College Athlete of the Week

No. I’ve only hit five (including high school). Mostly, I stick to singles or an occasional double. On Sunday, I didn’t even know it went over when I hit it. I thought the girl caught it because my team was quiet. Everyone was quiet while I started running. But then my coach started yelling at me and pointing at home plate: ‘I need you … here!’

Well, you’re a home run hitter now.

Yeah, now I am. (Laughs) No, I’m definitely just swinging for the base hit, and if it goes over, it happens.

Western’s off to a great start, with the first 5-0 record in school history and a No. 23 national ranking. So should we take you in our college softball tournament bracket at the office?

I think so. (Laughs) We’re really excited about this year. Everyone’s come together and bought into the new coaching staff (led by former University of Washington player Amy Hanson Suiter). It’s not just one or two people; everyone is able to bring something to the table.

So you transferred from Ohio Dominican after your freshman year. Was that homesickness or something else that led you back out here?

I actually had two knee injuries when I was back there. I had two surgeries. So it was homesickness-slash-being hurt. It was a great experience, and I would totally do it again. But after hurting your knee twice, you’re ready to be back home, to get near my parents.

Had you ever been injured before?

No. Never. It’s one of those things where you never think it will happen to you, and then it happened to me twice in four months.

So now that you’re back on the West Coast, how often do you get back to Everett?

Not very much since softball started. But I did make it back for the (Everett High) alumni game, which was fun. But I don’t get back often enough. My parents do get up here a lot, so that’s nice.

So in the Everett High alumni game, did you hit a home run?

No, but I stole one from (EHS alum and current UW player) Victoria Coury, which she was upset about. She’s still upset _ not really. But it was fun.

What’s more fun: hitting a homer, or taking one away?

I would rather take one from a person than get one. It’s a better feeling.

So you don’t get back to Everett that often. You know, we do have the reigning indoor lacrosse champions here.

Oh, really? I didn’t even know that.

Well, when you are in town, what’s your favorite place to eat?

Let’s see. I really like Georgio’s Pizza. My cousin works there, so that’s our favorite place to go.

Up in Bellingham, you’re halfway to Canada. So did you get up to Vancouver for any of the Olympics?

I didn’t because we had softball. But there’s a girl on the team from Canada, and she went up and said it was incredible. And we got a lot of traffic through here, which was cool. So we kind of got to experience it.

You’re not just boycotting the Olympics because they don’t have softball anymore?

No. If I would have had the time and the money, I would’ve gone. I won’t boycott the Olympics, even though they took away softball. It’ll be back. You’ll see.

I mean, they’ve got archery, curling, trampoline, badminton and handball, but they can’t find room for softball?

I know. I don’t understand it. Archery? Handball? I think it’s because the U.S. was too good, so they had to shut it down and let everyone else catch up.

Well, the U.S. doesn’t seem to be getting any worse. I mean, they’ve got all those home run hitters up in Bellingham.

I know. It’s pretty crazy, huh?

So now that you’ve got your first homer of the season, how many can we expect from you?

Who knows? Hopefully, more than one. Three was my max in high school, so if I get that, it would be cool. But I’m happy now just to have one.