CULLMAN, Ala. – After a memorable 2021 season in which the Lady Bearcats made a deep run in the postseason and got to within one game of going to the state tournament, Cullman’s Emma-Claire Wilson will be one of three seniors on this year’s team and feels blessed to have been a part of their amazing season.
“Our group of teammates is the best team I’ve ever been with. They made it so much fun and we all supported each other. Even if one of us wasn’t doing good, we always supported each other. We are all family. It was so much fun celebrating the huge accomplishment of making it that far,” Wilson said. “It was an unbelievable feeling because we had never been that far, but with them, even though I couldn’t play, I’m happy I got to experience that with them.”
Emma came to Cullman as a sophomore and Head Coach Lawayne Morton has been there for her every step of the way. She has tried to learn as much as she can from him on the field.
“He is so supportive. He’s been so supportive through everything. He’s been there for me whenever I wanted to work a little bit on pitching, hitting, or fielding. He’s been so supportive through this whole entire process,” Wilson said. “I’ve learned respect. Your personality is what truly matters. Talent can only get you so far. You have to learn how to be a great sport and a great person on and off the field.”
Emma got to learn so much from last year’s senior class, Savannah Davis, Carlie Burnham, Dayln Phillips and Faith Guest.
“They were the best leaders I could’ve ever imagined for me and my team. They were the best people that you will ever be around, and we will miss them so greatly this year,” she said. “I learned how to be a great leader and person in general. I learned how to treat the younger players on the team. We had to bring up two girls because we lost a couple of players, and they were so welcoming. They just loved everyone with our whole entire heart, and it was amazing.”
Emma, along with Olivia Britton and Haley Shannon, has tried to help out the younger players a lot over the summer.
“We helped them out a lot. We try to make them feel as welcomed as possible, as welcomed as the seniors last year did. We’re trying to help them work. If they ask for help, we give it to them and we make them feel welcomed and loved as best as we can,” she said. “I have learned a lot, not just about softball, but about what a real team looks like, how to be a family, the connections we make on the team on and off the field, and how great it is to be a part of something like this. Cullman softball is the best family I could’ve ever asked for.”
Emma missed her junior season because of a torn ACL and has set some goals for herself and the team once she gets back to 100% and back on the field.
“My goal is to work as hard as I possibly can, do the best that I can, be the best I can possibly be for myself, and keep having a positive outlook on everything,” she said. “I’m looking to set some school records for home runs, strikeouts, things like that. I’m excited just to get back.”
Emma has been working hard to recover since her injury and she’s received a lot of support from her teammates and her family during the process.
“This has been the hardest moment of my life because I’ve been playing softball since I was four. Dealing with something like this was mentally and physically draining and I didn’t know how to deal with it, but my parents and my teammates, they have been the best people and I never want to go through this without them. I don’t know what I would do if I went through it without them. They’ve been the best people and they’ve supported me through this whole entire process.”
The team’s expectations this season will be sky-high, and Wilson hopes to help the Lady Bearcats bring home a state title in 2023.
“I think we will do really well. I think we will make it as far or further than we did last year because all of the girls are working. The team chemistry is great, and I think it will be a very good season for all of us this year because we show a good work ethic through the whole entire year. Our ultimate goal is to win state. If we made it there, we would be so excited and so unbelievably happy.”
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