Proper, Cline birds of a feather for Lady Knights

Way back about what seems like a lifetime ago, two little girls on the west side of Holmes County picked up a lightweight bat, a glove and a softball and began a march toward softball greatness that has seen them create plenty of highlights and achievements over their careers.

West Holmes Lady Knights senior softball stars Zalina Proper and Briar Cline have grown up together, nearly inseparable, and together they have built stellar careers that will wind down this spring at the high school level of play but will continue as they both chase college careers next season.

That they’ve got to experience it all together and soar to great heights at various levels will make the memories all the sweeter for each of them.

“It’s been a long time,” Cline said, “probably since third or fourth grade when we started playing together, and we’ve pretty much been at it ever since.”

“I’m pretty sure it was third grade,” Proper said. “I think we were maybe 8 years old.”

It didn’t take long for both players to recognize two things: They were both pretty good at this game of fastpitch softball, and they both loved it almost immediately.

Their careers began with a group of youngsters playing travel ball for Wolfpack, and they continued to grow their talents together as they marched through plenty of successful tournaments and seasons.

Once they reached middle school, they parted ways for two years and played for different travel teams but reunited as freshmen for the Lady Knights, and they’ve been side by side ever since.

Proper, a southpaw, came into high school as a true rarity, a left-handed catcher, something fans don’t see every day. However, the current centerfielder said she has played all over the diamond in her career and simply did what the team needed in her first season.

“That’s what our team needed at the time, so I gladly stepped into that role and filled a need,” Proper said. “But my eighth grade season my coach put me in centerfield, and I just fell in love with playing out there.”

Cline has primarily played in the infield, where she starts at shortstop this season and serves as the Lady Knight’s primary pitcher.

She said as she continues to work on pitching, she is willing and capable of playing anywhere on the field thanks to her athleticism.

Following the conclusion of this senior campaign for WHHS, Cline will head to Walsh University to continue her career next year while Proper will be off to the University of Findlay.

Both schools are in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, a Division II conference filled with plenty of quality programs.

That means the two longtime teammates will knock heads at least two times a season in the future.

“That’s going to be kind of weird and very fun,” Proper said.

Cline said coming up through the ranks together has been rewarding, and it isn’t just about their own individual success.

“We’ve done everything together, and it’s fun to see each other grow and excel and reach our goals and accomplishments together,” Cline said.

“Yeah, this is a game we both love a great deal, and even in other sports like basketball, we’ve enjoyed seeing each other work hard and become successful, not just on the field, but as people,” Proper said.

Both players agreed the game of softball brings with it an excitement level and thrill that for them brings out the best in each of their competitive sides.

They enjoy the team atmosphere and the challenges that come with the sport.

“We’re both very competitive,” Cline said. “In this sport and any other sport you work at, you have to be hungry. That’s what makes it so fun and addictive because you always want to be a part of something where you can work hard to keep proving and improving yourself.”

Both players are eager to experience the challenges and joys of playing collegiately, but for now their full attention is on their high school careers and making every moment at West Holmes count.