Four years ago, Point Loma High softball star Katie McEachern was torching Western League opponents with both her glove and bat, and because of her matching abilities in the classroom was awarded a scholarship to prestigious Dartmouth College of the Ivy League.
After four years as a shortstop wearing the Big Green’s colors, McEachern’s collegiate career can be summarized in one short sentence:
She came, she saw, she conquered.
McEachern last month received the school’s highest athletic honor, the Kenneth Archibald Prize, presented to “the member of the graduating class who has been four years in attendance, who has been the best all-around athlete, regard also being had to moral worth and high standing in scholarship.”
For only the sixth time the award has been given in over 100 years, a tie caused McEachern to share the award with a men’s tennis player.
“I am so thankful I had the opportunity to play college softball,” McEachern said, “and so lucky to be at Dartmouth College. My career is decorated, but my achievements don’t come close to covering the amazing people I’ve met through softball.”
McEachern, who graduates on June 13 with an anthropology major, leaves huge cleats to fill, having set several career records at the historic school opened in 1769 at Hanover, N.H.
No player before her has hit 40 home runs (HR), collected 203 hits (H), 129 runs batted in (RBI), scored 128 (R) run in a total of 166 games played. Her .380 career batting average (BA) is also a Dartmouth record.
In addition, McEachern becomes only the third person in the Ivy League’s long history to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back (2015 and 2016) seasons. She was also a member of the All-Ivy League first team as a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior, the first person in Dartmouth history to accomplish this feat.
In her just-concluded senior season, McEachern was also named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Northeast All-Region first team. Her 2016 totals include a .442 BA, 53 H, 12 HR, 38 R, 33 RBI, an .833 slugging percentage (SP) and a .547 on-base percentage (OBP), all team-leading totals.
McEachern didn’t waste any time letting the Ivy League know the shortstop from San Diego was going to be a star, being named both Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Ivy League in her 2013 freshman season.
During that first season, McEachern became the first player in either Dartmouth or Ivy League history to hit for the cycle and led the Big Green in runs scored and RBI. She stroked 10 HR with a .331 BA and a .634 SP.
As a sophomore in 2014, McEachern again earned first-team All-Ivy League honors, this time in a unanimous vote. She led the team with 54 H, 30 RBI and eight HR. Her .618 SP and 15 doubles set Dartmouth records.
That season saw the Big Green capture the Ivy League championship, where McEachern recorded three hits and five doubles against Penn.
As a junior in 2015, McEachern again added to her record-setting numbers.
Her stats in every category rocketed even higher as she raised her school-record SP to .833, recorded a team-leading .447 BA, a .596 OBP, had 51 H, scored 43 R and drilled another 10 HR, leading her team to its second consecutive Ivy League title.
She was recognized with her first league Player of the Year honor and also named to the NFCA Northeast All-Region second team.
“I’ve worked hard to get to where I am,” McEachern said, “and I’m lucky enough to say I left it all out on the field with no regrets.”
Her top memories include hitting for the cycle during her freshman year.
“The triple was the last thing I completed and I was so invested in the game I didn’t even know I had just completed the cycle. When I reached the dugout, everyone was cheering and super excited for me. I really felt a part of the team from that moment.”
This summer, McEachern is excited about playing for a team in Sweden,
“I plan to be a graduate assistant softball coach,” McEachern added. “I want to pursue a career in athletics and also continue my education by obtaining an MBA. I love coaching and I believe pursuing both coaching and business administration is the next step toward finding my true passion.”
McEachern offered words of advice to young athletes reading her story.
“I want to encourage them to pursue their passions,” she emphasized. “It’s worth it. It doesn’t matter what other people are doing. You might be ‘missing out’ but it’s worth it in the long run. Do what you love and don’t look back.”
