One of the best memories Haley Freeman has from playing softball at Franklin came during her junior year. The Panthers were playing at Brevard, and they trailed when she came to the plate with the bases loaded.
Freeman launched the ball over the fence for her first career grand slam. She added another homer later in the important conference victory.
“It’s really extraordinary how well her hitting has come on, especially her power,” FHS coach Bobby Bishop said.
Freeman hit eight home runs as a junior to lead the Panthers. That came after she hit two during her sophomore year.
She had been working hard in the offseason and was eager to have a big senior year. But she got to play only four games.
Unlike the coronavirus pandemic, which halted the season in the blink of an eye, Freeman’s power came gradually.
“It wasn’t like she bulked up a lot,” Bishop said. “I think she just kind of grew into her body a little bit. She’s a tall, lanky kid.”
Freeman will continue her career at Catawba Valley Community College.
FHS athletic director Blair King called Freeman a steady force, and said her fielding abilities as a left fielder and hitting skills will be missed.
“Haley has proven to be a deadly hitter with power that isn’t rivaled by many,” King said.
“If I was asked what CVCC is getting with Haley, I would tell you they are getting a great young lady, and runs.”
Freeman has played softball since she was 7. She tried volleyball and basketball, but neither stuck.
“I play softball because I have a passion for it,” she said. “It’s always been my hobby over everything else. I would rather go and play softball. I love the game. It’s one of my favorite things.”
Freeman has been a starter all throughout her high school career. It was sometime during her sophomore year when she set a goal of playing the sport at the next level.
It was during her junior year when she took a visit to Catawba Valley.
She loved the campus, how it’s set up, and how welcoming everyone was at the school located in Hickory.
FHS went 2-2 in games this spring before the season was put on hold mid-March. Freeman was initially worried she wouldn’t be able to showcase her talents to get recruited by more schools.
Head coach Josh Bumgarner and hitting coach Mia Blochaviak kept in contact with Freeman, and that relationship proved mutually beneficial.
“I didn’t get to contact other coaches due to the season being like this,” Freeman said. “So I was very lucky, I guess.”
A year ago Bumgarner recruited three FHS players to join his program, which was starting its first season this spring. He “jumped” at the chance to add two more in Freeman and Taylor Carlton.
“Both these young ladies bring big-game experience to our club with their recent playoff runs. Both bring a lot of pop in their bat and we will look to reload some of our power hitting with these two,” Bamgarner said.
“Defensively, in the outfield, Haley reads the ball well and can cover some ground, making the hard catches look easy.”
Bamgarner was another reason Freeman cited among the list of attributes she likes about CVCC.
“He seems like a good guy,” she said. “You can tell he’s on a level basis with all of his athletes. He really works with them.”
Freeman intends on studying radiology. Because CVCC is a two-year school, her options include going to a four-year school or possibly returning to Franklin and trying to find a job with her associate’s degree.
She’ll room with Carlton, who has been one of her best friends since age 6 or 7.
Carlton said Freeman’s mentality will pay dividends at the next level.
“She just loves to put in the extra work,” Carlton said. “If I ever ask her to go to the cages, she’ll be right there.”
During the pandemic Freeman been working out on her own, running occasionally, plus hitting in a cage at her house.
She wants to continue working on her fielding and hitting to make the transition to the next level.
Because it’s looking unlikely the season will resume this spring, Freeman isn’t getting her hopes up.
“It’s just very upsetting, all the memories that could be made,” she said.
Freeman is the daughter of Josh and Betina Freeman. She thanked God, her parents, and family and friends who have supported her ever since she was young and played on the Knockouts team.
“Everyone who has pushed me to be the best I can be,” she said.