DeKalb shortstop earns POY behind her .543 season
DeKALB – With her batting average falling between her freshman and sophomore seasons, Mallory Warner was looking for a big bounce back in her season campaign.
The DeKalb junior shortstop did so in record-setting fashion and was named the Daily Chronicle 2018 Softball Player of the Year.
"I knew last year was a little rough compared to my freshman year," Warner said. "I was just working hard throughout the summer and winter, doing strength conditioning. I was trying to make this one of my best years. And it turned out really good."
Warner set a program record with a .543 batting average and 34 RBIs – even though the Barbs had seven games postponed due to weather, coach Jeff Davis said.
She also belted five homers and reached base at a .467 clip.
Warner was a second baseman as a freshman, pitched some in 2017, and played outfield before finally settling in at shortstop this year.
"I just think I'm a utility player," Warner said. "I can pretty much play anywhere," Warner said. "I feel totally comfortable playing anywhere, except catcher obviously. Wherever my coach needs me, I know I can do it."
Davis said that flexibility is one of her top traits.
"She was willing to go to the outfield, and she did that at the beginning of the year," Davis said. "We found a need for her to be in the infield. She never said a word about it. She said whatever's best for the team. That speaks volumes to who Mal is and how bad she wants to win."
Neither knew which position she'll be playing next year, with Warner saying she'll play where the teams need her.
One thing Warner was certain of, however was that she expected much bigger things team-wise for the Barbs, who struggled throughout the year.
"Our team did a nice job but we missed that person that could dominate to shut some teams down, keep us in a one-run ballgame," Davis said. "I don't want to say Mallory is a great player on a bad team. Mallory is a great player on a young team. That team is going to be a little more mature next year. Who knows who we've got coming into maybe fill some spots. I feel next year is going to be a really, really good year for us."
The Barbs made the 4A state tournament when Warner was a freshman. In her final year, she said she plans on using that experience to become a team leader.
"I think we'll be definitely more solid because I think we had to get used to each other this year," Warner said. "We have a couple new underclassmen coming up. I think next year we should be ready to compete, and I think it's going to be great as long as we keep working hard."
Given the improvement Warner shown between 2017 and 2018 – she hit .333 as a sophomore after a .364 showing as a freshman – Davis expects huge things for her in 2019.
"I think she's going to have a great senior year," Davis said. "This year, being her third year on varsity, a lot of the coaches knew her and knew she had a little bit of and off season. Three-thirty-something is off, for her, cause she hits so dang well. But I think next year with our team being a little more mature and better, they're going to have to pitch to her.
"She never really got up there trying to do to much or swinging at bad pitches," he said. "She had a great year and has a lot to be proud of."
Daily Chronicle 2018 Softball All-Area team Player of the year – Mallory Warner, jr., SS, DeKalb