Sophomore (1998): Hightower improved her batting average by nearly 100 points while spending time at third and first base in addition to catching five innings. She registered 30 hits and ranked sixth among SEC first basemen with a .984 fielding percentage.
Freshman (1997): She appeared in 38 games last season while seeing action at third base and shortstop. In 69 at-bats, she tallied seven hits, two walks, two sacrifices, and was hit by a pitch once. Defensively, she had 92 putouts and 38 assists as a freshman.
At Sabino: As a senior, Hightower was a first-team all-city shortstop, first-team all-region infielder and first-team All-Southern Arizona while hitting .460 with 103 at-bats, 47 hits, 12 doubles, five triples and two home runs. Her senior season success stemmed from her junior campaign in which the Sabercats were 20-11, finishing third in the 4A Sonoran Conference and fourth in their region. Hightower was named second-team all-city and first-team all-region while hitting .453 and being named regional tournament MVP. As a sophomore, Sabino was 23-9 with a first-place conference finish and fourth-place finish at state. Hightower hit .493 and was an honorable mention all-region pick. As a freshman, Hightower hit .600 and was named top newcomer on a team that went 21-10 with a second-place finish at regionals and fifth-place finish at state.
PERSONAL: Born March 9, 1978, Kristina Ana Hightower is the daughter of Celia and Penn Hightower of Tucson, Ariz. She has a younger sister, Sandra. Her uncle, Ronnie, is a PGA Tour Professional Golfer, while her aunt, Sandra, is a professional singer who has recorded with Reba McIntire.
Freshman (1997): She appeared in 38 games last season while seeing action at third base and shortstop. In 69 at-bats, she tallied seven hits, two walks, two sacrifices, and was hit by a pitch once. Defensively, she had 92 putouts and 38 assists as a freshman.
At Sabino: As a senior, Hightower was a first-team all-city shortstop, first-team all-region infielder and first-team All-Southern Arizona while hitting .460 with 103 at-bats, 47 hits, 12 doubles, five triples and two home runs. Her senior season success stemmed from her junior campaign in which the Sabercats were 20-11, finishing third in the 4A Sonoran Conference and fourth in their region. Hightower was named second-team all-city and first-team all-region while hitting .453 and being named regional tournament MVP. As a sophomore, Sabino was 23-9 with a first-place conference finish and fourth-place finish at state. Hightower hit .493 and was an honorable mention all-region pick. As a freshman, Hightower hit .600 and was named top newcomer on a team that went 21-10 with a second-place finish at regionals and fifth-place finish at state.
PERSONAL: Born March 9, 1978, Kristina Ana Hightower is the daughter of Celia and Penn Hightower of Tucson, Ariz. She has a younger sister, Sandra. Her uncle, Ronnie, is a PGA Tour Professional Golfer, while her aunt, Sandra, is a professional singer who has recorded with Reba McIntire.