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Gryphon came through in clutch

Julie Henneke gave up less than a run per game in leading Sickles to a state title.

By TERRY JONES

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 1, 2001

TAMPA -- The race for Hillsborough County's best softball player was about as close as it gets.

Consider that 15 pitchers posted ERAs below 1.00 and six of those hit over .400.

The best of the bunch? One could argue for East Bay's Mandy Schuerman (11 no-hitters, 256 strikeouts, .525 average) or Chamberlain's Amanda Cody (.520 average, 10 homers, 0.66 ERA).

But in the end, one thing separated Sickles' Julie Henneke from the others. She was the only player to lead her team to a state title, and she won every crucial game down the stretch.

"It's pretty neat to think with all of the talent in our county, I was selected as player of the year," Henneke said. "Of course, I know I was selected because our team won the state championship.

"So that makes it a team award for Sickles. This whole team worked hard as the season closed down to the state final."

The Gryphons had reached the final four three out of the past four years, including a state final loss in 2000, a loss that particularly stung.

This season, though, Henneke could relax because she signed a scholarship with Boston University before the season.

By the time she reached the state semifinals, Henneke was cruising, pitching both the semifinal and final in helping Sickles bring home the county's only state title.

She finished as Sickles' top hitter with a .433 average with 10 RBI and 13 stolen bases. In 1562/3 innings, she went 19-4 with a 0.27 ERA, 191 strikeouts and 10 shutouts. And after capturing the state crown, she was awarded the Miss Florida Softball award, given every year to the state's best prep player.

Since Henneke and her parents moved to New Tampa when she was an eighth-grader, the family has spent nearly all of its weekends at ballparks. Most of this summer, Henneke will be playing with the Clearwater Bombers travel team. But when the season ends in late July, the family plans to treat itself.

"We have not taken off for a real vacation since moving to Tampa from Philadelphia," Henneke said. "So we are going to take two or three weeks vacation. Maybe go to a beach someplace. But definitely together."

Sickles coach Tammy Overcash, the coach of the year, said Henneke will be missed next season.

"She is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete every coach would love to have in their program," she said.

"She can't be replaced."

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