Northoftampa: Sickles High star softball player signs with Boston University

Sickles High star softball player signs with Boston University

Left-handed pitcher Julie Henneke will have 81 percent of her education costs covered by a scholarship.

By Times staff writer

CITRUS PARK -- Sickles High softball star Julie Henneke won't have to worry about impressing college scouts this year, her senior season.

She freed herself from that stress last Tuesday by signing a four-year scholarship with Boston University. The college agreed to pick up 81 percent of her education costs, which she was told are somewhere around $35,000 per year.

"There are several primary reasons I selected B.U.," Henneke said. "It looks like a great place to live, I will get a good education, it has a very good coaching staff -- plus I just got a good feeling when I visited the campus recently."

Henneke has been a starter for the Gryphons since her freshman season. She helped them make the playoffs each year and twice went to the state final four.

Last year, the left-handed pitcher finished the season with an earned-run-average of 0.47 with 167 strikeouts. At the plate she hit .324 and recorded 11 RBI.

"I don't like to think about next year without Julie and the other girls graduating," Sickles coach Tammy Overcash said. "This will be our fourth season together. Julie is a total package athlete. She can bat, play defense anywhere with speed and pitch. Because of her hard work ethic, example on the field and ability to make the game fun for her teammates, she has been a great role model. B.U. is fortunate."