Emmy Guthrie laughs when she recalls one of her first interactions with University of Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso.
“That’s actually such a funny story,” recalled the recent Lone Grove Longhorn graduate. “The first time I went to an OU camp, I had my helmet on. The only helmet I had at the time was my Lone Grove helmet, with a Longhorn on it. I remember Coach Gasso was like, ‘Hey, come here real quick.’ She was like, ‘Why are you wearing that’? I told her, I promise it’s my high school, and she said, ‘Oh ok, that’s fine.’ It was so funny.”
Guthrie may have to leave her high school gear at home when she reports to Norman in August, but until then, she’s happy to rep the school she helped lead to two state championship game appearances.
“It was amazing,” said Guthrie on her high school career. “I wish I could have brought home a state championship. Those losses in the state tournament, I honestly think they taught me more in life than a win ever would have. Everyone showed up every single day and we played hard and with a purpose every practice and every game. I’m just really thankful for the four years I had at Lone Grove.”
Despite not winning a state championship, Guthrie capped off an incredible senior season by compiling a 28-2 record on the mound, with a 0.69 ERA and 310 strikeouts in 163 innings pitched. She also hit .484 with 29 RBI.
For her efforts, Guthrie was recently named the 2020-21 Gatorade Oklahoma Softball Player of the Year.
“I remember every time I would go in there to pitch as a little kid, I would look at it and that was my motivation,” added Guthrie. “So now, to have that banner that’s going to be placed in there next to hers and have some other girl look at that, it just means so, so much to me.”
Not only does the Gatorade honor celebrate success on the field, it also rewards student-athletes who excel in the classroom and in their community. Along with her impressive athletic achievements, Guthrie graduated near the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA.
“I think being successful in softball is one thing, but it goes far beyond softball,” claimed Guthrie. “Eventually softball will end, and I want to be a successful person in life. I want to have successful relationships. If you learn to work hard in everything you do, then that will transfer over into your life off the field also.”
Guthrie watched with excitement as her soon-to-be Sooner softball teammates recently won the national championship in Oklahoma City. She was unable to attend as a fan, however, as a bout with pneumonia sidelined her from attending the WCWS.
“Sadly, I was stuck at home,” said Guthrie, who committed to the Sooners as a high school freshman. “It was amazing, though. It made me even more excited to get there. The way those girls played, the passion they have for the game, the way they play for God, I just love everything they stand for. It just made me even more ready to be up there with them.”
Guthrie has a couple of tournaments remaining with her summer team, Texas Glory, before she makes the 87-mile trek north to Norman to begin her college career. The right-hander has added a couple of new pitches to her repertoire to prepare her for the college game.
“I talked to my OU coaches and since I throw up so much in the zone, they wanted me to really work on going down,” stated Guthrie. “Now I have a drop ball and a curve-drop. Adding those two pitches is really going to help me as I go to OU.”
“I’m just going to go in every single day, work as hard as I can, give it my all, and what happens will happen,” added Guthrie. “I think if I’m working as hard as I can and giving 100 percent, then I have a chance to be successful.”
