Confident, hard working and devoted are the words used to describe softball pitcher/infielder and sophomore nursing major, Gracie Rabe.

Rabe has been playing softball since she was eight years old with hitting a homerun at her first high school softball game being her favorite memory. Rabe said softball is “big” in her family. Her uncle being her coach is one example and her parents are another. They are her role models because they are hard working, her biggest supporters and always do what she needs them to do.

“I’ve always known I wanted to play softball in college,” Rabe said. “I just worked hard and here I am.”

To guarantee she reached her goal, she practiced all the time, going to batting and pitching lessons and “devoting a lot of time to the sport.” A part of working towards being a college athlete was softball camps at Emporia State. Those camps helped her build connections and eventually helped her choose ESU.

“She’s somebody who came to a lot of camps. She continued to get better over the years as she came and really bought into our philosophies and stuff,” said head coach, April Rosales. “And I thought that was something that was tall tell of her… it was a no brainer for me.” 

Rabe said the reason she chose ESU is because it’s close to home, Rossville, Kan. and she really liked the program, along with ESU’s nursing program.

Rosales described Rabe as “the epitome of a teammate.” Teammate Josie Harrison, senior human health and performance major, called Rabe, “One of the best teammates I’ve ever played with.” Harrison said Rabe is super outgoing and “really knows how to pump up her teammates.”

“I love Gracie’s attitude on the mound,” Harrison said. “My favorite memory of her was (when) we were playing Central Missouri last year and she struck out a girl, so she turned around to the outfield and saluted our outfielders.”

Rabe’s teammate and coach also recognized how she is on the field. Harrison said Rabe has confidence, swag and a chip on her shoulder.

“She also just wants to be in the game,” Rosales said. “The other day we were losing and I took her out, she’s like, ‘Coach, I can get this last out,’ and wanted to go back in, so she’s just a fighter. She’s someone you can count on every day. Not only for pitching but for picking up teammates as we go through a game as well.”

Rosales said Rabe’s confidence is one of her strengths along with knowing when they tell her to do something, she can execute it.

“One of the hardest workers we’ve had,” Rosales said. “I think she’s a kid that has stepped in even from her freshman year to now. She’s put the work in and it’s finally starting to show up on the field. She’s a competitor, she’s gonna go out and get us ground balls, fly balls. She’s gonna have what we call ‘good causes’ so we are excited to see her succeeding because of the hours and work she’s put in.”

Rabe said she continues playing softball for the friendships, staying busy and because she loves the sport.

She has a 2.24 earned run average on the season and during her last game she had seven strikeouts, allowing 11 hits and two runs to win the game 5-2, according to ESU athletics.

Rabe and her fellow Lady Hornets will play at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on April 14 at Pittsburg State as they take on the Gorillas.