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Ariel Kowalewski, Travis
FAT BOY'S PIZZA Player of Month: Travis' Kowalewski leaves legacy before becoming a Gator
Travis softball returns to the diamond this Spring on a mission to earn their third-consecutive District 20-6A Title, while also making a push for some hardware in the postseason.
Fortunately for the Tigers, they’ll have an All-American headlining the team yet again.
Senior catcher/RHP Ariel Kowalewski enters her final year at THS as the back-to-back Unanimous 20-6A MVP, and it wouldn’t be a shock if she ends her high school career with a third. Despite Travis’ defeat to Cinco Ranch in the Bi-District round of last year’s UIL postseason, she has high expectations for this season and hopes to lead her team to greatness.
“We want to win district again and go deeper in the playoffs, than we did last year,” said Kowaleski. “We’re going to do the best we can. Furthermore, I want to leave this school knowing that I was a good leader on and off the field, and always helped my teammates do their best.”
Kowalewski, the youngest of the three children in her family, began her softball journey at a young age when she was compelled to join in.
“Both of my sisters [Ashley and Amber] played softball for a very long time,” she said. “They didn’t end up continuing through college, but they played through high school. I was inspired by my sisters and I wanted to be like them, so just got into the game. I’ve just always been a hard worker and it was my dream to play in college. I just put my mind to it.”
Kowalewski’s dream has come true, considering she will be continuing her softball career at the collegiate level. She signed with the University of Florida in November and will anchor the Gators’ battery for years to come.
“I loved the coaches at Florida… I loved the feel of the campus… I loved everything about it,” Kowalewski said. “The school just felt like home. Playing softball there should be an amazing experience and I hope the school helps me to realize my future. I hope to be an engineer, with two dogs and a family of my own one day.”
Anticipate another stellar season from Ariel Kowalewski and the Travis Tigers. She certainly will.
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Competing Against Herself: Brown ready for junior campaign
AVA BROWN CAN RATTLE OFF HER STATS FROM THE 2021 SEASON ON COMMAND.
It is not because she is bragging about them, but rather just reiterating the numbers that she is setting out to beat this upcoming season.
The Lake Creek junior, who is verbally committed to Florida and considered one of the top prospects in the country for the Class of 2023, doesn’t compare herself to other players in the area. She doesn’t measure up her stats against others.
All she focuses on is – Ava Brown vs. Ava Brown.
“I feel like if I play to the best of my abilities, then I could be one of the best. But I like to compare myself to myself from last year,” Brown said. “I’m not trying to beat anybody else’s stats. I’m trying to beat my own and trying to one-up myself.
“I know I hit 17 home runs last year, so my goal is 20. My ERA was 0.92, so I’m trying to get that down to 0.50. I want more strikeouts. I want to have less walks. I’m trying to compete with myself on how I can get better. Because I know if I can beat those numbers, I provide for my team.”
Brown will be the ace in the circle for the Lions and a major weapon at the plate coming off the year she had as a sophomore. In 2021, she hit .591 with 65 RBIs with a 16-0 record in the circle and 167 strikeouts to just six walks.
In the opening game of the 2022 campaign, Brown picked up where she left off with a no-hit, five-inning performance with 15 strikeouts and no walks in a 14-0 win over Tomball. She also went 4 for 4 at the plate with a home run and three RBIs.
So, it looks like her offseason work paid off. With her select season ending early, Brown took November, December and a little bit of January to hone her skills. As did her teammates.
“We all knew this offseason what we had to do to get stronger and faster,” Brown said. “Even now, we know our goals and I feel like every single girl in that dugout is willing to reach the same goals as the person next to them.”
Last season, Brown saw their season end in the Regional Finals against Barbers Hill – who went on to win the Class 5A State Championship – in an extra-innings walk-off.
“It definitely gave us something to work for,” Brown said. “We all know how far we made it last year … We don’t want to get back there and go home again. That was not fun.”
While the team focuses in on that State run in 2022, Brown made a big choice of her own committing to Florida this offseason. After attending a camp and eventually going on an official visit, the mutual feeling of want between her and being a Gator was recognized.
“I felt like it was a home away from home. It was very welcoming, very comfortable … I just felt very welcomed and wanted,” Brown said. “I felt like I found a school that wanted me just as much as I wanted to go there.”