Senior Spotlight: Holly Ward

By: McRae Clay, MSU Athletic Communications

When she was three years old, she picked up a softball. It wasn't long after that she joined a tee ball team. At that point in her budding career, it would be impossible to detect the impact the game of softball would have on MSU senior pitcher Holly Ward.

After growing up in tee ball and recreation leagues, Ward began competitively playing the game of softball at the age of 12. She was on a travel team that would play around her home state of Alabama. Ward is from Hayleyville, a small town in the Yellowhammer State.

Once she hit the seventh grade, she played for the varsity squad at Hayleyville High School; and after her sophomore year, Ward took a visit to a summer camp at Mississippi State. After her first trip to Starkville, she knew it was home. As soon as she arrived freshman year, she was embraced by the Bulldog family immediately.

"I love it here. I just love Starkville. All the restaurants in the town know us by name. We are not just supported on campus, but the whole community is behind us," Ward said.

She started in just 12 games as a freshman, and her career has skyrocketed since. She currently sits sixth in the record books for strikeouts (297), tied for sixth for shutouts (9), tied for seventh in saves (6), ninth for strikeouts per seven innings (5.51) and tied for ninth in opponent batting average (.238).

Ward's first Southeastern Conference win came her sophomore year versus Auburn, but one of her most memorable games in Maroon and White came against Alabama on March 18, 2017. She provided the Bulldogs with a dominating performance in the circle and earned her second SEC win of her career. Her first two conference wins would be against the two SEC teams from her home state of Alabama.

How would Ward begin her senior campaign for the Bulldogs? By tossing MSU's first perfect game in over 20 seasons.

The record books may never forget Ward's name; but when it is all said and done, that isn't why she loves the game of softball. That isn't why Ward loves Mississippi State.

"Every little girl who comes to our games and supports us has a dream like I did. It is so awesome to be able to represent my hometown and those little girls," Ward said. "I am just a girl from a small town in Alabama. It is incredible that I can be proof to those girls that they can accomplish their dreams."

Ward cannot imagine herself without the game of softball. It has been a huge part of her life since she was a child. She said her parents were an extremely large part of the reason she is where she is today. No matter what, wether she is having a great day in the circle or not her best outing, Ward is constantly encouraged by the never failing support of her parents.

Ward says It is difficult to explain in words the impact the game of softball has had on her. It has been a constant in her life that is fueled by love, respect and passion for the game. Softball has paved the way for friendships, like with Ward's teammate, best friend and roommate since freshman year, Morgan Bell. Softball has challenged her and forced her to continually strive to be the best version of herself.

"I have grown so much as a person, and it just keeps going back to things I learned on the field." Ward said.

Softball has also provided her with a coach, mentor and friend in head coach Vann Stuedeman.

"She has just helped me so much," Ward said. "Yes, as a pitcher, but more importantly, she has helped me develop as a person. She has really influenced me, and I have so much respect and love for her."

Unfortunately for Ward, all good things must come to an end. Her days in a Bulldog uniform are numbered and rapidly dwindling, but she hopes her legacy of being a great teammate and a great person on and off the field is remembered for a long time.

"The stats and records, that's great," Ward said. "But I'd rather be remembered for my character."

Ward plans to stay around the MSU dugout for a little bit longer. She will join the Bulldog coaching staff as a student assistant next season and graduate next May with a double major in management and marketing. Then she plans to do two years of graduate school as a graduate assistant for the softball team.

Ward's long-term plans include becoming a coach. She wants to continue to promote and teach the sport that has opened so many doors for her. She does not take for granted the opportunity to be playing softball in the Southeastern Conference and would hope to stay and learn from the SEC as long as it will have her.

Before she trades in her uniform for a coaching polo, Ward and the Bulldogs have more history to write.

She will spend the last few months of her playing career laughing, working hard and making memories with her teammates. The softball program at MSU is better because of Holly Ward, and like one of her pitches, she too has been "changed up" for the better.

Holly Ward and the 2018 senior class will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday, May 6 versus Tennessee at 2 p.m. CT.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Morgan Bell

Holly Ward

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