Mount Olive softball student-athlete Katherine “Kat” Cahoon knew she would be participating on the diamond Sunday, but she had no idea she would be leaving with one.

Cahoon, a senior left fielder, was the fifth of five Trojan seniors to be honored during Senior Day ceremonies before Mount Olive’s doubleheader against Chowan. Head coach Jaime Kylis-Higginbotham saluted her seniors and then asked if any spectators had any stories they wanted to share.

That’s when Andrew Alphin, Cahoon’s boyfriend, walked onto the field, assumed the traditional kneeling position before Cahoon and presented a diamond ring to his would-be bride.

The proposal was away from the microphone, so fans were in suspense over the answer, but an ensuing kiss from the couple and a thumbs-up sign prompted an eruption of applause.

The Senior Day proposal was actually in the works for months, but Alphin and coach Kylis-Higginbotham managed to keep it a secret from Cahoon.

“I had no idea,” said Cahoon. “When he came onto the field, I figured he was going to tell a funny story about me. Then when he got down on one knee, that kind of gave it away.

“I knew this would happen one day, but I wasn’t expecting it to happen today.”

Alphin said Cahoon answered his proposal with a question. “She asked me if I would do the dishes,” said Alphin. “I said I would, so she said yes.”

Both Alphin and Cahoon will graduate in May.

Cahoon is majoring in exercise science with a minor in religion. Before anyone was aware that a marriage proposal was in the works, Kylis-Higginbotham told the crowd of Cahoon’s plans after college.

“Kat told me she wants to run a faith-based recreation center. And I can’t see her doing anything else,” said Kylis-Higginbotham, who is in her seventh year at Mount Olive.

As for the games, Mount Olive went on to sweep the doubleheader, and Cahoon hit safely in both games to extend her hitting streak to a career-high 10 and improve her season batting average to .413.

Cahoon joked about what she would remember most about the day. “I’ll always remember that I got three hits today,” she said.

− Courtesy Mount Olive SID David Shulimson