By Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
Wetumpka graduate Ella Watson made the most of her career for the Indians, both at the plate and in the pitching circle. She will continue her softball career at the next level playing for the University of West Alabama in Livingston, Alabama.
Watson was named First Team All-County by the Wetumpka Herald in both her junior and senior seasons. As a junior, Watson hit .370 with seven home runs and 47 RBIs as the Indians won the Class 6A State Championship. Pitching, Watson went 15-2 with an Earned Run Average of 1.42. She had 106 strikeouts in 118 innings. In addition to All County honors, Watson was also named 2023 Honorable Mention All-State in Class 6A by the Alabama Sportswriters Association.
As a senior, Watson earned First Team All-County honors again, and was named 2nd Team All-State as a pitcher. In her final season, Watson hit .407 with eight home runs and 59 RBIs, while she went 19-2 with a 1.77 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings, as the Indians again made the Class 6A State Tournament.
The Wetumpka graduate has played softball for 14 years and is thankful for the Indians’ fans that came to support the team through her career. “I appreciate all the fans coming to support every home and away game. It’s nice to look up to people cheering you on whether you are winning or losing.”
While helping the Indians win the Class 6A 2023 state championship will always be a source of pride, Watson also recalled another moment in her high school career that she will remember. “My favorite memory playing for Wetumpka would be my 9th grade year when we went to the beach during spring break. I felt like the team got so much closer during that time and everyone just had fun.”
Watson decided to commit to play collegiately at the University of West Alabama after making a strong connection with the current players and coaching staff, and going on several visits to the school, to include an official visit. “I am committed to West Alabama, and what made me choose it was the amazing coaches who really put interest in me, and the amazing girls who are on the team who were at camps and were really nice. I knew they all had such good bonds.”
Her strong connection with the coaches was an important factor in the decision-making process. “Some of the coaches were important in my decision-making process like Coach Mekhi. When she would be at the camps I was at, she was always such a great hype person and was always cheering for any and everyone there. She is such a ball of energy and so fun and I’m so glad she has decided to stay one of the coaches on the team after being the graduate assistant coach. Coach Defeo, at camps and going on my visit, put special interest in me and the way the girls on the team were able to talk to her and laugh with her really made look at it like I would love it here. Coach Buddy would always be at travel ball games watching me and the other girls play and giving feedback I needed at camps and after games. It really made me want to improve myself because I know I wanted to be there.”
Watson plans to attend the University of West Alabama in the fall and study Health Sciences with a Minor in Sports Psychology.
