Freedom’s Kadance Ward signs with Catawba Valley CC for softball
Freedom softball senior Kadance Ward will continue her playing career at the next level after signing with Hickory's Catawba Valley Community College on Wednesday.
As a junior, Ward hit .268 with 15 hits, eight RBIs, three doubles, a triple and 13 runs scored, also tying for the team lead with six stolen bases. Ward posted a .757 fielding percentage with 28 putouts and 28 assists.
Ward's sophomore season saw her hit .214 with 12 hits, five RBIs, three doubles and 13 runs scored with two stolen bases. Her fielding percentage was .676 with 24 putouts and one assist.
And as a freshman, Ward hit .250 with three hits and 12 runs scored, stealing two bases. She had a .889 fielding percentage with six putouts and two assists.
Ward said she likes the opportunity to stay close to home and already has plans for what she wants to study at CVCC.
"I really liked how close it was and I really liked the people when I went to their camps," Ward said. "Everybody seemed really nice and funny, and that was a big thing for me. It feels like it could be another home like Freedom is for me.
"I like the campus. I plan on taking turf and lawn management. I'm planning on doing something in horticulture, so that was a big reason for me to go there."
FHS softball coach Connor Townsend praised Ward for her toughness on the diamond and sees CVCC as a good fit for the player.
"First and foremost, she's just a great teammate and fun to be around," Townsend said. "She's fun to coach. Her teammates love her. She's one of those kids who's gritty, always going to get dirty, going to dive, going to make the extra effort. She'll do what she can to make us successful overall, and I think that puts her at the next level pretty easily when you have that kind of work ethic and ethic.
"I think she's going to benefit from being close to home. She's close to her family. Not having to adjust everything allows her to focus on softball and continue pushing herself forward in all those aspects. I think they'll give her some opportunity for a broader vision moving forward to the next college. It'll be a good fit for her."
Ward has played a variety of positions for the Lady Patriots, both in the infield and the outfield, but expects to settle in the outfield for the Red Hawks.
"I think I'll probably play outfield for them," Ward said. "(Going on to a four-year university) is the plan. That's why I chose a community college, so that I could go to a bigger school and have the choice of going (NCAA Division I), possibly."
Townsend said she believes Ward's intangibles allow her to be successful at any spot.
"We've played her in the outfield and, last year, she played some second base for us," Townsend said. "She's very capable anywhere on the field. She has a great jump on the ball. She's going to dive and get dirty and do what it takes to make those plays. Her ability to play on the field anywhere is mainly, I think, due to her skill set and her never-give-up mentality."
Ward still has a season to go for the Lady Patriots and hopes to build on last year's 8-16 mark, which was a marked improvement from 4-18 the season before.
"I'm hoping that we will win more this season," Ward said. "I hope we can beat Ashe County again this year."
Townsend said that Ward will be integral to Freedom's success this spring.
"I want to see continued leadership," Townsend said. "I want to continue having to scrub her jersey extra from being on the ground. She's going to have a couple black eyes, like always, just from being extra-tough. She'll have continued toughness and continued leadership, setting an example and being a leader by example. I look for this senior group to do big things this year."
Even with a season left to go, Ward has plenty of good times with the Lady Patriots to look back on already.
"One of my favorite memories is from my freshman year when we went up to Black Mountain to play jelly ball, which is like paintball with Orbeez. That was a lot of fun. There's a lot that we've done. We make a lot of good memories."
Ward also acknowledged the importance of her family to her softball career.
"I'd like to thank my parents," Ward said. "They've never pressured me, just helped me."
Justin Epley can be reached at or .
