A ‘thank you’ from Lizzi to her dad

By Steve Williams

I had been saving comments from a special interview for the right time.

Today I believe is the right time.

Lizzi Lowe, daughter of Matt Lowe, a well-known Powell High head football coach in these parts, played her last high school softball game Friday night in an 8-7 loss to Karns in the losers’ bracket finals at Halls.

Last December, Lizzi had signed scholarship papers to play softball at Roane State Community College. Her proud dad was among those at the signing ceremony in the school library.

I told Lizzi I didn’t often get to interview a son or daughter of a head coach who is well known.

What is that like?

Lizzi: “I think I owe my dad everything in my athletic career. I think from the get-go he has always been my biggest supporter. He’s always been the person I can call anytime I want to go work. He’s gotten me all the help I’ve ever needed to make sure that I can perform to the best of my abilities. He’s never missed a game. He can always come for me after practice. He’s always made me a priority even when he is coaching. That’s just something that I can always be grateful for because he has 70 other guys that he considers sons that he’s trying to help. He always makes sure that I have help as well.”

Lizzi continued: “I definitely think it’s been hard for me. He coaches me like I’m a guy, not like a girl and sometimes I definitely maybe got a little sad about that, but I think that I would not be the person I am and not be the worker I am without him.”

Maybe the above comments explain why Coach Lowe watched Friday night’s game at the “Outfield fence 3rd base side.” From there, he was close to his daughter, who plays left field.

After the interview with Lizzi that day, we also talked about her sisters.

Lizzi has two sisters. She is the middle child. The older sister is Erica and the younger sister is Linni.

I remember times when I would cover a game at Powell and the girls would come down after the game to be with their dad. I always thought that was neat. And I would ask Coach Lowe, “Where are your girls?” if I didn’t see them at the game.

“Linni is now 9,” said Lizzi. “She started going down to the field when she was 1 year old. I remember going down to games when I was like 3 or 4. It’s always been a thing for her (Linni). She still does that.”

Is Linni going to be a ball player, I asked.

“I don’t know. I hope so. She has a lot of athleticism. She’s just not involved in anything right now. She’s about to go into sixth grade at Powell Elementary.”

Lizzi, anything else you want to add?

“Go Panthers!”