As North Fort Myers heads into the stretch this season, sophomore Jackie Owen figures she may have to contribute more at the plate.

Due to some concerns with her back, Owen has been relegated almost exclusively to pitching for the Red Knights, except for one at-bat last Friday against Cape Coral.

In her first at-bat of the season, the Daily Breeze Female Athlete of the Week hit a two-run home run, helping the Red Knights earn an 11-2 win.

“I wasn’t really supposed to bat that inning or that game,” she said. “I knew that I wanted to bat against Fort Myers so I figured I’d have to bat at least once in a game to get ready.”

In the win over Cape, Owen also started on the mound and didn’t allow a hit in 5 1/3 innings.

The sophomore has emerged as the team’s ace this season, posting an 8-2 record with a 1.31 ERA and 86 strikeouts.

Owen said that from the start of the season she wanted to become more of a leader on the mound, compared to her freshman year.

“Last year I was really nervous to do anything,” she said. “I know now I have to develop into somebody that has to be a leader for others. I can’t show that I’m nervous or scared or mad.”

Owen said the Red Knights are focused on a strong finish to the season.

They got off to a fast start, winning their first eight games, and then faced a series of difficult challenges, which produced mixed results.

The Red Knights beat Ida Baker 9-2 earlier this season, but lost the second meeting 5-4 on March 4. They came back the following night and beat Riverdale 3-2.

Another huge test comes Thursday as the Red Knights host Fort Myers at Bobbie Dewey Field.

Honorable mentions

Kayla Vetter, Ida Baker softball: Vetter, a junior, pitched 10 innings and struck out seven in Baker’s 5-4 extra-inning win over Palmetto Ridge Thursday. She went 2-for-4 with an RBI in a win over Mariner.

Jamie Whetsell, Cape Coral lacrosse: Whetsell, a sophomore, led the Seahawks with four goals in a loss at Bishop Verot last Wednesday.