by Wesley Harris
“Find one that fits.”
That’s what Amberly Waits was told by a coach who directed her to a pile of uniforms when she arrived in Ruston in 2007 to play for Louisiana Tech.
Her preference, number “5,” was already taken by another player. She favored a single digit number and only “1” remained. With no specific meaning behind the choice, she took it.
The selection was prophetic. Number one is where Waits ended her career in a multitude of statistical categories as the most prolific offensive player in Tech Softball history.
So good, her oversized image graces one of the walls in the Bulldogs’ team meeting room.
Waits rewrote Tech Softball’s record book to reach the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Many of her records remain untouched 15 years later despite some top-notch talent following in her footsteps at Tech.
But that’s something she would like to see change.
Records are made to be broken, at least that’s Waits’ philosophy when it comes to Tech Softball.
“I see records as steppingstones in the progress of a program,” said Waits. “They’re not supposed to stand forever.”
No one thought Babe Ruth’s home run record would be broken, but Hank Aaron did it. And then even Aaron’s record was shattered. With record breaking comes celebration of new benchmarks and enthusiasm for the game.
Waits said as she played, she knew when she was on the verge of breaking some of the records while unaware of others until she had set them. She’s rather surprised so many of her hitting records still stand fifteen years after she graduated.
“What was great fifteen years ago may not be enough to win ball games today,” she said. “Players are stronger, faster and Tech has to match the pace of the winning programs to stay relevant.”
“Records serve as reminders of past achievements, marking milestones,” she said. “But they should serve as goals for those who come later.”
Waits faced struggles along the way. A natural righty who lacked power, Waits was told she wouldn’t be much use to her high school team.
Rather than give up the dream, she taught herself to both slap and hit with power from the left side of the plate.
She tore her ACL in high school and the highly-recruited star found herself dropped from consideration by big-name colleges.
Rather than retire from the game, she overcame injury and kept playing and seeking a collegiate home.
Picked up by Louisiana Tech, Waits is only the fourth athlete from the 45-year-old softball program to be inducted into the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame. The three-time all-conference and three-time all-state performer was named the 2009 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Also named Academic All-WAC three times, Waits led Tech to the 2008 WAC Tournament title and an appearance in the NCAA regionals for the first time since 1995.
Former Tech Head Coach Sarah (Dawson) Kerr recruited Waits to Tech.
“I remember watching her skills tape,” said Kerr. “Amberly was very athletic. Fast and strong. She possessed pure athleticism.”
At the time Waits was signed, Kerr said, “Amberly’s speed will put a lot of pressure on opponents’ defenses. She is versatile from the left side; she can bunt, slap and hit for power. She will be a great defensive asset as well.”
The coach was correct.
Fifteen seasons after Waits’s career ended in 2010, most of her records still stand. They are almost too numerous to list. She still holds the program career marks in batting average (.386), hits (262), home runs (36), triples (19), total bases (455), RBIs (160) and slugging percentage (.671).
Waits ranks second all-time in doubles (47) and third in runs scored (145). And 10th in career stolen bases (51) may not seem impressive until you consider there’s less need for stealing when you’re hitting so many doubles, triples and homers.
Among her single season statistics, Waits set new records for batting average (.488), hits (81), triples (10), home runs (17), total bases (155), RBIs (62) and slugging percentage (.934).
Making her numbers even more impressive, Waits battled numerous injuries during her Tech career. The high school knee injury plagued her. She played with two broken fingers on her throwing hand.
“I don’t know how many times Amberly had an injury wrapped up under her uniform,” Kerr recalled. “She never complained.”
“Amberly had incredible range at shortstop,” Kerr said about the position No. 1 played her entire career.
It was what happened after Waits snagged the ball that became an issue. Sometimes she had difficulty taming her outfielder arm for throws to first.
Waits brought plenty of athletic ability to Tech but was a bit short on confidence.
“That was my weakness as a freshman,” said Waits. “I struggled with confidence my freshman year having never played shortstop. But confidence and hitting are the areas I improved in the most during my time at Tech.”
“I really struggled with throws to first as a freshman,” Waits admitted.
Her range as a shortstop also played a role. The ability to get to grounders so far away from her playing position meant the throws were even harder.
“I spent a lot of time working on those throws, trying to get them to first and not over the fence into the parking lot.”
Former teammates still admire Waits’s prowess with a bat.
“Amberly was the player you wanted at the plate when the game was on the line,” former second baseman Heather (Doiron) Girod said. “We all knew when Amberly swung the bat, it was going to have a huge impact on the game.”
“Amberly was super dedicated to the softball program. Her work ethic definitely showed in her stats. Amberly literally left her mark all over the record books.”
Waits played tough. She had the dirtiest uniform at the end of the game.
She was drafted eighth overall in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch softball draft by the Chicago Bandits. She played in the professional league for one year before returning to the Dallas area to pursue a business career.
When Waits began dating future husband John Harper of Ruston, she told him she had played a little softball at Tech. Ever modest about her athletic achievements, she left it at that. It wasn’t until John met her father who touted her records and accolades that he learned his future wife was one of the best to ever play the game at Tech.
Her humility wouldn’t let her flaunt her accomplishments when inducted into Tech’s Hall of Fame.
“The Hall of Fame is such an honor and a blessing,” she said at the 2019 induction ceremony. “I don’t know what to say. It means so much to my family. They sacrificed so much to allow me to play softball. And I hope it means a lot to my teammates. They are part of this.”
Friends and family joined to sponsor a locker named in Waits’ honor in the team locker room in 2022. The locker is used by KB Briley, now in her fifth year with the team after her own struggles to stay healthy, missing two seasons with injuries.
“It is an honor and privilege to have the locker named for one of our biggest legends,” Briley said. “I get to see her name on my locker each day. I’m inspired by her, her hard work, and her dedication to this program. It gives me a sense of responsibility to uphold that standard and push myself to new heights.”
Briley is in the Tech record book as well, holding the number one spot for most hits in a single conference game, most sacrifice flies for RBIs in a single season of conference games, and tied for third for most sacrifice flies in a season.
“My records don’t compare with Amberly’s but I’m proud her name is right beside mine on my locker,” Briley said. “You have to be inspired by what she did at the plate.”
“I think that is very telling of her character that she wants her records broken. That is a really selfless and powerful mindset. She’s not just focused on personal achievement but on the bigger picture—the future success and growth of the program.”
Each day Briley goes in and out of the locker room, she passes Tech’s records proudly displayed on the wall.
“Those records on the wall challenge our players. Absolutely,” Briley said. “They serve as a constant reminder of what’s been accomplished, but also of what’s possible. We can feel the weight of those achievements. It fuels a desire to be the one to challenge or even surpass them.”
Briley has yet to meet Waits but hopes they can get together at a future alumni weekend.
Waits hopes current players look to those who came before and draw inspiration to challenge boundaries and elevate the program.
“A record stands only until someone with the determination and vision does the work to surpass it,” Waits said.
“Each time a record is broken, it reveals the potential for even greater accomplishments. If I can break a record, someone can come later and break mine.”
But for now, she’s still number one in the record books, something she hopes will change.
