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Ending on a high note

Couture completes remarkable career at Alma College

Courtesy Photo Alma College’s Anna Couture rounds third base and gets congratulated by Scots head coach Denny Girffin after hitting a home run at Albion College.

Only a select few get an opportunity to continue playing sports at the collegiate level. An even smaller number of student-athletes go on and make an impact for their team.

Anna Couture is one such athlete.

Couture recently completed a storied career as an important piece of the Alma College softball program for the past four years.

“Alma College softball has been a blessing and I could not imagine experiencing my collegiate career elsewhere,” Couture said. “The fun-loving atmosphere and close-knit school remind me daily that I made the right decision. I have learned lifelong lessons from this team that we all call family.”

In her final season, Couture went out with a bang as she eclipsed the 40 hit total for the third consecutive year as she collected 44 hits in 129 at-bats to finish with a .341 batting average, led the team with 32 runs scored and finished with 21 RBI, 14 doubles, three triples and a home run as she earned second team all-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association honors for the second time in her career.

Courtesy Photo Anna Couture waits for a pitch during a collegiate softball game. Couture capped off a stellar career this past season as she finished first on the team in several categories.

Couture helped lead the Scots to a 29-10 overall record and back-to-back MIAA championships as they finished with a 13-3 conference record.

Alma made its third straight regional championship game appearance where it eventually lost 4-1 to Illinois Wesleyan University.

Couture finished a stellar career with impressive offensive numbers. She finished with 145 hits in 453 at-bats which was good for a .320 career batting average. Couture scored 101 runs, had 62 RBI, 49 walks, 22 stolen bases, 27 doubles, six triples and three home runs.

As good as she was at the plate, Couture was just as solid in the field. She made just 27 errors in 652 total chances and ended her career with a .959 fielding percentage. Couture also won the team’s Golden Glove Award three years in a row during her sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

Couture was a former standout on several successful Posen softball teams during her high school career and was a leader for the Vikings.

At Alma, Couture joined an established program and during her four years as a Scot she was a catalyst for an Alma team that was one of the top teams in the MIAA and in Division III during her three seasons as a starter.

“Before I committed to Alma, I asked coach (Denny) Griffin if he planned on retiring anytime soon. Thankfully, his response was no, because I wanted to play for him and coach (Phil) Hansen because of the success they had,” Couture said. “Hats off to both of them for the countless hours of work they put into this program. I am both proud and thankful for having the chance to take part in their success.

Like many freshman, Couture experienced growing pains during her first season and she didn’t see much playing time early and had just 12 hits in 45 at-bats (.267) during her first year as the Scots finished the 2014 season .500 with 16-16 overall record and 8-8 record in the MIAA.

Despite having her playing time limited, Couture earned Rookie of the Year honors for the 2014 season and it didn’t take long for her to get used to the speed of the collegiate game as she came in as a sophomore and lit the conference on fire as she made second team all-MIAA batting .415 in just her second year and played a key role at the top of an Alma lineup that scored 248 runs and finished with a 30-17 overall record and made it to the NCAA championships in 2015.

“Luckily I was given the opportunity to play as a freshman which allowed me to gain experience over the years,” Couture said. “I continued to push myself and work harder each year. I believe I improved each season to help with the teams success.”

Couture finished her sophomore season with a .343 batting average (47-137), 33 runs which was tied for first on the team, 21 RBI, eight stolen bases, seven doubles, two triples and her first collegiate home run in the second game of a doubleheader at Albion College.

Couture remained a staple at the top of the Alma order for her junior and senior seasons and finished among the top five in hits and runs during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. She helped lead Alma to a 33-10 record in 2015 that finished with a trip to the regional championships after the Scots won their first MIAA title since 2011 that same season.

Couture ends a monumental athletic career at Alma and recently graduated with a 3.6 overall Grade Point Average (Magna cum laude) while earning a degree in Healthcare Administration and Public Health.

“Alma College has given me more than I could could have ever imagined. I am so incredibly blessed and thankful for all of the opportunities I have been given and friendship I’ve made,” Couture said. “This softball team has given me a second family allowing me to learn multiple life lessons.”

Jonny Zawacki can be reached via email at jzawacki@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5690.

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