Katie Dack-Howell, a junior catcher for the Rock Canyon softball team, said blocking low pitches that were in the dirt was one of her strengths this season, but that was overlooked because of her power as a hitter.

Dack-Howell, who attends Lutheran High School but played for Rock Canyon since the Lions did not have a softball team in the fall, is the 2019 Colorado Community Media South Metro Softball Player of the Year.

She led the Continental League in five offensive categories. She finished the season with a .574 batting average, 11 home runs, a 1.344 slugging percentage, 40 runs batted in and a .671 on base percentage in 22 games played.

“I am very honored to be player of the year but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” said Dack-Howell who has verbally committed to play softball at Texas A&M. “I feel like the whole season was pretty good for me. I had a good season. I was very happy for what I accomplished. Blocking was one of my strengths this year but I hit the ball really well this season. I was seeing the ball really well.”

Rock Canyon coach Mike Desimone said Dack-Howell had an exceptional season.

“Katie is a once-in-a-generation athlete,” he said. “The work ethic, the intensity and the coaching ability — and I have been blessed to coach her. The achievement of what she put together this year was the culmination of the effort she has put in for many years.

“There is no one more deserving because no one works harder than she does. People lose sight of all of her skills because her batting skills are so outstanding. They lose sight of the fact that she rarely if ever gives up a passed ball. She makes the players around her better.”