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Letter to the editor

Successful softball chapter at an end

By NANCY MORGAN
Published June 3, 2007

Shauna Hawthorne Seminole/Daytona Beach CC took to softball at an early age and played her way through college graduation at Division I Fairleigh-Dickinson in Hackensack, N.J., last month.

Hawthorne played T-ball with the boys in Maine and after her family moved to Seminole when she was 5, baseball.

"I started off playing catcher and in Little League, of course, you play every position, " said Hawthorne, 23. "I was primarily an infielder, playing mostly first and third base. Pitching was a secondary position for me. In high school, I was a utility player."

Hawthorne's defensive skills at Seminole High were recognized, and she was named to Pinellas County's all-conference first team. At Daytona Beach Community College she made the all-Mid-Florida Conference first team. She was named to the school's all-academic team and chosen for the conference's scholar-athlete award.

"I played mostly first base at Daytona Beach and pitched only when necessary, " Hawthorne said. "When I selected Fairleigh-Dickinson to finish out my college career, Coach learned of my history as a pitcher and started using me. I don't think my arm was conditioned to pitch and I was out for a while with some shoulder issues my first year there.

"This year my season was shortened because I had an emergency appendectomy and missed probably half the season. It turned out to be a disappointing year for me, other than the fact I worked hard and was able to come back."

Hawthorne's tenacity proved beneficial in rehab and before the end of the season, the right-hander returned to the mound for the final two games.

"Shauna was a good leader, especially for the younger players, and had a great attitude, " Knights coach Tammy Evans said. "Her work ethic never changed whether she was starting or not. After her appendectomy, Shauna's goal was to get back into our lineup, and she accomplished that. That in itself shows her drive. Most likely if she hadn't had the injury, she would have started more."

Hawthorne's biggest challenge when pitching was her lack of experience, she said. Though her final season was somewhat disappointing, Hawthorne was pleased with her choice of Fairleigh-Dickinson.

"It sealed the deal for me that I was going to go a Division I school, " Hawthorne said. "The school's location so close to New York City, especially with my interests and marketing major, and the fact that the program was fairly new influenced me. Also, the school is an international business school and that's a big plus, too."

Hawthorne was mostly a relief pitcher behind two consistent starters and behind two strong first basemen. Competing in about half the season's games, Hawthorne hit .148 primarily as a designated hitter and had a 8.78 ERA.

"I'm not sure if I'll play more softball, although I've already been approached to do so, " Hawthorne said. "I'll probably always have that fire and drive to compete, so I might. First, though, I want to devote my time and energy toward starting a career."

MORE SOFTBALL: Freshman Dana Bergner (Palm Harbor University) hit her first collegiate home run to give Nova Southeastern a 2-1 lead over Rollins College. The second baseman posted a .953 fielding percentage.

- Tampa's Kallan Casey (Countryside/St. Petersburg College) was named to the all-Sunshine Conference Team. In her first season with the Spartans, the third baseman averaged .312 at the plate and led the team in sacrifice hits with 21.

- Western Kentucky freshman catcher Rachelle Boucher (East Lake) led the team in hitting average with .351, connected for 68 hits and scored 28 runs.

- Brittany Malone (Dunedin) and Lauren Jurco (Palm Harbor University) were freshman infielders for Pasco Hernando CC.

BASEBALL: Eckerd senior Grant Massie (Seminole) was named to the NCAA Rawlings Gold Glove all-South Region team. The leftfielder posted a 98.8 fielding percentage, with just one error his senior season. Offensively, Massie recorded a .331 hitting average and had 27 RBIs.

- Senior Brian LeClerc (Northside Christian) is third for Florida in hitting with a .313 average. The outfielder was selected to the all-SEC squad with a .366 average.

- Ian Church (Osceola/Stetson) connected on a two-run double for the Palm Beach Cardinals, a High-A St. Louis affiliate, for a 3-2 win over Fort Myers last month. Church is averaging .213 in 26 games for the Cardinals.

SWIMMING: Robert Margalis (Clearwater/Georgia) claimed a gold medal for his finish in the 400 individual medley at last month's Eric Namesnik Grand Prix in Ann Arbor, Mich. Margalis also collected bronze in the 200 IM.

TRACK: Georgia Tech senior Ashlee Kidd (St. Petersburg) was third in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 51.46 to qualify for the June 6-9 NCAA Championships in California.

WRESTLING: Junior 197-pounder Trevor Blackwelder (Countryside) and sophomore 167-pounder Gary Nelson (Dixie Hollins) are coached by Keith Spataro (Seminole/San Francisco State/Saint Mary's) at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified June 2, 2007, 19:02:49]