With coaches for parents, Avery Houseton has become Covenant Day’s star
Her mom is the softball coach at Covenant Day School. Her dad coaches the baseball team. Her big sister also played softball for the Lions. So it’s probably no surprise that Avery Houseton is one of the best high school softball players in North Carolina.
“I think there was pressure at first,” she said, “because when I was younger, I put my identity in my sport. It was like I had to be good. Then when I grew older, I knew I was playing the sport because I wanted to, and because I was enjoying it. And when the time comes when I am not enjoying it, that’s the time I need to hang my cleats up. But I’m definitely playing because I enjoy and I love softball.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Houseton, who has committed to the Charlotte 49ers, led the Lions to an 11-6 win over Mecklenburg County rival Providence Day. She was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs scored and she drew two walks.
It was really a normal day at the office. And Providence Day coach Kristie Oglesby, who has coached at the south Charlotte school for 20 years, wasn’t surprised by any of it.
“What do I think about her,” Oglesby said with a laugh. “What I think is I’m happy she’s a senior.
“She’s a very strong player. She’s hard to pitch to and I feel like everything we throw at her, she can hit. I would say, probably 50 percent of the time, I intentionally walk her because I know if a runner is on base, she’ll find a way to get that runner in. She’s tough. I just think that the vibe I get from her is she’s a nice kid, a good sport, competitive but respectful. And I love that. I tell you what, Charlotte’s getting a great kid.”
Houseton was named all-state as a freshman, a sophomore and a junior — and this year, so far, is her best yet.
She’s hitting a healthy .639 from the plate and ranks fifth in North Carolina in home runs (six) and third in RBIs (34). All this after a junior year when she hit .533 with eight home runs, 42 RBIs and led the Lions to an NC Independent Schools’ Division I state semifinal appearance.
“Honestly,” said Ashley Houseton, Avery’s mom and Covenant Day’s coach, “I don’t keep up with that. I want her to continue to do what she’s doing and have fun doing it, and not get caught up in all that riffraff.”
Ashley Houseton, who has coached at Covenant Day since 2017, played basketball and softball at East Mecklenburg High School in the late ‘90s. She didn’t play in college.
But her husband did.
David Houseton played baseball in high school at Charlotte Christian and played in college at Motlow State (TN) Community College and at North Alabama. He has been head coach at Covenant Day for 17 years.
And the Housetons, who once attended Stephen Curry’s wedding, have created an athletic family.
Taylor, the oldest, was an all-state softball player at Covenant Day as a senior four years ago. She played at Pensacola State in Florida as a freshman. She’s now at Appalachian State as a student. William, the youngest, is a sixth-grader at Covenant Day, and he loves basketball and football.
And then there’s Avery, who seems almost a shoo-in to make all-state for a fourth straight season.
Ashley Houseton, the mom, said she learned some things about coaching her kids from her first-go round with Taylor, and that the changes have helped Avery.
“I would say Taylor was kind of a little bit of a different story,” Ashley Houseton said, “but Avery, I’ve kind of backed off. I want them to enjoy playing the game, because at the end of the day, it’s them, not me. Yes, I will say I pushed with Taylor. You know, you live and you learn. You kind of can step back and say, ‘Well, I probably shouldn’t have done that.’ So, it was different with (Avery).”
Avery plays three sports at Covenant Day.
She led the basketball team in scoring and assists. She was second in rebounding. She played volleyball, too.
And in softball, Avery Houseton has put together one of the best careers in school history.
She says she has a simple philosophy that’s helped her get here.
“Just be present where your feet are,” she said. “I try not to worry about stats or anything. I just try to have fun and be present with these girls that are on my team, because I’ve been playing with them since freshman year, and when I go to college, I won’t be playing with them anymore, so I just try to be present where my feet are and be with those girls. I want to embrace every moment.”
