HOWE’S KRISALYN PATTERSON
By Buck Ringgold
Krisalyn Patterson definitely had a great memory this past fall.
Playing on Howe’s fast pitch softball team, she played an integral role in helping the Lady Lions make it all the way into the championship round of the Class 2A playoffs.
“It was definitely exciting,” Patterson said. “It was a great experience, and getting to play in the state finals with my teammates and sister (Kali) was a one of a kind moment that I will never forget.”
Now, Krisalyn Patterson is determined to experience similar success this spring as she suits up for Howe’s slow pitch softball squad.
“I think we’re gonna be really good,” Patterson said. “I think we’re gonna have a great chance on making it to the state playoffs.”
A sophomore, Patterson is an infielder for the Lady Lions, primarily playing third and first base, but she can also pitch as well.
She has put in plenty of work in the offseason to build on her fast pitch campaign from the fall.
“I go to our hitting facility and work on hitting and pitching,” Patterson said.
While Patterson (along with her sister) currently plays on the Howe basketball team, another squad that traditionally knows a thing or two about making deep postseason runs, there still remains a deep connection to softball.
It’s a sport Patterson has loved from an early age.
“My mom and my uncle put us in the youth leagues for tee ball,” Patterson said. “I loved it and have been playing ever since.
“I love the opportunities I get from playing, and I have a genuine love for this sport.”
And Patterson has continued to play softball outside of school, having competed on a travel squad.
There are still plenty of vivid memories that Patterson has been able to conjure up from softball. Prevalent among those was during the Lady Lions’ run to the Class 2A championship game in fast pitch last fall.
“I couldn’t really choose (her favorite moment from playing softball), so I chose two,” Patterson said. “One is when I hit a grand slam against Tushka in (the super regionals), and second is when we beat Dale to advance to the semis at state.”
Patterson’s grand slam came in the opening game of the super regionals against Tushka on Oct. 2, as the Lady Lions cruised to a 7-2 win. The Lady Lions then clinched a trip to Oklahoma City after getting the sweep in the second game, 3-2.
The 3-0 quarterfinal win against Dale avenged a regular-season loss. Howe then reached the title game after a 5-2 win against Preston, but the Lady Lions’ title bid came up just short in a 2-1 loss to Oktaha.
Still, Patterson enjoyed being able to play at Devon Park and is ready to finish the job not only next fall but this upcoming spring with the Lady Lion slow pitch squad.
She’s also a tremendous student in the classroom, keeping straight A’s. After her high school career comes to an end, Patterson plans to be a cosmetologist.
Before that, though, Patterson wants to continue building off of what she and her Howe teammates did last fall and make some more postseason memories.
