Warsaw senior catcher Taylor Howe can’t decide what she enjoys more: a home run or throwing out a baserunner. “Oh that’s hard,” she said. “A home run is nice. You don’t get to trot around the bases often. But throwing somebody out is so fun and really brings all the adrenaline and intensity up for everyone. Whether you’re in the dugout, or you’re the coach, or you’re the catcher that threw them out. Especially if it’s an innings-ender. I don’t know, I can’t decide.”
The All-State selection is so feared at the plate that she doesn’t see a lot of pitches to hit.
“She will likely have the most walks this season,” said Warsaw Head Coach Megan Daleske.
And she’s so feared behind the plate that players don’t usually try to steal.
“I don’t anticipate many players trying to steal on her,” said Daleske. “And she’s notorious for the back pick.”
Perhaps she will have more opportunities at the division one level at Evansville, where she’ll play next year.
She’s half the battery that’s been shutting teams down all year. The other half is freshman Brylee Brewster.
“I really look up to her,” said Brylee. “It means a lot to be able to have her catch me too. We play together in [competitive] ball so we are together a lot.”
That team is the Kansas City Peppers. The battery mates have traveled all over the country playing travel ball together.
They even have a favorite road-trip meal.
“I have a thing for chicken,” said Howe.
“Definitely Raising Cane’s,” added Brylee.
Taylor says Brylee is like a little sister to her. And Coach Daleske is counting on that.
“Taylor is a leader in all aspects of the game,” said Daleske.
The Wildcats are hoping Taylor has the same effect catching Brylee as she did on last year’s all-state ace Kalee Fajun.
“It means a lot to me to pass the torch on to her,” said Howe.
The Wildcats have won their district every year since 2017.
But Taylor says they’re looking to end a 12-year drought by winning the state title.
“Every year that I’ve been here we’ve been quarterfinalists,” said Howe. “And we’ve lost to the state champions in the quarterfinals. We are right here and that’s the biggest goal here is to be five-time district champs and then go and get that state qualifier this year.”
