NWF’s Arnold reflects on record-breaking freshman season

BRISTOL, Fla. ( WMBB ) — Northwest Florida State rising sophomore, Sister Arnold is coming off a stand-out season with the Raiders.

In the 64-game season, Arnold hit 20 home runs and set the single-season RBI record with 81.

“I remember her junior and senior year of high school,” Liberty County head softball coach Jennifer Sewell said. “She set a goal for herself wanting to hit nine home runs. She’d always finish with eight. Just to watch her come out this year and she exploded.”

Arnold and Bulldogs won the program’s second state title in her senior season. She knew her new team would carry the same winning tradition.

“When I got there there wasn’t a question of whether we’re going to win conference or if we go to state,” Arnold said. “It was we’re going to win the conference, we’re going to go to State, and we’re going to go to Nationals.”

Before her senior high school season, Arnold tore her labrum. She was sidelined for half of the season and still wasn’t fully recovered when she arrived in Niceville.

“I couldn’t even throw,” Arnold said. “I was looking at, well, if I hit the ball good enough, I might be able to DH. I just kept going to physical therapy working out, trying to get stronger. Christmas hit and it was like, okay, I’m actually throwing the ball with a little bit of zip.”

After her historic freshman season, it leaves the question of what’s in store for year two. For Arnold, the only thing that matters is contributing to the team’s success.

“I keep reminding myself, don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself because you just have to produce when you need to and, come through when your team needs you,” Arnold said.

Arnold’s sights are set on a National title with the Raiders in her sophomore season.

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