In the parlance of softball, Konawa senior Tyra Yahola is a “slapper”. At the plate she takes the outside pitch and puts the barrel out and slaps it to the opposite field. To be a successful slapper you also need some speed and Tyra is blessed with that. “I run cross-country and track and so that’s really helped me with my speed, and it makes it easier to get an extra base out of hit so I’ve gotten a lot more doubles and triples this year,”
She’s also had some help in learning that art from Destinee Martinez who was a two-time All-Tournament pick at the Women’s College World Series when she played for OU. “She’s my slapper coach and she’s a lot like me. She wasn’t a super powerful hitter, but she always worked hard and she ended up being a great slapper for OU. Her determination to get better really inspired me growing up.”
Her school coach, John Impson, has high praise for the versatile Yahola. “She’s been our rock this year. She’s played third base, shortstop and outfield at some point and is hitting about .475 with a .553 on-base percentage. She always has a smile on her face and as a team leader she’s always the first to pitch in whether it’s cleaning out the dugout, field prep or getting the team organized. She really sets a good example of what we want from our leaders.”
Yahola feels that setting the example is really important as a team leader. “I feel like a lot of these girls might not have a good leader to look up to so that’s been one of my main goals is to be that leader and show them how to do something and pick them up when they need it.”
Getting started in softball happened kind of accidentally for Tyra. “I was on a kids basketball team and our coach formed a T-ball team and I found I really loved the game. Out of all the athletics I do, I love softball the most because I’ve played it so long and it’s taught be a lot of life lessons. My grandma has also been a big part of that as she has always reminded me to have faith in myself and that there’s more to life than softball.”
Tyra, who is also in National Honor Society, Business and Professional Association and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes would like to play softball in college and has been talking with East Central University. She plans on pursuing a dental career after high school.
