Former North Union softball player Emily Clark prepares to swing at the ball for the Ohio State Lady Buckeykes. Clark, who played for OSU for four seasons, is now a member of the professional Cleveland Comets team.
(Photo Submitted)
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Emily Clark made a name for herself as a high school athlete at North Union.
Whether it was helping lead the Lady Cat basketball team or the softball squad deep into Division III tournament competition, Clark was one of the catalysts of those NU teams.
As a softball player (infield and catcher) Clark was named to the D-III All-Ohio first team three times and helped lead NU to the state tournament semifinals in 2014 and 2015.
As a hoopster, Clark tallied more than 1,000 career points.
Clark continued her athletic career on the collegiate level four years ago when she decided to play Division I softball at The Ohio State University.
Clark was the second former Lady Cat in recent memory to play for OSU, following in the footsteps of outfielder Caitlin Conrad.
Clark was a mainstay for Ohio State’s softball squad for the past four seasons, playing primarily at second base.
She also would help out at catcher if needed.
Clark was named to All-Big Ten honors twice during her career.
She was also placed on the All-Region (Midwest) squad three seasons of her four-year stint at OSU.
The former NU athlete compiled some impressive statistics along the way.
She finished her four-year collegiate career with 169 RBIs, which ranks third all-time in Lady Buckeye history, and is fifth on the school’s list for home runs with 40.
Clark also became the 13th All-American (third team) in program history when she received that honor for the 2019 campaign.
Clark’s softball career did not end with the Lady Buckeyes’ spring season.
She was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) draft by the Cleveland Comets (formerly the Akron Racers). Clark was the No. 16 overall selection by the league.
The league began regular season play on May 28 and will conclude on Aug. 11.
Teams in the league, along with the Comets, are the Chicago Bandits, USSSA Pride, Beijing Eagles, the Canadian Wild and the Aussie Peppers.
The Comets had posted a 20-23-1 record through the end of July.
Clark’s professional statistics for the 2019 season were not available to the Journal-Tribune.
She did, however, drill a grand-slam homer to help the Comets defeat the Eagles, 6-3, during a game on July 19.
Clark went one-for-two at the plate during the game and flawlessly handled 10 defensive chances at second base.