It took one unofficial campus visit to Houston Christian University for it all to sink in for Sarah Stevens.
Conversations with the coaching staff preached a family environment. In talking with administration throughout the athletic department – from coaches to trainers – most of them are alums of HCU.
Decision on easy mode?
A resounding yes.
“It is very homey and I enjoyed that,” the Tumwater High School senior-to-be said.
A month after being offered by the Huskies at a club tournament, Stevens made the commitment official on social media last week, solidifying her choice to play for the Division I program in the Southland Conference.
She becomes the second straight ace pitcher for the Thunderbirds to commit to a DI program, following in the footsteps of Ella Ferguson, currently at Sacramento State.
“I always had a standard for myself,” Stevens said. “I always wanted to go DI. Summer before my freshman year was when it all clicked. And here we are.”
This spring was the first time Stevens stepped into the spotlight as the top pitcher for Tumwater and she posted 181 strikeouts in the circle. At the plate, her regular season numbers featured a .378 batting average, an OPS in the quadruple digits alongside five home runs and 27 RBIs.
She immersed herself in the heart of the order and provided a lefty power bat for the T-Birds, who fell short one game away from qualifying for the Class 2A state tournament.
Her goals for her final prep season are short and sweet.
“Go out my senior year with a bang, I want to go to state,” Stevens said. “I am confident in my group of girls.”
For two years, Stevens watched Ferguson dominate the circle and blossom into one of the most lethal arms in the Evergreen Conference. They built a friendship in the dugout and it blossomed into an unbreakable bond.
Stevens called Ferguson her “rock” and said they still text back and forth all the time. Stevens and her family went to see her former teammate play last season.
“She means the most to me and I am forever thankful for that,” Stevens said. “I’m thankful for the relationship and friendship we have now. She definitely is that big sister I’ve never had.”
Her older brother Dylan, a stout soccer player for Tumwater and now at Central Washington for football, always brought out the competitive mindset. To this day, they still try to one-up each other.
“We are the best of friends,” Stevens said. “Having an older brother who is athletic and good at sports, he pushes me. I’m proud of him and I know he’s proud of me.”
It was at the IDT Tournament in Colorado that started the initial conversation between new HCU head coach Bert Emanuel and Stevens. Playing for the NW Bullets out of Oregon, Stevens landed the offer from the Huskies.
Emanuel takes over for a legend in Mary Ellen-Hall, who retired after 35 years at the helm and over 900 career wins.
“I really liked his whole philosophy on coaching and how he ran things,” Stevens said. “He is very big on family and making sure the team is one family. Very big on nutrition, training your body and mindset.
“He’s focused on not only winning games, but preparing for life outside of softball.”
Stevens plans on majoring in Pre-Law with the ambition to become a lawyer. While she will be away from her immediate family, she does have family in the Houston area to lean on.
Two individuals she gives plenty of credit to are Aaron Rebhahn, her current club coach, and Mike Sugg, who has been her recruiting coordinator.
“Those two and my parents have always believed in me,” Stevens said. “They were always there. Me growing as a player, as a pitcher, those two put it in my head that I am confident and I am a good pitcher. If I make a mistake, I can bounce back.”
HCU finished 11-36 a season ago and just eight wins in the Southland Conference. Stevens is hopeful her pop in the batter’s box and her ability as a southpaw arm will create a dynamic for the Huskies that can lead them to victories down the line.
“He (Emanuel) really wanted some southpaws in his staff and he really liked my offspeed and movements,” Stevens said. “Still (plenty to) work on and strive to be better.”
