First Base Hit:   Saturday, March 16th, 2013  vs.  Knights Softball,  Gm 1.  at  St. Louis, Mo.

First Double:   Tuesday, May 14th, 2013  vs.  Extreme Softball,  Gm 1.  at  SportsPark, A’

First Triple:    Saturday, June  29th, 2013  vs. Misfits Softball, Gm 2.  at  Plainwell, Mi.

First Home Run:   Tuesday, May 21st, 2013  vs.  A V P  Club,  Gm 1.  at  SportsPark, A’

Hitting

Austin is among the game’s most explosive prospects and a terrific lead off hitter, already understanding the importance of actually having a patient. He combines a great average and batting eye with a willingness to take a pitch and an ability to hit the ball up the middle.He has respectable power and is especially adept at staying inside the ball and driving it into right center, particularly on inside pitches. He’s much more of a line-drive hitter than a fly ball hitter, and many of his hits come on hard liners through the infield. His bat control enables him to protect the plate well with two strikes. He is learning to make those adjustments quick to avoid those softball funks.

Base-Running & Defense

Austin Ward ranks among the game’s smartest base runners, and his intelligence shows on the bases. He makes great decisions and runs well with having exceptional speed. Austin will likely get bolder when he learns the opponents outfielders. He is known for his running and hitting, which makes his defensive contributions underrated. His speed and athleticism allow him to cover vast amounts of turf and put himself in position to attempt plays others would have no chance on. He has a decent arm, and can make it look better with good positioning and a quick release.