BENTONVILLE -- Not many freshmen are given the responsibilities that Haley Cornell carried for Bentonville's softball team.
She took over the starting catcher's role when the season began and made the Lady Tigers' defense even stronger. She was moved around to different points in Bentonville's batting order throughout the season and never missed it a beat, even though those duties were a little unnerving at first.
"I was really, really nervous," Cornell said. "I thought I couldn't mess up. I felt like if I messed up, I would be taken out of the game. So I always tried my best and worked hard during practice.
"I've been told a lot that the bar will be raised for me next year"
Cornell's strong arm and defensive play made opposing players think twice before they risked an attempt to take the next base. She started the season sixth in Bentonville's batting order, then she was moved to the leadoff role when an injury forced coach Kent Early to shift around the lineup.
She later settled into the third spot and continued to hit the ball well, and with power. She finished the season with a team-high five home runs -- including a two-home run game against Rogers Heritage and hitting scoreboards on two occasions -- and was second on the team with 24 RBIs while sporting a .390 batting average to earn All-Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Newcomer of the Year honors.
Other people took notice of her play as she was the only freshman named to the Class 7A all-state team this spring.
"I never expected all this to happen," Cornell said. "I knew some of the girls on the team and knew they could play pretty well. I just wanted to be like them.
"I was really shocked when I was told I made the all-state team. I couldn't believe it. I said there was no way it could happen. I read the list four times, and it still hasn't sunken in yet that I made it."
Sports on 06/12/2015