Alexis Howard signs with Louisburg

by John Lucas | Nov 21, 2018 | Triton

Seated with Alexis Howard (center) are her parents, Tim Howard (left) and Doris Howard. In back are Triton athletic director Wendy Simmons, Luke Howard (brother), Triton softball coach Mark Whitman and Louisburg College softball coach Eric Lee. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Triton senior Alexis Howard, of Dunn, signed on Tuesday to play college softball at Louisburg College.

“I was thinking about giving up on softball and not going,” Howard said. “(Louisburg coach) Eric (Lee) reached out to me and I knew that was what I wanted to do. I could play ball for two years and figure out my path on what I wanted to do with my life.”

The upcoming season will be Howard’s fourth as a varsity starter for the Hawks. During her high school tenure, she has been one of the team’s leading hitters and defensive players. She played third base her freshman and sophomore years, played shortstop her junior year and is expected to be the starting shortstop again for her senior campaign.

“Alexis has been a major part of the success of Triton softball for the past four years,” said Triton softball coach Mark Whitman. “She has been a starter since her freshman year. She is one of the toughest players I have ever coached. She will be hard to replace. She transitioned from third to shortstop and did a good job. She will be missed, but Louisburg is getting a good one and I believe she will step right in and help their program.”

Howard did not know what position she would be asked to play for the Hurricanes, but thought it may be at shortstop. She is currently undecided on a major.

“I have no idea what I want to do yet,” Howard said. “That’s a good thing of going to a two-year school. I can figure out what I want to do.”

Howard cited a 2017 game against visiting rival South Johnston, the last regular season meeting between the two teams as conference opponents, as one of her standout memories of playing high school softball. The Hawks took a 3-2 win in a 10-inning thriller when then-senior Ashley Daniel, now an assistant for Triton, drove in Howard with a walk off single. Howard was the leading hitter in that game, with three hits, including a double, and a run scored.

“Definitely that game we won against South where we went all those innings and then Ashley hit me in,” Howard said. “That was a big memory. Just being with the team has made so many memories. My sophomore year (2017) was probably one of my best years playing, just being with that group of girls.”

Howard has high hopes for her senior campaign with the Hawks. She was especially happy to get to play her senior year alongside fellow senior Tatiana Muniz, a transfer from Western Harnett to Triton who signed to play college softball at UNC-Charlotte Friday.

“Definitely just have a good year with a good group of girls,” Howard said. “There’s a good amount of seniors and I’ll be able to be back on the field with one of my best friends (Muniz) since I started. Hopefully I’ll have a good season and hopefully something good will come out of it all.”

In addition to four years of varsity softball, Howard has also been a member of Triton’s junior varsity and varsity volleyball and girls basketball teams.

Louisburg coach Eric Lee, a Campbell graduate, is in his second year as the Hurricane’s head coach and is a former assistant coach for Campbell. Lee is married to the former Brittany Stanley, who was a standout pitcher for the Camels and was teammates at Campbell with South Johnston softball coach Amanda Smith.