While hitters were taken aback by the quick emergence of freshman Callie Sowers as a true gamer in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, nobody was more open-mouthed than Sowers herself.

Rookie seasons are not supposed to be this good.

The fast-throwing pitcher’s first year at Bloomsburg was productive, sound and at times, dominating. She had more strikeouts than hits allowed and led the conference in several categories.

And, just like when she assumed the top role in the circle at Hempfield, she looked the part from the beginning.

“I did surprise myself,” Sowers said. “I was really blessed to see as much playing time as I did. I improved on my confidence towards the end of the year. In the beginning, I felt nervous being a freshman in college. As I got more experience, I got more comfortable in my role.”

While she was nervous, she didn’t let it show. Although she did throw up … in the zone.

“With a rise and screw (ball) and that was really successful to me,” she said.

Bound and determined to break the mood against hitters who might have brushed her off as an inexperienced, first-year arm, Sowers worked the zone high and low. She strung together wins and strikeouts like they were beads on a necklace.

She ended up leading the PSAC in strikeouts with 185 while walking 66. She earned the school’s Joanne McComb Underclass Athlete of the Year Award, to go along with an All-PSAC East First Team nod and All-Atlantic Region Second Team recognition from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

She was also first in the conference with 28 starts and 183.1 innings pitched and finished third in wins (18-9). Another former Hempfield ace, Morgan Ryan, was 19-3, finishing off her college career — after four years at Notre Dame — with a fifth year at Seton Hill.

Sowers had the talent heading into Bloomsburg, but the mental approach, she said, was key to making an immediate impact on the staff.

“I went into my first college season with an open mind,” Sowers said. “I practiced hard every day and listened to my coaches. To prepare for college hitting, I pitched live to my teammates a lot in practice. We also had a lot of scrimmages.”

Longtime Hempfield coach Bob Kalp expected Sowers to have a strong college career. He watched her progression, from the time she took the reins as a sophomore, and called her the best pitcher in 6A heading into her senior season.

Sowers’ perspective had to change, too, when she went from WPIAL Class 6A softball to the NCAA Division II college game. The number of weaker bats in the order are fewer, and the margin for error is razor slim.

“One through nine in the lineup is all girls who are good and who can hit,” she said. “There’s more pressure, and it’s definitely more competitive.”

The amount of innings she pitched, including 20 complete games, show her value to the Huskies, who finished 28-20, made the PSAC semifinals and played two games in the NCAA Regional after an at-large bid.

Sowers also had a 2.83 ERA and three shutouts on her first-year resume. She tossed a pair of complete games against Seton Hill in the conference playoffs.

Speed has never been a problem for the confident right-hander. Her father clocked her at 66 mph late in the season. It is control and hitting the zone more that could keep her among the PSAC’s best over the next three years.

“Next season, I want to work on lessening the walks,” she said, “while not missing my spot over the plate.”

The PSAC has become a hotbed for local high school standouts. Sowers has gone against a number of players from Hempfield and Penn-Trafford, among those from other WPIAL schools, in her run through the conference schedule.

“It was really cool to play against Hempfield and other surrounding schools’ alumni in the PSAC playoffs,” she said.

Facing Sowers though, maybe not so cool.

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