By Elizabeth Contreras

After a season away from the program, senior Kenya Harp is returning to Broken Arrow High School softball with a renewed perspective and proven power. As a sophomore, she hit an impressive 19 home runs in a single season, establishing herself early as a key offensive threat in the lineup. 

A first baseman and outfielder, she stepped away from slow pitch last season to focus on competitive travel fast pitch. While the experience brought growth for Harp, putting slow pitch on the back burner wasn’t easy. 

“I definitely missed the game and playing side by side with teammates,” she said.

Stepping back into the program as a senior leader has demanded its own kind of growth. 

“At home I’m one of the youngest, so being a leader was not natural to me. I had to learn those skills,” she explained. 

Having transferred from Beggs to Broken Arrow, Harp was provided greater opportunities to compete at a higher level, but it also required that she prove herself in a new environment. 

“The coaches challenged me and put me in positions I hadn’t previously played,” Harp said. 

“I’ve learned so much from Coach King and the rest of the staff. They’ve seen me at my best and my worst, and sometimes believed in me more than I did myself.”

With her experience and power at the plate, Harp offers qualities that are inspiring for teammates and coaches alike. As she embarks on the final chapter of her high school career, Harp is just grateful to be able to play alongside girls she considers family. 

“Being back on the field means a lot to me,” she said. “This will be my last season playing with these girls. I plan to live in the moment, enjoy everything, and make memories.”