Last ride: Ace pitcher Erica Houge writing her final chapter for Collins-Maxwell softball

In the summer of 2016, Erica Houge made sure she was part of a special get-together for the Collins-Maxwell-Baxter softball team.

One night that summer the CMB softball players decided to have a camp out on their softball diamond in Collins. Houge had just finished fourth grade, but her father, Troy, was the Raiders' softball coach and her oldest sister, Mikayla, was an eighth-grader on the team.

Erica finessed her way into the festivities. She shared a 14-person tent furnished by senior Payge Jurgens and took part in all the fun activities with the team.

“We played kickball and ran around the bases,” Houge said. “It rained the next morning, so we got rained on through the tent.”

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That is just one of many fond memories Erica Houge has of the Collins softball diamond. Her dad has been coaching high school softball there since 2001, when he took over the CMB program.

The summer of 2016 saw CMB make the state softball tournament for the only time in its 29 years of existence. Two years later, Collins-Maxwell and Baxter split.

Troy continued to coach at Collins-Maxwell. With Mikayla and his middle daughter, Alexis, leading the way, the Spartans won back-to-back Class 1A state championships during their first two years (2018 and 2019).

In 2020, Erica joined the team as an eighth-grader. That was the summer of the COVID-19 pandemic and, at first, it looked like she was not going to get the chance to play with her two older sisters.

But Iowa became the first state to hold sanctioned high school athletic events that summer. Erica and her teammates got to take part in a midnight practice to open the season.

“That was unexpected,” Erica said. “But that was a great time because it never happened before. I remember going home and staying up until 3 a.m. eating pizza.”

Later in 2020, Collins-Maxwell defeated Martensdale St. Marys, 7-0, in the 1A regional finals to earn another trip to the state tournament.

Collins-Maxwell went on to place second at state that year, losing to Clarksville in the title game.

It was the only year the three Houge sisters got to play together. Mikayla, a four-time first-team all-state pitcher, went off to play Division I softball at Virginia the next year.

Over the next two years Erica and Alexis — a five-time 1A first-team all-state shortstop — teamed up to lead Collins-Maxwell to a 47-6 record and a pair of division titles. But the Spartans fell one game short of reaching the state tournament each year.

In 2023, Erica was on her own for the first time. She was named 1A first-team all-state as a pitcher for the second year in a row, but again Collins-Maxwell fell one win shy of making the tournament.

Now a senior, Erica is on her final run as a high school player. She will join Mikayla and Alexis (DePaul) as a Division I softball player next year after signing to play for Western Kentucky.

But before she becomes a Hilltopper, Erica wants to check a few more boxes at Collins-Maxwell.

“Conference champs again, which we should get, and I’m hoping to go back to the regional final and hopefully show what we can do there,” Erica said. “Hopefully get back to the state tournament, because I haven’t been since my eighth-grade year.”

Through Wednesday's 2-1 victory over No. 10 Clarksville, Erica has amassed a 75-9 record as a pitcher. She's following in the footsteps of Mikayla, who went 103-7 with a 0.72 ERA and 1,112 strikeouts during her career.

Erica currently holds a career 0.28 ERA with 887 strikeouts and 62 walks.

This season, Erica is 7-1 with 112 strikeouts and only three walks in the circle. She has yet to allow an earned run in 55 innings. She leads the state in WHIP (0.26), is tied for the lowest ERA in the state (0.00), ranks second in opponent batting average (.057) and third in strikeouts (112).

“My movement is good,” Erica said. “I’ve tweaked some things that will hopefully better me for college. I think that’s where I’ve improved so far.”

Pitching is not Erica's only strength. Through the Clarke game, she has a .507 career batting average with 44 doubles, 10 triples, 18 home runs, 99 runs and 167 RBIs.

As a senior, Erica is hitting .667 with seven doubles, one triple, one home run, 13 runs and 12 RBIs.

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“She’s probably going to fall short of the 100 wins, but she should be able to get to 1,000 strikeouts,” Troy Houge said. “She’s actually beating most of Mikayla’s school records. Her career ERA is lower, she’s broken Mikayla’s home run record, doubles and RBIs. She’s broken all of those records. She’s on pace to hold a lot of our school records, which is an amazing feat knowing that Mikayla was ahead of her.”

Erica has shown tremendous leadership as the lone Houge on the roster over the previous two seasons. Especially this year.

Erica's long-time battery mate, catcher Marissa Boege, graduated last season. Freshman Kaylee Atwood has stepped into that spot in 2024.

“It’s a little nerve-racking at times, but we worked all winter and I think she’s getting used to it now,” Erica said. “It’s hard to adjust to a pitcher that throws some speed like me, but she’s doing a great job, and I’ve really appreciated her hard work.”

Atwood said there has been a learning curve trying to catch one of the all-time greats at her school. But Erica has made the adjustments go smoothly and has been a positive influence on and off the field.

“It is very fun,” Atwood said. “I enjoy it a lot, especially when we celebrate strikeouts.”

Collins-Maxwell second baseman Emma Pasquariello, who is also a senior like Erica, said the Spartans are blessed to have someone who loves the game so much leading the team.

“She’s way more outgoing than some of us,” Pasquariello said. “She likes to have fun and not make it so stressful.”

Erica's personality plays a huge role in her success as an athlete.

“Erica is her own person,” Alexis Houge said. “She brings the laughs and brings the fun and energy. She not only has confidence in herself, but she brings it out in everyone else.”

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As she transitions to college softball next year, Erica is fortunate to have two older sisters who have lived that experience.

“It’s definitely an adjustment, for sure, at that level,” Mikayla Houge said. “I’ve just been able to give her advice — No. 1, while she’s being recruited to find the right fit for her. Then letting her know that she’s going to need a wide array of pitches.”

Erica has taken every opportunity she gets to watch Mikayla and Alexis play.

“It’s gotten her super-excited to be at the next level,” Alexis said. “She’s always watching on TV or in the stands. She’s always cheering us on.”

Staying healthy will be a big focus for Erica. Mikayla battled a wrist injury over the last couple years of her career and Alexis suffered an ACL tear as a freshman and a torn labrum this past season.

But if Erica can stay at or close to 100%, her sisters both believe she can accomplish a lot at Western Kentucky.

“I think she’ll do just fine,” Mikayla said. “I think she’ll be able to go in and make an impact on the team. All she needs to do is work hard like she always does and set those goals pretty high, and I know she can contribute well.”

For now, Erica is focused on finishing the legacy her sisters started at Collins-Maxwell.

“To me, she’s still that 10-year-old learning how to pitch,” Mikayla said. “She’s my little sister, but I’m excited to see how she finishes her high school season before she gets to the collegiate level.”

She wants to make her family proud and make a few more memories along the way.

“My main goal is to just have fun,” Erica said. “Enjoy the last year with some great girls, see what we can do and give our fans a show to watch.”

Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Last ride: Ace pitcher Erica Houge writing her final chapter for Collins-Maxwell softball