For The Tribune
Faith Rebber listed several reasons she enjoyed playing softball at Seymour High School.
“I enjoy being able to be with my friends, and I enjoy it because I’m good at it,” Rebber said. “It’s fun to play something you’re good at. I’ve got to meet amazing people, memories I’ll never forget.”
There were six seniors on the roster this spring and Rebber said five of them played together since we were eight years old or younger.
Rebber was the Owls’ starting shortstop all four seasons she has been on the team, and said she is looking forward to playing softball at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, beginning this fall.
“I know that position pretty well,” Rebber said.”(Coaches at Taylor) said there is another really good shortstop coming in so I’ll have my work cut out for me, but if I’m good enough I’ll play. If not, there’s a couple spots open in the infield and in the outfield. I just want to play. I don’t care where I play.”
The recent Seymour High School grad said she enjoys the strategy involved in playing defense, and enjoys being the leader of the infield.
“I’m the one who has to (call out plays on coverage),” Rebber said. “We have signals. The coach will say it to Katie (Suits), our catcher and she’ll give it to the fielders.”
This past spring, Rebber batted fifth most of the season, and although her average wasn’t been as high as she expected it to be this spring, she enjoyed getting into the batter’s box.
Rebber said she looks for pitches down the middle that she can make good contact on.
“I don’t look for any certain pitch,” she said. “I’m a contact hitter and if it’s a strike I swing at it. I like to hit line drives. I like pitches over the outer half of the plate and try to hit them to right field. It’s easier to score runs that way.”
The Owls set the school record for wins in a season in 2016 with 18 victories, and they tied that mark this spring.
“I loved the home games. They were my favorite,” Rebber said. “I’d say my favorite field is Floyd Central, only because it is a nice field.”
The Owls took more batting practice this season under new coach Jerry Burton than they did in the past, and Rebber said she liked that.
Rebber competed in travel ball since she was eight, playing with Tsunami from Seymour (4 years), then with teams from Columbus, Bloomington and Hope.
She played mostly shortstop, but also at third base and outfield with those teams.
Rebber said she played in a couple national tournaments in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
She said she has enjoyed being a student at Seymour High School.
“I’m glad I came here (Seymour High School) because I wouldn’t have been able to play with good players I’ve been playing with my entire life,” Rebber said. “I’ve got a very good education for what I want to study in college (exercise science).”