Winner of the Week: Makenzie Freeman
The star pitcher helped create Hackett history by bringing home the school's first softball state championship.
The star pitcher helped create Hackett history by bringing home the school's first softball state championship.
The star pitcher helped create Hackett history by bringing home the school's first softball state championship.
The 40/29 Winner of the Week is Hackett junior Makenzie Freeman.
She's been the Lady Hornet’s starting pitcher for the last three years and recently wrapped up her junior season in historic fashion.
Freeman finished 29-3 in the circle and led Hackett to its first-ever 3A state title. She was also crowned the tournament MVP.
The Hackett hurler also tied the state single-season record for wins and threw a whopping 19 shutouts, six of which were no-hitters and two perfect games. She notched 263 strikeouts in 176 innings of work.
As a result of her stellar resume, Freeman capped off her big season by being named the Gatorade Arkansas Softball Player of the Year.
However, when asked about the secret to her success, she says it all comes down to the players around her.
"The whole year, we've talked about how we just want to win state and we just want to win all the districts and everything we could," said Freeman. "So, that was just our goal the whole year. I think everyone just working together just really helped get to that."
Hackett head coach Jeff Oxford added, "It really makes a difference when your best player is also one of your best kids and they all get along. It makes my job really easy. She's a workhorse."
To top it all off, Freeman is set to become the first softball player out of Hackett to go on and play Division I ball. She's verbally committed to the University of Tulsa.