Megan Overton has several roles on the Greenwood softball team.
She embraces each.
Pitching, fielding, hitting and leadership, Overton provides the Woodmen with a little bit — or rather, a lot — of everything.
It’s why she’s a Boston College recruit and one of the state’s top players.
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“She’s got something inside that just flips when it comes to game time,” Greenwood coach Greg Norwood said. “The way she runs the bases, the way she hits the ball, she just leads not only with her pitching but her hitting, her base running.
“We use her as an example for almost every avenue.”
A four-year starter and multitasker, Overton is the personification of a complete player.
She’s Greenwood’s No. 1 pitcher, is one of its top three hitters and fielders and is, not surprisingly, a major reason why the Woodmen (11-6) are above .500 despite a host of sophomores and freshmen in the starting lineup.
One of only two seniors on the team, she has taken it upon herself to be a leader. Period.
“I knew our team was young, and so I’ve really tried to focus on building them up,” Overson said. “We’ve accomplished a lot with how young we are.
“We still have a lot to learn just because in tight games we’re not able to get over the hump, but I think we’re pretty good right now.”
Winners of eight of their past 11 games, the Woodmen have picked a good time to trend in the right direction. The Johnson County Tournament begins tonight at Center Grove, and the Woodmen — youth notwithstanding — like their chances of winning it.
Greenwood has a first-round bye and the short route to the championship game should it make it through the semifinal. If the Woodmen do advance, they are likely to meet Class 4A No. 3 Center Grove in the title game.
Center Grove also has a first-round bye and is the defending county champion as well as a defending state champion.
“In the past, it’s always been us and Center Grove (in the final),” Overton said. “I honestly feel like whoever shows up that day and actually wants it more is going to win that game.
“I think we have a chance just as much as they do to win.”
Again, Overton is a huge reason why.
On the mound, she is 11-4 with a 1.77 ERA and 88 strikeouts. At the plate, she’s hitting .421 with team-leading totals of 23 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.
In the field, she plays shortstop when she’s not pitching. She has a .959 fielding percentage and has committed only two errors.
Her numbers are commensurate with last year’s impressive production, when she hit .418, stole 37 bases and was 14-3 on the mound with 160 strikeouts.
This season, she’s coupled statistical proliferation with veteran leadership.
“Just the way she communicates, she’s just really turned into a much more complete player,” Norwood said. “She’s not a selfish player.
“She and (senior) Paige (Wilson) have just been able to realize how young the team is and how important it is for these kids to feel comfortable and just go out there and play the game instead of feeling pressure.”
For Overton, it’s all in a day’s work. She loves the game, loves her teammates and looks forward to playing at Boston College.
That is, after she completes unfinished business with the Woodmen.
“I knew our team was young. We just need to get more experience,” Overton said. “I’ve really tried to focus on building them up and then also building myself up so that I’ll be ready for next year.”
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Name: Megan Overton
High cchool: Greenwood
Sport: Softball
Year: Senior
Positions: Pitcher/shortstop
Experience: Four-year starter
College plans: Will attend Boston College on a softball scholarship
Hobbies: Basketball, baking
Favorite TV show: “Cupcake Wars”
Favorite movie: “Cinderella Story”
Family: Parents are Earl and Laura Overton; older sister, Rachel, is sophomore on the Indiana State University softball team
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