as a junior). I was having to go to therapy every day after practice and during practice.”

The goal, then, as a senior: push through it.

“I don’t want (coaches) to always be worrying about me,” said Howard. “If I’m struggling, they always go straight to ‘Are you hurting?’ I’m bad about showing if I’m hurting or if I’m irritated about something.”

For most practices, Howard said she spends about an hour working on pitching with coach Alyssa Simmons, and then it’s putting on the ice bags.

“My best pitch is probably my curve,” said Howard. “I just got my screwball, and it’s pretty effective.

“I’m really bad about expecting too much out of myself. I always think I can do better than what I just did. That gets to me, and I’ve always had to work on that. Pitching is majority mental.”

But Howard feels Colquitt County High softball has everything it needs to put together a big season, and it would be a story if she is the one clinching that big win for home playoff games or even the 1-7A championship.