Law at several places, close to home

By Times Staff
Published June 10, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Courtney Law has played shortstop, second base and the outfield during her four seasons at Hudson.

That versatility, as well as a batting average of .328 or better every season, earned her an athletic scholarship to Pasco-Hernando Community College.

"She can play infield, she can play outfield," PHCC coach Tom Ryan said.

Ryan also listed several other factors in recruiting Law, who also played volleyball and soccer at Hudson.

"She can run well and she has a pretty decent knowledge of the game," he said. "She's heads up, and when I watched her (during several Hudson games this season) she took an active leadership role."

Where Law plays at the next level is irrelevant, she said, as long as she gets to hit. Her average was .426 this season, second in her career to her county-leading .519 as a freshman.

But perhaps most important is playing close to home so her father, Art Law , who had surgery for brain cancer in 2002, can attend games.

"The big issue for me was stay ing home because my dad's been kind of sick for the past couple of years," Law said. "I wasn't ready to leave home."

Law joins outfielders Stephanie Seaman (River Ridge) and Jen Ran-do (Ridgewood) as PHCC signees from Pasco County.

Law, 18, plans to major in education and become a kindergarten teacher.

ACHIEVERS: Saint Leo ballplayers Ronnie Lowe and Heather Stroud capped their seasons on a bright note. Stellar play earned them spots on the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner's List of Outstanding Achievement for May.

Lowe (Ridgewood/PHCC) was a two-time SSC pitcher of the week this season. The junior left-hander went 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in May. In 16 innings, Lowe struck out 12, walked five and allowed seven hits.

In a 2-0, one-hit shutout win on May 1 against eventual Division II national champion Florida Southern, Lowe fanned seven and walked two.

Stroud (Pasco) hit a team-leading .600 in the NCAA South Region tournament at Madison, Ala.

A freshman outfielder who also catches, Stroud also had two RBIs and a .600 slugging percentage in the Lions' two games in that series.

[Last modified June 10, 2005, 01:11:19]