Roy’s Saige Nielsen tags Bountiful’s Libbie Hawker out at second base in the 5A semifinals at the Valley Regional Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Utah State signee Libbie Hawker was expected to be one key contributors for state title contender Bountiful this spring
Editor’s Note: For 20 days in April, the Deseret News will profile 20 elite high school athletes from the 2020 graduating class and how they’re coping with the premature end of senior life on and off the field.
BOUNTIFUL — Zoom has been a pretty great distraction for Bountiful’s Libbie Hawker in the past month.
Between her classes and her student body officer responsibilities as a vice president, one of the state’s best senior softball players said, “it keeps me busy, that’s for sure. I’m always doing something.”
The Zoom meetings, including this Wednesday to interview prospective student body officers for next year, have helped take her mind off the reality that her senior softball season has officially been canceled because COVID-19.
With Utah State signee Hawker as the catalyst, expectations were sky high for the Braves, who were state runner-ups each of the past two season. Hawker was named a first team all-stater both years.
“I felt like this year we were the same as we were last year, only lost two players. I feel like our JV was pretty stacked too. Everyone was good on this team and fighting for a chance to be on the field and it does suck we’d have a chance to do it again,” said Hawker.
Knowing there will be competitive college softball in her future with the Aggies, it is her senior teammates who Hawker is most saddened for.
“Since I am playing on, I don’t care how I played this season I feel more for the other seniors and the team who this is what they look forward to. Some people don’t play comp in the summer, so this is what they’ve been looking forward to all year to go out and play and have fun,” said Hawker.
Individually, Hawker would’ve been in the running for some of the top honors in the state.
As a junior last year she batted .457 with eight doubles, 38 runs, 30 stolen bases and 18 RBI.
During her sophomore year she batting .490 with similar other stats.
Her speed will make her a threat at the next level.
Bountiful ended up playing just one game this season, a 7-3 win over Roy on March 10, which came two days before the UHSAA announced its first two week suspension. Practices most of that week were just make-shift games as the coaches tried to keep things enjoyable for everyone.
Despite the Sadness of playing just the one game, Hawker is appreciative of the process to get to that one game.
“It was really fun to get to know some of the old girls and the new girls. I’m so grateful I got to play one game in my senior year, but more important I’m so glad I got to play for my coaches. They were seriously so awesome, and taught me so many life lessons that I’ll be able to take into my later years and use throughout my life,” said Hawker.
Her head coach, Butch Latey, called her the day after the season was canceled, and Hawker said it was great to hear his uplifting voice.
“He’s always saying the nicest things, and making everyone feel good about themselves. Butch is one of the most awesome people I’ve ever met. He’s so full of wisdom all the time. He’s always asking you questions that makes your brain think. You think you have the answer and you don’t ever,” she said.
“He was always telling us, ‘have fun, get better. No matter what you’re doing in life, you’ve got to always be having fun and getting better.’”
Hawker can’t do that on the diamond anymore this season, but it’s something she continues to try and do each day in all of her other responsibilities at Bountiful High School by trying to uplift her peers whenever she can.
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