What is Hannah Bowen going to do for an encore after driving in an amazing 97 runs on just 72 hits as a junior?
The standout St. Joseph-Ogden (St. Joseph, Ill.) second baseman now is No. 2 in softball history in RBI, with the record standing at 105 since 1993. 
Hannah Bowen, St. Joseph-Ogden
Photo courtesy of Jan McNeilly
Coach Randy Wolken says that the 5-foot-7 Bowen "has got good power for her size. She’s a good gap hitter. She set a (school) triples record with 11 as a sophomore. With people on base, she’s pretty reliable and really consistent. With two strikes and two outs, she picks it up."
Bowen, who has committed to Oklahoma State University, batted an outstanding .563 this year to help her team post a 34-4 record. She slammed 20 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, scored 63 runs and stole 24 bases in 24 attempts. She struck out just three times in 128 at-bats.
The standout junior agrees that, "I usually do better with a little pressure. It gives me more motivation (with runners in scoring position). My job is easy. All I have to do is take the ball to the right side."
Her prolific run production was made much easier by having two outstanding hitters preceding her in the lineup. They also have great speed and are very adept at stealing bases. And both also will return next year.
Leadoff hitter Stephanie Canfield, a 5-9 sophomore centerfielder who has committed to the University of Arkansas, batted .620 with 12 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 75 runs and 46 RBI. She also stole 56 bases in 61 tries. No. 2 hitter Audra Janes, a 5-7 junior leftfielder, batted .519 with 71 runs and was a perfect 49-of-49 in stolen bases.
Bowen says proudly, "Stephanie Canfield and Audra Janes are really quick. They are always on base. They steal second or third 99 percent of the time."
Though St. Joseph-Ogden has just 450 students in grades 9-12, it long has been big-time in softball.
Wolken, for example, is the state’s winningest coach with a 786-201 record in 30 years. Several years ago he left Illinois when his wife took a job at Texas A&M University. However, now retired, he returns for six months every year to work with the softball program.
Wolken said that this year the Spartans set state records for hits (527) and RBI (423) while finishing No. 2 with 471 runs and No. 3 with a .472 batting average.
Bowen admits she was disappointed that she wasn’t able to drive in at least 100 runs. Next year, with eight of 10 starters returning, she has the potential to put her name one notch higher in the national record book.
