Erika Coreth is the 15th in school history to collect 100-hits on the softball team
Washington Township High School senior Erika Coreth had her 100th career hit at the Minutemaid softball game May 3. She is the 15th player in school history to achieve the milestone.
When Coreth was 5 years old, she joined the local t-ball team, not knowing it would be something she’d grow and thrive in for years to come. Growing up, she played a number of sports, however, upon entering high school, she had to pick one, and softball was her favorite, she said.
“I love that it’s a team sport,” Coreth said. “You can’t really just play for yourself, everyone has to work together to win.”
According to Coreth, the idea of her 100th hit became a reality this year when varsity coach Tracy Burkhart told her she was getting close.
“It’s not that I didn’t think I could do it, but it wasn’t on my mind,” Coreth said. “My mind was on the season, the games and winning, and this is just icing on the cake.”
When Coreth’s bat struck the ball with a hit during the 5–0-victory game against Bishop Eustace, she said her teammates ran onto the field to celebrate.
“It’s probably one of the best moments of my entire life,” Coreth said. “The team and all of the girls, it’s really a family and you don’t need anybody else except for them.”
At the time, the Minutemaids were approaching the playoffs, beginning at the end of the month, with a 14–5 record. As the first this year to reach her 100th hit, Coreth, the team’s co-captain, is ready to focus on preparing for playoffs and cheering on her teammates as they approach their 100th hits as well.
Coreth is the first to reach the milestone since 2015 when former player Jess Hughes hit 208, and Lauren Sandelier and Kelli Gaffney hit 100. This year, there is one other player who might join the club alongside Coreth, having more than 90 hits at the time of Coreth’s achievement.
“I was so nervous while I was batting that I wasn’t going to get a hit, but I did it first at bat so it was a big relief,” Coreth said. “It’s a milestone. At that point when you reach it, you can kind of relax, breathe and really enjoy the rest of your senior year. Now I can just focus on playoffs and the other girls getting their 100th hits. I’m excited for them, too.”
According to Burkhart, since Coreth became co-captain two years ago, alongside catcher Dominique Fiorentino, Coreth has grown as a strong leader for the team.
“It’s nice seeing all the kids grow and get better every year, intellectually and in the sport,” Burkhart said. “Erika has really grown these last two years being a leader of the team. This is a great accolade to have and she totally deserves it, she’s worked hard for it.”
Coreth, the Minutemaid’s first baseman, has committed to Monmouth University to play catcher for the Hawks softball team. She plans to major in biology and enter into the medical field after college. She said while she’s excited to focus on her team and college season, her first priority is to do well in school.
