Erica Houge, a freshman right-handed pitcher/utility player for WKU Softball, didn’t just stay within the confines of the diamond in high school.
In her hometown of Collins, Iowa, Houge competed in softball, basketball, cross country and track. She acquired multiple athletic and academic achievements, including the all-time scoring record for Collins-Maxwell High School Girls Basketball and valedictorian of her graduating class.
Houge was destined for greatness from the start. Her father coached high school softball before she was born and continued to do so for over 20 years. She and her two older sisters grew up around the game under their dad’s guidance.
Her recently graduated oldest sister was a pitcher for the University of Virginia. Houge’s middle sister is a junior outfielder at DePaul University. Their success only inspired Houge to push herself further and to play college softball.
“I was 14 years old playing 18U…My dad put me in those positions,” Houge said. “I just knew from a young age, since I was around it and my sisters had that goal, that I wanted to have the goal to play in college too.”
Houge played four sports through middle and high school. However, she started playing recreational basketball and softball in first and second grade. She remains in her high school’s record books as the only basketball player to reach the 1,500-point milestone.
“It was really cool, and I’m really proud of it,” Houge said.
Playing college basketball and softball was a possibility, but it would’ve meant committing to a smaller, most likely Division II school. Her hunger to play Division I softball triumphed over her love for basketball.
“I knew what I wanted to do,” Houge said. “I would have loved to play basketball, but I love [softball] more.”
Despite dropping basketball, Houge’s passion for the game is still evident. She watches her high school basketball team’s games via livestream. After dropping basketball, she recalled how differently basketball and softball each impacted her as a competitor.
“[Basketball’s] competitiveness brought out a different side of me,” Houge said. “I just miss…the exciting games and the pressure situations.”
Basketball not only kept Houge in shape for softball, but she said it taught her the importance of keeping her emotions in check while playing. Houge said her developed composure in basketball assists her in pressure situations she faces in collegiate softball.
“My coach sophomore year had to help me through this and I think it left a lasting impact on me that I use now in college,” Houge said on learning to play with composure.
Upon reflection, Houge said she wouldn’t do anything differently regarding her high school athletic career and choosing to play softball at WKU.
“I don’t think I would change anything, [except] just enjoying the time in high school a little bit more,” Houge said. “I loved my high school experience, so no complaints.”
Sports Reporter Adrianna Lein can be reached at adrianna.lein265@topper.wku.edu.
