The number is always a reminder for Morgan Ellenberger.
The Hobart junior pitcher wears No. 25 as a tribute to her late mother Jen, whose birthday was March 25 and remains one of the inspirations for Ellenberger’s softball career. Jen Ellenberger died in 2017.
“Growing up, she was always my No. 1 supporter,” Morgan Ellenberger said. “So I play for her.”
Ellenberger also said many of her early memories involve softball or baseball games — hers, her brothers’ and her father Jason’s.
“It was kind of like my escape from everything,” she said. “I’d watch all of my family play when I was little. Growing up around all of it has made me become the player I am, and it’s why I have this drive to play.”
That drive has made Ellenberger the ace for the Brickies (4-2) for the first time in her three-year varsity career. She’s 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA in four appearances this season, and at the plate she has a single, two doubles and a triple in seven at-bats.
Ellenberger went 7-4 record with a 3.99 ERA in 73 ? innings as a freshman and went 2-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 69 innings last year.
Sophomore catcher Emili Knestrict has noticed the difference in Ellenberger this season.
“Her mound presence is very much there this year,” Knestrict said. “On every pitch, she’s fist-pumping in the air or looking around at her infielders and hyping everyone up.”
Hobart coach Steve Moss sees a more confident Ellenberger this season.
“The biggest change has been with her mental attitude,” Moss said. “She used to get really rattled when things happened to her, but she’s done a better job of containing that and staying within herself. We’re seeing some of the personal growth in her with what she wants to accomplish.”
Knowing she would have a larger role, Ellenberger said she spent the offseason trying to perfect the movement on her pitches.
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“I’d rather have spin over speed,” she said. “I really drilled hard on that during all of my softball tournaments, to hit my spots.”
Ellenberger, who wants to play softball in college, believes consistently retiring hitters is the best way she can help Hobart win the Northwest Crossroads Conference title. She said she’s eyeing the program’s single-season record of 82 strikeouts. She already has 35 strikeouts in 22 innings.
“This year I’m going for school records to try to make a name for myself,” Ellenberger said. “Being at my best on the mound is really going to help us.”
Moss pointed out that it’s not just about piling up numbers for Ellenberger.
“She’s asking for those big games, and that’s meaningful that she wants to pitch in those games,” Moss said.
Remembering her mother, Ellenberger will take the ball at every opportunity.
“She always supported me, and I know she would’ve wanted me to keep playing,” she said. “She and my dad, they were my biggest influences.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.